Silver Springs: The Underwater Photography of Bruce Mozert

Silver Springs, billed as "Florida's Original Tourist Attraction," is a 350-acre nature theme park surrounding the head waters of the Silver River, the largest artesian spring in the world. Archaeological records indicate humans have visited the site for more than 10,000 years.
The key to Silver Springs's success was marketing, and park administrators knew well the power of publicity. This natural wonder was sold and marketed to tourists with tableaux of ordinary life taking place underwater. As the official photographer for nearly forty-five years, Bruce Mozert was a key player In promoting the park as a verdant wonderland where impossible things might happen underwater: a model cooks at a stove, wooden spoon at her mouth to taste, while condensed milk rises from a hidden can (to look like smoke); another bathes in a tub, scrubbing her toes; yet another relaxes on a chaise lounge while a nearby air conditioner hums away. These images are delightfully playful and clever, even touching in their depiction of the tastes and mores of an era of American optimism.

Gary Monroe is a professor of fine arts and photography at Daytona Beach College.