Having vacationed at the (New) Jersey Shore several times I have long wanted to return and photograph at Ocean Beach. It’s the most democratic of beaches. Except for a few cottages (which is what they are officially called) on the fringes, the lots are all the same size. The cottages some might say are nothing more than glorified trailers. They are laid out in a symmetrical grid over three sections that total over 2,000 units. Even the names of the sections are democratic, Ocean Beach I, II, III.

Not much has changed since Ocean Beach was constructed in the late 40’s offering working class families an affordable vacation option. The streets are still made up of sand which adds to the sparse and strong sense of place. There is not much vegetation that thrives in this environment made up of sand, wind, and salt.

Photographing the area in the off season offers a surreal feeling in its quietness and allows me to de-contextualize the cottages from their vacation purpose. I walk up and down rows of cottages until I feel or see something that appeals to me, whether familiar or foreign, formal or abstract, graphic or geometric. As with most my work color plays an important role. Here it helps to create individuality among uniformity. Scenes are evaluated, composed, and exposed independently.

The interiors don’t have many personal items or decorations. This leaves the viewer with few clues as to who the owners are. It also creates an abstract time stamp meeting my interest in capturing images open for interpretation. Most of the cottages are rented on a weekly basis in the summer thus making them into semi-public spaces, similar to hotel rooms.

The bedrooms tend to be utilitarian in nature and minimal in size. I am drawn to the unusually shaped horizontal windows that match the camera frame but won't hold an air conditioning unit. This project is a personal journey and study of a place in the American landscape that appeal to my vernacular taste, intuitive work process, and sense of order.

Bio
I’m a Brooklyn based photographer, originally from Sweden.  My photography is about self expression, photographing beauty and how I see the world with a strong sense of place and atmosphere.  My photographic voice could be described as urban, vernacular, graphic, and quiet.  My work process is mostly intuitive and sensitive to color, texture, lines, shapes, and space.

For more information, please contact Douglas Ljungkvist at: sweden@pipeline.com or visit www.douglasljungkvist.com