Summer People (or, People in Summer)
It’s August, which means many of Provincetown’s year-rounders are ready for the Summer crowds to subside. This time of year, errands–like going to the Post Office or grocery store–can take twice as long as they do in the off-season. It’s easy to get a little grumpy if you’re taking care of chores in between work obligations in a town filled with people lazily enjoying their vacations. It’s why I love mornings this time of year so much. The light is great, it is warm, and it is quiet.
But as a photographer I actually love having the crowds here. I mostly take photos of buildings, landmarks, seascapes, and other interesting things, but I do now and then dip into shooting people. Not in a portraiture kind of way, but from an observational perspective. This is fun to do in the off-season, but this time of year I have so much more to work with.
In the off-season, this kind of work is more about showing people in the vast and empty landscape here. So it’s really about the physical place that is Provincetown and the Outer Cape.
But in July and August it’s more about the people, and the wide range of characters we see on our streets. Some are tourists here for a day or a week, others are street performers and other buskers who are here for the Summer trying to make a few bucks or find their way to fame.
Everyone here is for a reason, and I’d guess that they all think of Provincetown as their own, in some way. I try to capture some essence of that belief and feeling. It’s not easy, but it is a lot of fun.
I won’t mind going back to the emptiness of the Winter months, but for now, I’m enjoying what is right here in front of me. Even if they make my trips to the grocery store take twice as long as usual!
Below are a few of my favorite Summer people photos from this year and last. Click the image to see the full size!
Thanks, as always, for reading and viewing.
