“Jones Beach was created for the common man,” says Szabo. “It was for the people of Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the surrounding states … you have to know a little bit about the history of Jones Beach.
“It was created in the mid 1920s and it took about three or four years because they had to pump billions of cubic yards of sand from the ocean. They said the amount of sand they had to pump was the equivalent to nine Hoover Dams.
“Photographing the beach was a natural extension of my work with teenagers. This was where they would come and hang out during the summer. When you come to the beach, all of your frustrations that you carry around in your daily life disappear.
“I’ve done some stuff photographing people in New York and it is totally the opposite. I’m looking at this portfolio now that I took in the 70s in Manhattan and everybody on the street looks like they are on a mission – they are all stressed and just want to get away. See, that’s why the beach is the ideal place to photograph I think. People are here, in no rush, just to have a wonderful time. There is very little negative stuff going on.” - Szabo from RUSSH interview September 2010 issue.
Images from Joseph Szabo's website @ www.photosofteenagers.com.
