I’m not big on birthdays, especially my own. I’ve always been happy to let the day pass without much acknowledgment. But turning 50 felt like it should mean something, so I decided to treat myself—to a day alone with my camera, a Canon 20D.
For a while, I’d wanted to visit the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, so that was the plan. I packed up my gear and hopped on the A train, heading toward The Rockaways. My stop was Broad Channel, a small, close-knit community nestled in the middle of Jamaica Bay. So small, you could probably walk the length of the town in ten minutes.
But as soon as I stepped off the train, my plans took a turn. The town’s Labor Day Parade was getting underway, I was completely drawn in. Before I knew it, my camera was out, and the wildlife refuge was all but forgotten.
Looking at these photographs now, nearly 20 years later, I can’t help but wonder about the people in them—especially the kids. They’re adults now, maybe even with kids of their own. I tried to give these images a light feeling of a summer day, like the kind of memories I have of summers past. Thinking about those early years as a kid, carefree: not a worry in the world. These images sat in my files for years, nearly forgotten, but as I go through my archives, I’m realizing how important it is to give my work a home.
This gallery is part of that effort—sorting through decades of photography, pulling out the moments that mattered, the ones that shaped me, and sharing them in a way that reflects my journey. Some images are stepping stones, some are personal milestones, and all of them tell a story.
It turned out to be a beautiful day. A small-town parade, an unexpected detour, and a reminder that the best moments are often the ones you don’t plan for.
I took pictures.
These are some of them.
I hope you enjoy them, and if you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them,.