Joseph Szabo may not be the world’s best-known or richest photographer, but he should be the tannest. For nearly four decades, the retired Long Island art teacher has been heading to Jones Beach and documenting what he sees there.
“I came to New York in 1966 to study at Pratt, and one of my friends said, ‘Why don’t you try Jones Beach, because that’s the place where you’re going to find all different kinds of people,’” Szabo says.
His new book of black-and-white photos, “Jones Beach” (Abrams, $35), captures some of what he’s seen over the years, including muscle men, dancing girls, poofy ’80s hair and one unfortunate incident of a manthong.
“People’s attitudes are certainly much more relaxed when they come to the beach,” Szabo says, “and they’re more themselves, and that fascinates me.”
Szabo will showcase the photos at the Upper East Side’s Gitterman Gallery beginning April 29. The public is also invited to a reception honoring the book on Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the International Center of Photography.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT THE STORIES BEHIND SOME OF SZABO’S PHOTOS