Erica Reade
"My intention is to capture the human experience of love and sensuality in public places, bringing a street photography approach to the beach."
"Born and raised in Montreal Canada, I now live and work in New York City. I am a self-taught photographer, who uses both digital and analog formats. I am a SohoPhoto Gallery Artist Member, and I was awarded the Natural Eye Scholarship by the Santa Fe Photography Workshop in Summer 2015. I am also the founder of Camera of the Month Club, a unique gathering of dedicated photographers from across NYC who are as passionate about experimenting with different cameras as they are about shooting compelling photos.
"My current work focuses on the Rockaway Beaches. I capture the romance of the nestled beach gem that is Rockaway, amidst the busy, hurried climate of New York City. My beach photography evokes feelings of nostalgia, endless summer and admiration for the ocean’s vast beauty. I am a surfer and beach bum at heart. My beach photography is a combination of digital, analog and instant Polaroid photography. I spend a lot of time observing beach-goers at Rockaway Beach; their bodies swaying in the waves, splayed out half-asleep on sandy towels, or chasing small children around with more sunscreen. We are raw and exposed on the beach, stripped of our clothes, our makeup, our status markers. We leave behind our worries and responsibilities for a few hours, and our most youthful selves shine through. Beach Lovers is a collection of intimate moments shared by couples I’ve observed at the beach. This series is about the small moments of tenderness between couples, whether sharing a picnic, long laughs, or a lazy limb-entwined nap on a beach blanket. These photos illustrate love and sensuality in their purest states. My involvement with the subject is one of an observer, recorder and sometimes, voyeur. People from all walks of life descend upon the city’s shorelines to enjoy sunny days and salty nights. My interest is the shift in human behavior from NYC streets to Rockaway beach. Beachgoers leave their worries and responsibilities for a few hours, and their most youthful selves shine through. There is something about being on the beach hat emboldens couples to enjoy more affectionate freedom, their inhibitions less hidden. Is it the sun and salty water? is it the lack of clothing? Is each towel its own island?"
See Me and Squarespace are proud to present the story of photographer Erica Reade.
Share your story with the world. Click here to introduce yourself.
