©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

“Rose Water” is a love letter—to my wife, to language, and to the spaces where cultures intertwine. – Seth Adam Cook

In a world where darkness seems to creep into the corners of our everyday, Seth Adam Cook opens a window, pulls back the curtains and reveals a beautiful world of love and light, celebrating the collision of two cultures through photographs and poetry dedicated to his wife in the series, Rose Water. The exquisite seeing of small details illuminated by the golden glow of slivers and shafts of light elevate moments of stillness and connection. These small moments and gestures combine to create  a space filled with love and respect – something we all need in this challenging world.

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

Rose Water

“Rose Water” is a love letter—to my wife, to language, and to the spaces where cultures intertwine. As an Iranian and an American, our relationship is shaped not just by words but by silences, gestures, and the quiet ways we learn to understand each other beyond language. This project began as I was learning Farsi to deepen my connection to her culture and the ways language shapes intimacy.

Through photography and poetry, Rose Water captures the quiet, everyday moments where love is felt beyond words. Some images present poems written in Farsi, echoing the beauty and effort of learning another’s language. Poetry and visuals weave together, not as direct translations, but as reflections of shared experience. More than just a portrait of our relationship, Rose Water speaks to anyone who has navigated love across borders—geographical, linguistic, or emotional. It is an invitation to see meaning in the spaces between words and to embrace the quiet beauty of cultural exchange.

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

Seth Adam Cook is an artist from the Bayou Teche region in south-central Louisiana. Drawing inspiration from the swamps and marshes of his home, his versatile studio practice often merges photography with other creative media, imbuing a deeper sense of meaning through his choice of materials and techniques. Cook earned his B.F.A. in studio art from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2016 and completed his M.F.A. in photography at Indiana University, Bloomington in 2020. His work is shown nationally and internationally, including notable features in multiple publications such as Lenscratch, SHOTS Magazine, and Der Greif. Currently a faculty member at Georgia College and State University, Cook continues to explore a variety of photographic practices and techniques while serving as a contributing editor for photobook publisher Fall Line Press.

Follow on Instagram: @s.adamcook.art

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water

©Seth Adam Cook, from Rose Water