Named for the Congressman who co-sponsored the bill, the Otis Pike High Dune Wilderness Area, located 50 miles east of New York City, is a seven mile stretch of wilderness composed of barrier islands that was set aside by Congress in 1964. It is the only federally-protected wilderness in New York State and is one of the smallest wilderness areas managed by the National Park Service (NPS). As such, this environment in the NPS’s Fire Island National Seashore remains in its natural state – there are no boardwalks, restrooms, concession stands, or other facilities – to preserve its pristine condition without human development or intervention.
I was commissioned by the NPS for a year-long project to artistically document the constantly changing beauty of this unique ecosystem. To the casual visitor, at first glance, the wilderness may appear to be nothing more than barren expanses. But, as seen here, its true character is revealed as a sublime, mysterious environment of stunning vitality. As with a film or book, fine art photographs compress time and heighten reality to help convey the truth of an experience or sense of place. The images in this gallery invite exploration and viscerally conveys the spatial identity of the wilderness that transcends what one sees and reads about on informational websites, brochures, and other literature.
All photographs are available for exhibition and purchase. Contact Xiomaro
Any image or text or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever – including any and all uses in connection with artificial intelligence technology – without my express written permission. Violators will, and have been, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Xiomaro logo by Azul Burger. Photos of Xiomaro by Barbara Cittadino.