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The Beach

Family holiday. Receipts still exist for the purchase of car - Bondi beach, NSW

What appears striking in this image is the various ways in which each member of this family is positioned on the beach. Their new car has enabled them to travel and experience new locations and their unfamiliarity with the beach is realised by their interactions with each other and their behaviour in this new setting.

Only the sand upon which they sit indicates that they are at the beach. Huddled together in their formal attire they appear to be out of context. The younger woman and two children appear to be more comfortable and willing to experience the sandy setting- at least they have removed their shoes. The young boy in the front right of frame appears to be rubbing his toes in the sand, while he lies on his tummy, perhaps enjoying the new sensory experience. The other child sits close to the father, appearing more reserved. Similarly, the older woman (mother-in-law?) and man (her son?) wear sunglasses and fold their arms tightly in gestures suggesting self protection and restraint. The family appears to be divided in their attitudes to, and interaction with, the beach.

The high camera angle, size of frame and absence of direct gaze encodes some interesting interpersonal meanings. Perhaps an anonymous photographer (beach photographers increasingly wandered the sandy shores to capture images of Australians at leisure.) who stood above the group at a close personal distance, intruded and exerted power over them in his desire to capture their image as beach culture neophytes. Engagement with the group is denied as all but the child in the foreground avert their gaze.

We may wonder about this family's beach holiday and if or how this new setting may have changed and shaped their experiences, attitudes and wardrobe.

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