Suzanne Santoro

Photographer

I am a true local artist, residing right here in Ocean Grove. Completely self-taught, I began taking photographs to express myself in ways I was not able to otherwise. I found beauty through the lens, a beauty not always easily seen in other places: the intricate details of life, the subtle nuance of time passing like a snail in the sand. See, a photograph slows down time, forces us to look, really look, to notice and contemplate, contemplate those life-affirming moments which might otherwise be lost in the hurrying whirr of surviving a difficult world. With my photographs, I want to make the world just a little less difficult.

The ocean is where I feel safest, most at home, most myself. I know I am exactly where I belong when glimpsing this magnificent beast of nature through the humble lens of my camera. I feel protected and protective. I feel very much alive and free.

People may ask, “Why do you take so many photographs of the sunrise?” And I tell them: Because, like snowflakes, every sunrise is different, unique, has its own personality, its own tale to tell. The sunrise is akin to my own heart, rising to meet each new day with enthusiasm, love, and not a single regret.