Push a button. A buzzer disengages the locks to a large metal door. An escort appears at the door and leads you into the basement of an industrial complex in downtown Rochester, NY. At the bottom of the staircase a new world opens of language, culture, and ritual, hidden behind masks, fake names, and fantasy roles. Beneath the ground, and only at night, lies the northeast’s premier dungeon that centers itself on a life of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism, more commonly referred to as “BDSM”.
After a number of conversational interviews, I was initiated as one of the newest members of the Rochester Kink Society. What started as simple interest has turned into a photographic journey. The pleasure in pain was visually like nothing else I had seen. The prurient bond between master and slave intrigued me as I wanted to understand what it was that gave people this emotional and physical fulfillment. I learned that BDSM is more than just pain and perversion. For some, it is a way of coping with past traumas. For others, it is a way of engaging in the primal, violent behaviors that society deems taboo. BDSM can be a way of obtaining control in a life where there may be none or where persons of power comes to give up control and willfully place themselves at the mercy of another as a display of trust and love.
*To protect the identity and the privacy of the individuals in this community I have substituted their real names with their “scene names.”
Push a button. A buzzer disengages the locks to a large metal door. An escort appears at the door and leads you into the basement of an industrial complex in downtown Rochester, NY. At the bottom of the staircase a new world opens of language, culture, and ritual, hidden behind masks, fake names, and fantasy roles. Beneath the ground, and only at night, lies the northeast’s premier dungeon that centers itself on a life of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism, more commonly referred to as “BDSM”.
BDSM is more than just pain and perversion. For some, it is a way of coping with past traumas. For others, it is a way of engaging in the primal, violent behaviours that society deems taboo. BDSM can be a way of obtaining control in a life where there may be none or where persons of power comes to give up control and willfully place themselves at the mercy of another as a display of trust and love. *To protect the identity and the privacy of the individuals in this community I have substituted their real names with their “scene names.”–“Simply putting a collar around my neck isn’t enough. You have to be ready to know what that symbolizes to me as well as to yourself. It’s trusting someone with your life. Trusting that they always have your well-being in mind.” -Marie, 29
“I was thinking about how pretty she looks with my hand around her neck. Thinking about how much I love to choke her, and feel, and see the reactions as the breath cuts off the eyes. I get a sense of pride and an animalistic feeling that she is under my control and that she also loves it.” – Blüt, 24
(From left to right) Carl Spackler, 40 is bound, blindfolded, and suspended by MsElaine, 47.
“The Mistress, FemDom, Dominatrix in me strives for and will thrive with a proper submissive that doesn’t need their hand held through their path and will take to guidance with open arms.” -MsElaine
“I enjoy sensation play, sensory deep, thuddy, stingy, FIRE and more. I’ve been called everything from a “loving dom” to “normal” to “evil” I think I’m a mix of all of these.” -Glassvial, 37
Willow (20), Harmony (25), Sola (20), and Marie(29) are bound, suspended, and hung on display as a human chandelier.
“I like how scared I can feel at times, the vulnerability and uncertainty of what’s next.”
-Marie, 29
“I have a dominant persona that somehow harmonizes with my own masochistic needs. I’m young, but surprisingly experienced for my age; I have been in the kink scene for over five years. Now, I am trying to further my kinky career as a BDSM workshop presenter.”
-Schadenfreude, 25, whose name means “to derive pleasure from the misery of others.”
Marie, 29, during a candle wax scene.
Gawkers gaze as River (27) is caned by Geist-Der-Ruhe, (22). This private room at the dungeon is observed on closed circuit television by the dungeon monitors. (Geis-Der-Ruhe translates from German to “spirit of calm”)
“Pain has an important role in BDSM. It can create intimacy and bonding, give people a chemical high, or help someone uncover their true selves, catharsis through surrender.”
-River, 27
River (27), weeps alone on her bed before she receives “aftercare.”
After a scene with her fiancé, Schadenfreude receives words of encouragement, hugging, kissing, and other gestures of gratitude and affirmation. This transition is important to “bring the submissive back into the mundane affairs of reality” and is commonly referred to as “aftercare.”
Nyirazana Munyarugero, a widowed mother of six from the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrived in the United States with her children and brother on February 4, 2014. After fleeing their country, the family of eight hopes to be able to live in peace in America.
New Roots – 1 – Nyirazana Munyarugero, a widowed mother of six from the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrived in the United States with her children and brother on February 4, 2014. After fleeing their country, the family of eight hopes to be able to live in peace in America.) Muhire Munyarugero arrived with his sister and her six children at the Rochester airport on February 4, 2014. They were greeted by case workers from Catholic Family Center’s Refugee Resettlement Department and taken to a motel to spend their first night in America.
Nyirazana Munyarugero exhaustedly listens to instructions on how to use the amenities in the motel room where the family would spent their first two days as their new home is being prepared.
Aline Kamali, 10, right, sits in her new bed room as her mother looks out at the snow-covered neighborhood. The family was surprised that they would each have their own bed, as they used to sleep with 2 or more people per bed when they lived as refugees in Ethiopia.
Serge Kamali, 18, left puts away groceries for the first time as Dyna, 13, stares. “We were not sure if they would have fresh fruit or milk or beans in America, so we were happy,” said Muhire Munyarugero, their uncle.
Serge, 18, brushed his hair with a toothbrush before attending church for the first time. He was unable to find a comb.
Muhire and his sister Nyirazana Munyarugero pray during a service at the Genesee Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Rochester, NY. “It will all be okay in this country once we find a church,” Muhire said before finally finding a Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the denomination they attended when living in Ethiopia.
Nyirazana Munyarugero suffers from chronic back pain and was able to receive medical attention in Rochester. Angel Nishimwe, a volunteer from their church, helps Nyirazana understand the information provided with her new prescription pain relievers.
Dyna, Aline and Nyota watch Disney channel on a small television in the dining room. For one month, the children stayed in the apartment everyday before beginning school.
Dyna, Aline and Nyota return home from their first day of school. They did not like the pizza served for lunch, so they ate as soon as they got home.
Nyota, left, looks out the window as Aline does her homework with a calculator in their bedroom.
Aline practices her English by writing out “My favorite subject is Math and English. I love my teacher. I like my class.”
Sako, 14, laughs as he talks on the phone with a friend from Africa that has now resettled in Michigan as Serge studies a driver’s manual in hopes of getting his learner’s permit.
It’s quite common in college to question yourself as you start a new chapter in your life. Sometimes who you want to be and who you are don’t match up, and for Hannah this means a long battle with depression, bulimia, medication abuse, and alcohol. In her journey to learn how to care for herself, Hannah has started to develop an understanding of what it means to need someone and to know that it is ok to rely on another person. While there still is a long way for Hannah to be the person she wants to be, her relationship with her girlfriend Courtney, has helped her see something worth living for.
Hannah tries to open a bottle of alcohol for friends at party. People sometimes associated Hannah with drinking, a reputation developed from her partying.
Hannah examines a bag of marijuana at a gathering with friends. Hannah often questioned her use of substances for personal enjoyment or fulfillment.
At party Hannah has a coughing fit. Hannah says she realizes how her self abuses from drinking and bulimia, affects her body physically and she struggles maintain her physical health.
Hannah struggles to focus in class. Because of her turbulent lifestyle with partying, her education work is affected, and she will miss classes or be too tired to focus at school.
Hannah is reflected in the mirror at home as she gets ready for a party. Hannah can spend hours getting ready to go out because of her need to look perfect. “I’d rather stay inside than go out ugly,” Hannah says.
Hannah takes four different kinds of anti-depressants and medications, to maintain her emotional stability. Hannah has been on medication since she was in fourth grade, and while they have helped her through her depression she also wishes to know herself without it.
Hannah sits in her bathroom floor feeling overwhelmed before class. Sometimes she puts sickies on her wall to remind herself of what she needs to do. For Hannah, many of normal daily tasks are extraneous.
Hannah is held by her girlfriend, Courtney, after a rough night from a party. Hannah says her and Courtney weren’t dating when she was at her worst, but she was there when she was at her worst.
Hannah and Courtney get ready to take a shower together. Hannah has a hard time in letting people in but she feels Courtney is one of the only people who she can trust and be intimate with.
Hannah holds on to Courtney as they watch friends sing at a birthday party. With Courtney around, Hannah feels she is able to be more social in a healthy way and feel more reason to leave the house.
Hannah and Courtney laugh as they, joke around in the bathroom. Since being in a relationship, Hannah sees more things worth laughing and living for. Courtney provides a source of hope for Hannah.
Hannah and Courtney embrace each in bed. Their relationship provides stability in each other, and although Hannah has a long way to go in her search for acceptance in herself, Hannah sees people are worth staying alive for.
Honorable Mentions:
Bradley by Zack DeClerck
Bradley Loce, 56, is a life long resident of Rochester, NY, where he currently resides at the Dorothy Day House. Bradley has suffered from alcoholism since his early teens and has struggled with chronic homelessness. The Dorothy Day House has been in place since 2012, providing a housing first solution for people that are on the streets.
“I’m all alone. I’m the only one left.”
“My wife was very beautiful, kindhearted, loving… The Alcohol got the best of her.”
“I’ve always wanted to be an actor. Always.”
“I have a son. He’s 33. I haven’t seen him in many years.”
Bradley has suffered from alcoholism since his early teens and has struggled with chronic homelessness. The Dorothy Day House has been in place since 2012, providing a housing first solution for people that are on the streets.
“My son is ashamed of me because I’m a drunk… You Can’t Blame him really.. I’m not a bad person though.”
Mary’s Place by Sarah Ann Jump
Mary’s Place, a non-profit refugee outreach center in Rochester, NY, offers many essentials to families as they arrive in America for the first time, but most importantly provides a welcoming community for people from over the world.
Mary’s Place, a non-profit refugee outreach center in Rochester, NY, offers many essentials to families as they arrive in America for the first time, but most importantly provides a welcoming community for people from over the world.) Desire Kasinge, 10, (bottom) a Congolese refugee from Zambia, plays with a recently donated dollhouse.
Refugees practice English with individual tutors, students from Roberts Wesleyan College. A majority of volunteers and interns at Mary’s Place are students from local Rochester area colleges.
Daniel Hamenyimana, 14, a refugee from Tanzania, completes his homework with help from a volunteer tutor at Mary’s Place. Although his family could not afford to send him to school in Tanzania, Daniel now aspires to graduate from college in America.
Marguerite Kasinge, 7, a Congolese refugee born in Zambia, uses a volunteer’s cell phone to photograph herself after locating Zambia on a world map. Mary’s Place uses maps, photographs and artwork to decorate the walls and encourage young refugees to understand cultures around the world.
A family of Karen refugees from Burma waits to see a casework counselor at Mary’s Place, a refugee outreach center in Rochester, NY. The volunteer casework counselors help refugees through the stressful process of navigating the resources available to them through the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Nadine Scholastique, 12, a Congolese refugee born in Zambia, dances in the kitchen during lunch as a volunteer plays music. “I used to love going to church in Africa. We would sing and dance for hours until we were so tired we just fell asleep right there,” recalled Nadine.
Salome Kasinge, 14, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War, shortly before her family fled to Zambia, where they lived in the Mwange Refugee Camp until resettling in America in 2010. “I miss Africa, but America is good too. Everybody has freedom to do whatever they want, to be whoever they want, without anybody judging them or without anybody killing them” said Salome.
Children from refugee families eat hot dogs for lunch; a hot meal provided each Saturday. Teenage refugees and volunteers will often spend the afternoon cooking for everyone at Mary’s Place.
Mary’s Place encourages children to play outside and be active during the summer. Volunteers will organize field trips for the children, offered as an incentive for reading a certain number of books based on their reading levels.
Burmese refugees have found a community at Mary’s Place. Since 2007, the year of the Saffron Revolution in Burma, over one thousand Burmese refugees have arrived in Rochester, NY, with a total of 116,642 resettling in the United States.
Posted: April 12, 2014 by joshmeltzer
Picture Story – 2014 What We Do
Congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions!
First Place
Bound by Joe Philipson
www.joephilipson.com
Push a button. A buzzer disengages the locks to a large metal door. An escort appears at the door and leads you into the basement of an industrial complex in downtown Rochester, NY. At the bottom of the staircase a new world opens of language, culture, and ritual, hidden behind masks, fake names, and fantasy roles. Beneath the ground, and only at night, lies the northeast’s premier dungeon that centers itself on a life of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism, more commonly referred to as “BDSM”.
After a number of conversational interviews, I was initiated as one of the newest members of the Rochester Kink Society. What started as simple interest has turned into a photographic journey. The pleasure in pain was visually like nothing else I had seen. The prurient bond between master and slave intrigued me as I wanted to understand what it was that gave people this emotional and physical fulfillment. I learned that BDSM is more than just pain and perversion. For some, it is a way of coping with past traumas. For others, it is a way of engaging in the primal, violent behaviors that society deems taboo. BDSM can be a way of obtaining control in a life where there may be none or where persons of power comes to give up control and willfully place themselves at the mercy of another as a display of trust and love.
*To protect the identity and the privacy of the individuals in this community I have substituted their real names with their “scene names.”
Second Place
New Roots by Sarah Ann Jump
www.sarahannjump.com
Nyirazana Munyarugero, a widowed mother of six from the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrived in the United States with her children and brother on February 4, 2014. After fleeing their country, the family of eight hopes to be able to live in peace in America.
Third Place
Because Hannah Means Graceful by Evan Ortiz
www.evanmatthewortiz.com
It’s quite common in college to question yourself as you start a new chapter in your life. Sometimes who you want to be and who you are don’t match up, and for Hannah this means a long battle with depression, bulimia, medication abuse, and alcohol. In her journey to learn how to care for herself, Hannah has started to develop an understanding of what it means to need someone and to know that it is ok to rely on another person. While there still is a long way for Hannah to be the person she wants to be, her relationship with her girlfriend Courtney, has helped her see something worth living for.
Honorable Mentions:
Bradley by Zack DeClerck
Mary’s Place by Sarah Ann Jump
Mary’s Place, a non-profit refugee outreach center in Rochester, NY, offers many essentials to families as they arrive in America for the first time, but most importantly provides a welcoming community for people from over the world.
Sponsored By
Gitner Family
SPAS
Category: What We Do Tags: nppa, Photojournalism, picture story, rit nppa, story, what we do