Street Photography of the Wildwoods: The Other Side of Nostalgia

Every year, over nine million tourists flock to one of America’s best family beach vacation spots—The Wildwoods of New Jersey.

The iconic barrier island is acclaimed as much for its kitschy “Doo Wop” architecture and signage as for its famous boardwalk, ranked among the top ten most popular in the nation. But the Wildwoods are more than sunshine, blue skies, and quirky motels.

This five-mile strip has a character rarely explored in other books. The colorful explosion of unabashed patriotism, tattooed hipsters, flamboyantly feathered mummers, dazzling custom vehicles, and provocative political T-shirts subverts the resort’s quaint 1950s trappings. As summer fades, the beach, boardwalk, and backstreets return to the fewer than 13,000 residents. The off-season’s quiet solitude and starkness provide a welcome respite before the Wildwoods awaken again.

Xiomáro has been covered by The New York Times and Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, as well as PBS, CBS, ABC, and Fox Nation. His photography is exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States, Europe, and China. Xiomáro was an entertainment attorney representing celebrities before overcoming cancer and pursuing photography.