Michael Clinton Photographs Different Side Of The Hamptons - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1339810

Michael Clinton Photographs Different Side Of The Hamptons

icon 7 Photos

CSV28622A

authorJon Winkler on Jun 30, 2016

Some may have a set of particular images in their heads when they think of the Hamptons, but Michael Clinton hopes to show a different side this summer.

The president of marketing and the publishing director of Hearst Magazines is about to release his seventh photography book, “The Hamptons.” The book, which hit shelves Monday, July 4, is the first in “The Snap Series,” which will chronicle Mr. Clinton’s trips all around the world. “The Hamptons” features more than 250 pages of photos and descriptions of eye-catching settings and events from Shinnecock to Montauk.

In a recent phone interview, Mr. Clinton said the book took a little more than a year to put together.

“I did a book last year called ‘Closer’ and it was the same format as this one,” he said. “I went all over the world and did detail shots in different places. So then I thought, ‘Why not do a book each for different special places?’”

As far as his choice of the Hamptons, he said he wanted to showcase the area in a different perspective.

“I wanted to capture the everyday Hamptons. There are many things that people don’t look for or look at because they always see the usual stuff, the fancy houses, the beaches, and so on. I wanted the photos to be something different so that everyone could relate to it. Not everyone can relate to the photos of big mansions.”

Mr. Clinton captures multiple elements of modern life in the Hamptons, whether it be a group kneeboarding session in Sag Harbor, the outdoor sculpture that welcomes visitors to the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, or the Old Hook Windmill at the Home Sweet Home Museum in East Hampton. Mr. Clinton said his favorite place to take pictures was Water Mill, where he has a home.

“My house is on a farming reserve and the town is still very countrified. There’s big open space, lots of light, and it’s very uncrowded.”

Mr. Clinton said Amagansett proved to be a difficult area to shoot, though he admitted the blame was on him for the struggle.

“I’m not familiar with the back-roads of Amagansett, so there were so many parts of the area I didn’t know.”

He already has selected the next two destinations for “The Snap Series.” Santa Fe, New Mexico, and New Orleans, Louisiana, are on his agenda. Though that’s as far as he says he’s gotten.

“It’s probably going to take a couple of years to plan the trips and put everything together,” Mr. Clinton said.

Mr. Clinton originally started out as a reporter and—despite his day job of overseeing magazines such as Esquire, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar—he says his passion for photography has been going strong for the past 20 years.

“In my genre of work, you’re lucky to have a special kind of experience. I’ve flown over the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, which is a dazzling place to see with your own eyes. Whether you’re in the mountains of Bhutan or Madagascar, it’s all about capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments.”

He refers to his style of photography for the book as “detail photography.” He explained that one incident taught him a lesson about taking pictures.

“I was standing on a glacier ice pack in Antarctica, and standing to the left of me was this abandoned wooden shed. I shot that and it eventually became the cover of my book ‘Global Remains.’ You can often miss the detail that’s often right in front of you, the pearl in the scene.”

You May Also Like:

‘Architecture of the Overflow’ With Emily Johnson at The Church

Have a seat on one of the many quilts that will be laid out in ... 1 Apr 2025 by Staff Writer

Fourth Annual Creativity Conference at The Church

On Saturday, April 5, The Church will host its fourth annual Creativity Conference. The daylong event begins with coffee and breakfast for all attendees at 9:30 a.m. A lunch break will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. (lunch not included). Composer Carter Burwell will lead off the presentations at 10 a.m. with “Why do films have music.” Burwell worked for years scoring Coen Brothers films and won an Academy Award for scoring Todd Haynes’s “Carol.” He also received nominations for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Next up will be Lucy Jacobs, a magnetic speaker ... 31 Mar 2025 by Staff Writer

Sag Harbor's Peter Browngardt's Makes His First Looney Tunes Feature

Just a few weeks ago, Peter Browngardt, a creator, writer, executive producer and director of ... by Annette Hinkle

'Writing From Art: Poetry, Prose and the Lyric Essay'

Explore the possibilities of creative writing and develop new connections between visual art and the written word in a two-session workshop at The Church on Tuesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 10. Led by published poet and scholar Star Black, this two-session literary workshop will focus on the idea of ekphrasis, an Ancient Greek term meaning “the use of detailed description of a work of visual art as a literary device.” Inspired by the works featured in “Eternal Testament,” the current exhibition at The Church, participants will generate a series of creative texts detailing their unique experiences of selected pieces ... by Staff Writer

April Gornik Discusses ‘Figures du Fou’

On Sunday, April 27, join artist April Gornik for a richly illustrated virtual walk-through of the “Figures du Fou” (Figures of the Fool) exhibition that opened on October 16, 2024 at the Louvre Museum and closed on February 5, 2025. The talk begins at 3 p.m. “Figures of the Fool” was brilliantly curated by Elisabeth Antoine-König and Pierre-Yves Le Pogam. Gornik will share slides, talk about the curators’ intent and introduce her own insights and ideas. Along the way, she will invite thoughts and comments from the audience and, at the end, there will be a more formal question-and-answer period. ... by Staff Writer

The Ultimate Tribute to the Music of Bon Jovi

The Suffolk presents Don Jovi, the ultimate tribute to the music of Bon Jovi, on ... by Staff Writer

Opening Reception for Shimon Okshteyn Exhibition

On March 21, an opening reception was held for “Shimon Okshteyn: The Artists Estate/Part 1: ... by Staff Writer

Second Annual ‘March Madness: Small Works at the Library’

The Springs Historical Society presents the second annual “March Madness: Small Works at the Library” ... 28 Mar 2025 by Staff Writer

The Suffolk Presents '12 Angry Men,' Its First Live Theatrical Production

Since opening its doors in 2013, Suffolk Theater has built its reputation as a place ... 25 Mar 2025 by Annette Hinkle

Screenwriters, Screenplays and Mentors Announced for HamptonsFilm’s 25th Screenwriters Lab

HamptonsFilm, home of Hamptons International Film Festival, has selected fellows, screenplays and mentors for the ... by Staff Writer