We asked Israeli-American photographer Elinor Carucci, whose book, Mother, chronicled her pregnancy and her relationship with her twins, to delve into the power of photography.
A faculty member of the graduate program at the School of Visual Arts with work held in permanent collections of museums across the world, Carucci says she’s looking for universality in her own work. “I am looking to go deeper,” she tells TIME. “Beyond the façade of what we see into I guess the core of who we are.”
Watch this TIME video to hear Carucci’s take.
The Most Intimate Dance: Elinor Carucci's Photos of Motherhood

Induced, 2004
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Holding Eden for the first time, 2004
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

The first week, 2004
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Bath, 2006
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Bruised mouth, 2007
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Father and daughter, 2009
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

My guilt, 2010
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Smile, 2012
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Cutting off father’s beard, 2012
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Kissing my son, 2007
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Monday morning, mother of two 2010
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

We will never speak to each other ever again, 2010
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Brushing hair, 2010
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

The roles, 2012
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Love, 2011
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Holding Emmanuelle, 2008
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

Mother’s love, 2012
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE

My empty belly, 2012
Elinor Carucci—INSTITUTE
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Elinor Carucci is an Israeli-American photographer known for her intimate images of motherhood.
First Take is an ongoing video series curated by TIME’s photography editors. See the previous videos here.