Providence photographer Kathie Florsheim has been working for several years to document life along the coast in southern New England. Her concerns encompass not only the visual impact of the shoreline, but also what those visuals tell us about how our society relates to and values the natural environment. This leads to lots of interesting work, and some interesting insights from Kathie as well.

If, by chance, you think photographing  along the coastline sounds like an peachy job, consider that you will carry a camera, wear a photo jacket with equipment and film stuck in every pocket, a hat to protect you from the sun, sunscreen, shoes and a lot more clothing than a bathing suit. This July, in pursuit of photographic nirvana, I photographed on 13 beaches in Dennis, Mass. My mania occurred over the hottest weekend of the year, so the beaches were throbbing with people. That reality made empty, private beaches flanking the public watering holes all the more conspicuous. Preceding the delight of pulsating with a large crowd, is the pleasure of finding a parking space, or waiting in line for one. So the private parking was equally conspicuous.  

Click on "More..." for the rest of Kathie's essay, and click here to go to her Web site to see more photos.

As I was waiting in line, I was approached by an enterprising homeowner, offering to sell me space in her driveway. Frugality overcame my desire to get on with the work, and I refused. I also wanted to find out how long it would take to get into the beach. Forty-five minutes later, I had an answer and a parking place. Of course, residents can walk to the beach or bicycle there, but  there is absolutely no parking permitted along the side of the road. There have been times when I have willfully trespassed, but this was not one of them. So unless you are a resident living close by, or have a beach parking sticker, it is a trial to go to the beach. And that is true unfortunately at nearly every beach in New England. Add to that the increasing cost of parking, if you can find an open lot, and in some places the cost of getting on the beach. Not a recipe for the leisurely or inexpensive beach day.

I ran into a family from Westport, Conn., at Narragansett Town Beach, while working. They had somehow walked onto the beach without being asked to pay the entrance fee. Lucky for them, until they had to use the facilities. Imagine their surprise when the attendant expected to charge them $5 each to use the bathroom. Or the tourists from the West Coast, where coastal access is far less of an issue. They were shocked, open-mouthed, to hear that there was a fee for walking on the beach.

With local, state and federal budgets in decrepit disrepair, I don’t see any relief. What concerns me the most is that our coastlines are becoming the playground solely for those who have the resources to get there, and to afford the fees. While I am sympathetic to the need to maintain the beaches, and probably to raise money for the town that otherwise would not be available, that begs the question: to whom does the coastline belong? Is it the property of the town where it is located? What about those of us who live in urban settings? What about those who cannot afford the chit?

This becomes an increasingly pressing issue, as our climate warms and more of us need to go to a cooler place during the summer.

Kathie Florsheim's photos of the shore can be viewed online here.

All photos and text copyright 2008 by Kathie Florsheim.