Fire Island 2022

Fire Island Polaroids 2022 were made during an entire month I spent on Fire Island in June for the BOFFO artist residency, surrounded by a deep legacy of queer art, history, and community. Supported by BOFFO’s team, the nominators who believed in me, and my friends who assisted me throughout the trip, I was able to create some of my most intimate work to date.

Inspired by Tom Bianchi’s Fire Island Pines Polaroids — which framed the island as a site of queer freedom and desire — I embraced instant film for its tactility, privacy, and quiet resistance to censorship. From my wheelchair-height perspective, I photographed golden-hour bodies, friendships, and flashes of intimacy while also confronting the island’s stairs and sand that continually reminded me I was not meant to access this space.

Each one-of-one Polaroid is a physical relic of that Pride Month: proof of presence, persistence, and belonging, and my contribution to Fire Island’s ongoing queer history.

A man wearing a bright yellow swimsuit and sunglasses stands among a crowd of people dressed in summer clothing at what appears to be a poolside or beach setting.
Two people sharing a kiss, one wearing a colorful rainbow wig, sunglasses, and a pearl necklace, the other a white hoodie, outdoors with a yacht in the background.
Two men posing together on a boat during sunset, one standing and the other sitting with a camera on his chest.
Four people, three men and one woman, on a wooden deck at a social gathering or party. The woman and one man are shirtless, one man is wearing a hoodie, and the woman is dressed in a fishnet top. Other people are in the background, some dressed casua
A group of people at an outdoor gathering under umbrellas, with some wearing casual summer attire, in a setting with trees in the background.
A young man with dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing a white tank top, necklace, and jewelry, outdoors with wooden structures, umbrellas, and awnings in the background.
A baby receiving a kiss from a person with a beard, wearing a striped pink and black shirt. The baby's face is close to the person's face, and the baby is lying down with a tube attached to their face.
Three people posing outdoors, two men and one person in drag with teal hair, colorful makeup, and a floral blouse.
Two men taking a close-up selfie, smiling and looking at the camera, with a rainbow flag in the background, framed with an orange border.
A person with drag queen makeup and colorful hair standing next to a man in a grey hoodie with a camera, at an outdoor event near a Tim Hortons. Several people are visible in the background.
A smiling man in a black tank top outdoors at dusk, with trees and a house in the background.
Two men smiling, one holding a drink and a camera, at night with city lights in the background.
Group of five friends smiling and posing together outdoors during evening, with trees and a hill in the background.
A man in a wheelchair with an oxygen tube, making eye contact with another man who is holding his erect penis.
Group of five friends enjoying themselves in a dark setting, smiling and looking happy, with some raising their arms.
Two young men, one with dark skin and curly hair and the other with light skin and short blond hair, smiling and posing together. The man with light skin is seated in a wheelchair, wearing a white T-shirt, and the other man is standing beside him wit
Two men posing outdoors near a large plant, one smiling and wearing a dark tank top, the other shirtless, with a faint image of tattoos on his chest.
A young man with blond hair and a beard taking a selfie on a boat during sunset, with water and a distant horizon in the background.
Person with teal hair in a colorful dress filling the frame, smiling and holding a microphone, with a person in a white hoodie sitting on a bicycle behind them. Several other people are in the background outdoors, some taking photos.
Person wearing a white crop top and black underwear with 'Emporio Armani' waistband, displaying a tattoo of a snarling wolf's head on their lower abdomen.
A man with a beard and blonde hair lying on a bed, making a playful face with his tongue sticking out, as a hand holds a purple object near his mouth.
A person wearing a striped pink and black shirt with their legs spread apart, exposing genital area.
A woman with tattoos and long dark hair bending forward on a wooden deck, wearing fishnet stockings and a swimsuit, surrounded by a group of people watching her perform or participate in an activity.
Close-up of a person's lower torso wearing high-waisted, frayed denim shorts, a denim jacket with rolled sleeves, and a white mesh crop top, taken outdoors during sunset.
A group of six diverse people posing for a photo at a party, with some holding drinks and making playful gestures.
A shirtless man wearing multicolored rainbow briefs, standing indoors against a white wall with sunlight casting shadows.
A sunset or sunrise over a calm ocean, with the sky transitioning from light pink near the horizon to dark blue at the top.
Close-up portrait of a man with blue eyes, light brown hair, a beard, wearing a black cowboy hat and a necklace, smiling slightly.
Two men kiss, one is on stage holding a microphone, and the other man is leaning down, with his hand on the first man's neck, in a dark setting.
Close-up photo of a person's lower face, showing their cheek, chin, and part of their white shirt and dark jacket or coat.
A young man with short black hair looking at the camera, wearing an unbuttoned shirt revealing his chest, with a beach in the background.
A young man reclining on a wooden railing at the beach, wearing an open shirt and plaid boxer shorts, with a relaxed pose and a slightly serious expression.
Group of six shirtless men with diverse skin tones and varying hairstyles, sitting closely together outdoors with green foliage in the background.
Two young men are sitting close, shirtless and embracing. One has dark hair and a serious expression, while the other has blond hair and a slight smile. They are outdoors at dusk, with trees blurred in the background. The darker-haired man has tattoo
A shirtless man with a beard and mustache relaxing on a couch with a wooden railing behind him. He has tattoos on his chest and a necklace with a pendant. The background is dark with some visible clouds or foliage.
Polaroid photo of a young man with short dark hair, wearing a light-colored unbuttoned shirt and layered necklaces, standing outdoors in front of dark foliage.
Three shirtless men and a woman in white shirt sitting outdoors, holding hands, with trees in the background.
Two young men on a wooden balcony, one standing with his arm around the other who is in a wheelchair, both looking at the camera; the man in the wheelchair is shirtless with tattoos, and the man standing is wearing a light-colored shirt and checkered
Person standing on a beach wearing plaid shorts, lifting a shirt to reveal their stomach, with writing on their thigh.
Six nude men sitting and kneeling on a gray outdoor sofa on a wooden deck, surrounded by a wooden railing and green foliage.
Close-up of a young man with short black hair, tan skin, and a serious expression, standing outdoors during sunset with leafless trees in the background.
A young man and an older woman standing outdoors in front of trees, with the young man touching the woman's head and both smiling, dressed in light-colored casual clothing.
Group of five nude men sitting and lounging outdoors on a wooden deck with greenery in the background.
A shirtless young man with short dark hair and a silver necklace, with his arms raised behind his head, standing outdoors among tall grass and bushes.
Two men posing closely together, both with serious expressions, one with dark hair and the other with platinum blond hair and tattoos on his chest, against a plain light-colored background.
Two men in a swimming pool with a white dog sitting on a float in front of them. One man is shirtless with blonde hair, the other is wearing sunglasses, with a person relaxing on a lounge chair in the background.
Two young men relaxing outdoors on a bright sunny day, one sitting in a yellow inflatable boat and the other sitting behind him on a deck chair, both shirtless with tattoos, with water and blue sky in the background.
Two shirtless men relaxing on a wooden deck, one lying on a lounge chair and the other sitting beside him, with a cloudy sky in the background.
Person holding a mustard gas mask with sunlight shining from behind, outdoors in a garden or park setting.
A man enjoying a swim in a backyard pool with a Siberian Husky dog sitting on his lap, sitting on a yellow float, with a wooden deck and outdoor furniture in the background.
A smiling person with short dark hair and no shirt stands outdoors against a cloudy sky and a building in the background.
Two shirtless men embracing outdoors on a sunny day, with a railing and trees in the background.
Person pouring liquid from a container outdoors with sunlight and trees in the background.
A group of seven people in an outdoor hot tub, with some wearing sunglasses and swimwear, surrounded by greenery.
A woman with braided hair and tattoos sitting on a porch with a white husky dog, both looking at the camera.
Two shirtless men relaxing outdoors on a deck or balcony, with a building and water in the background, one with tattoos and the other with a mustache and wearing a watch and necklace.
A person swimming in an outdoor pool with a wooden deck and railing, blurred and overexposed.
A young man with light skin and blond hair is floating on his back in the water, smiling at the camera, with tattooed arms and markings on his chest.
A group of seven men in a hot tub outdoors, some wearing sunglasses, with a wooden deck and greenery in the background.
Two shirtless men, one with sunglasses, sitting on a wooden deck. One is sitting on a tricycle with yellow wheels, and the other is leaning on him, both smiling.
Young man smiling outdoors, shirtless, with dark hair and a goatee, standing in front of a house and sky.
A man with a beard and tattoos is floating in a swimming pool, looking at the camera, with the water shimmering around him.
A shirtless man with a beard and tattoos, floating underwater with a cloudy sky above, looking directly at the camera.
Two men in a swimming pool, one with a Siberian Husky dog between them, with a wooden fence and a person lounging on a deck chair in the background.
Person floating on back in an outdoor swimming pool with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
A man with a beard and tattoos in a swimming pool, with his arm resting on his chest and a calm expression, water and sky reflections visible above.
Two young men sitting outdoors, one with dark skin and short hair, the other with light skin and blonde hair, embracing each other and smiling at the camera, with a railing and trees in the background.
A shirtless man sitting in a small above-ground pool with floating yellow inner tubes, on a deck in a backyard with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
Two men sitting on a wooden deck with a view of the ocean in the background. One man is lying back on a lounge chair, wearing sunglasses, swim trunks, and is shirtless. The other man is sitting behind him, smiling at the camera. They seem relaxed and
Five young men are relaxing in a hot tub outdoors, with one person outside the tub. They are all shirtless or in swimwear, and some are wearing sunglasses. There are trees and a wooden structure in the background.
Two shirtless men sitting on wooden stairs outdoors, one with lighter skin and the other with darker skin, both wearing wristbands, with sunlight causing lens flare and overexposure in the photo.
Three nude men engaged in sexual activity outside on a deck with wooden railings.
A close-up of a person's penis and scrotum, with another person's hand resting on the thigh.
A group of three men engaging in an intimate act outdoors, with a wooden fence in the background and one man sitting in a chair.
Close-up of a person's face and arm with hand near their head, dark background, and a beaded necklace.
Close-up of a human finger pressing against a wooden lattice or grid with a rough, reddish-brown wall nearby.
A sexually explicit scene showing a man engaging in oral sex with a woman, with visible genitalia and sexual activity.
A shirtless man lies on his back on a wooden deck with his arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed, and one hand resting on his stomach.
Two nude individuals outdoors with a lattice fence in the background, engaged in intimate contact.
A shirtless man with his tongue out swimming in a pool, holding a large pig, with a background of a wooden fence and greenery.
Three shirtless men in an outdoor shower area with a wooden fence in the background, one man is washing the hair of another man while the third man is sitting on a bench.
Two shirtless men with tattoos outdoors, one with a beard and light blond hair, the other with dark hair, in front of a wooden fence, with sunlight and greenery in the background.
Two shirtless men outdoors, one with a buzz cut, holding and leaning into a third man from behind, who is standing against a wooden fence.
Close-up of a toilet tank with a white flapper and flush valve, seen from above, with pink borders around the photo.
A young man standing outdoors under a blue sky with white clouds, wearing sunglasses on his head and a patterned shirt.
Close-up of a person's sublingual area with a tattoo that says 'PYX' and a tongue.
Two naked men with tattoos lying on a bed, one resting his head on the other's chest, in a room with wooden walls.
Nude man with tattoos standing against a wooden fence background, hands behind his back.
A shirtless man with short hair and a goatee standing outdoors in front of a wooden fence, with a green background around the photo.
A shirtless man with numerous tattoos, a beard, and a mustache stands against a wooden wall. He has pierced nipples and chest hair. The photo has a pink border.
Nude male standing in front of a wooden background with green border.
A young person standing shirtless in front of a wooden background, with a neutral expression.
Nude man standing in front of wooden wall, facing forward, with hands at sides.
Two shirtless men, one with curly hair and facial hair standing, the other with a shaved head sitting, posing outdoors in front of a wooden fence, with one hand resting on the other's head.
A person with a disability sitting in a motorized wheelchair, wearing headphones, and holding a camera. The person is shirtless and wearing a diaper. The background shows a wooden staircase, a door, and a table with a white vase and some papers.
A shirtless man with red hair and tattoos on his chest and arms sitting indoors. He is wearing a medical back brace and is looking at the camera. The background shows a room with a window and some furniture.
Three topless men. One man is sitting in a wheelchair with a towel wrapped around his shoulders, two men are standing next to him, one on each side. The setting appears to be outdoors with a wooden fence in the background.
Two shirtless young men with one sitting and the other standing, in front of a wooden fence, outdoors on a sunny day.
A young deer standing on grassy ground near bushes and trees.
A shirtless young man with dark hair and tattoos on his chest and side poses outdoors in front of tall green grass, with one hand in his hair.
Close-up of a weathered wooden surface with grass and a small, clear jelly-like creature.
A young person sitting on a wooden deck, petting a white fluffy dog, with a wooden fence in the background.
Two men, one with dark skin and the other with light skin, are sharing a bowl of food indoors. The man with dark skin is feeding the man with light skin, who is wearing a hoodie. The background shows wooden shingle siding.
A garden with pink and white flowers in the foreground, a stone lantern, and trees in the background.
A white wooden gate with metal bars, numbered 4, leading to a garden with greenery and plants beyond.
Very blurry, abstract image with indistinct shapes and colors, mainly light tones and some darker areas.
A young person with short dark hair, round sunglasses, and tattoos, shirtless, leaning on a railing by the ocean on a clear day.
Blurry photograph of a wooden bridge over a stream in a forested area with lush green trees and pathway.
A man in a white quilted space suit with a hood, standing outdoors against a background of trees and sky, with a serious expression.
A shirtless young man with dark wavy hair, beard, and mustache standing in front of tall grass, smiling with his right hand resting on his head.
A man lying in bed with a Siberian Husky next to him, in a room with a beige pillow and a small door in the wall.
A distressed man lying shirtless on a bed with a blanket, holding a dog by the collar, with a woman bent over near his legs, in a room with a plain wall and a window
Two men, one light-skinned with glasses and the other dark-skinned, lying on a bed, engaged in intimate activity.
Two people standing close together, showing their midriffs and torsos, with a person in swimwear in the background at an outdoor pool area.
Blurred photograph of a pathway surrounded by dense foliage forming a canopy overhead, with dappled sunlight on the ground.
Photograph of a person seen in a mirror, with their face obscured, wearing a white tank top and khaki cargo shorts, standing against a wooden wall decorated with small Polaroid pictures.
A man with curly hair wearing sunglasses and a denim jacket, standing outdoors near bushes with a tree in the background.
A shirtless man with dreadlocks and a beard standing in a field of tall grass, wearing animal print underwear and pink sunglasses.
A blurry image of a garden with pink and purple flowers, green shrubs, a stone lantern, a tree, and a wooden bridge in the background.
A person in a gray hoodie sitting on a wheelchair with a white husky dog on their lap, outdoors with trees in the background.
Young man sitting outdoors, wearing a black T-shirt with 'HILFIGER' logo, with grass in foreground and wooden fence behind him, sunlight overhead.
Man in a hoodie sitting with a small white dog on his lap, with the dog's head resting on a device.
Group of young people at a poolside, some sitting and some standing, with a pool in the foreground and outdoor furniture in the background, during sunny weather.
A person sitting outdoors in front of a wooden fence, with sunlight causing glare on the photograph, making facial features unclear.
A blurry photo of a garden with various plants, pink flowers in the foreground, a small stone sculpture resembling a lantern, and a tree on the right side, with a pathway and a fence in the background.
Group of five people standing and sitting in an art gallery with a colorful abstract painting behind them.
Four diverse individuals posing together indoors, with one in a wheelchair and a dog sitting in front, all dressed in colorful clothing.
A man in a wheelchair wearing a blue gown and white shoes posing in front of a framed artwork on a wall. The artwork depicts a person standing with their back to the camera in a room, with a robotic arm in the background.
A group of five people, including one in a wheelchair, posing outdoors during dusk or evening, with city buildings in the background, some smiling and others with neutral expressions.
Group of six people, including two in wheelchairs, smiling outdoors on a city street with old buildings and trees in the background.