The Real Fire Island

When photographer Dusty St. Amand (or @dusterz, as he's known to his 14,800 Instagram followers) made his first visit to Fire Island Pines over the July 4th holiday, he explains that he went to see "not just the zenith of shirtlessness, but to further witness the interconnectivity of all things." Camera in hand, St. Amand used his keen eye and distinct male gaze to capture a portfolio of shots that reflect his brand of the artful and the salacious, the graceful, and the gritty.

"Bodies touch bodies and voices resonate within endless ears," he recalls. "There's the drag brigade -- war paint in the humidity, and stilettos amid sand and shells. Boys of all breeds abound. And girls like Sativa, Truvada, and Molly are there en masse as well. For some, this place is debaucherous; for others, it's peaceful -- a true, wild resort. I went to watch men without walls. To see restraint lifted and friendships formed. To see lines of age, and safety crossed. To savor the salt of skin."

To see more work from Dusty St. Amand, visit SuchDustyPhotos.com, and follow him on Instagram at Instagram.com/dusterz.