Benches of Seaside Heights

In this series, I candidly photograph summertime visitors to Seaside Heights, NJ, as they relax, eat, and make the best of a day at the beach. I intend to continue this series indefinitely, both as an exploration of human behavior, and a chronicle of Seaside’s visitors over time. For the past five summers, I’ve walked up and down the mile-long boardwalk, taking a candid photo of every single occupied bench. At first, I looked for interesting characters. But there were also times I’d take a photo quickly and offhandedly, just because I had a clear shot. I almost always liked those photos the best. Now, I try not to look at the subjects at all. Each photo is a surprise, a sort of gift to open, something which gives me great pleasure. When editing, I look for images that surprise me, or make me laugh. I notice things in the photos I could not possibly have seen as a passer-by - that a boy is holding a set of white plastic vampire fangs, that a woman’s painted nails spell out “I miss 2019,” or that a wife is giving her husband a mean side-eye. I pick up on trends, like 2021’s short-lived craze for furry flip-flops, and read slogans on t-shirts. I try to analyze body language and guess the subjects’ relationships. Engaging with these images entertains me, and offers me insight into the wider world.