Lifeguard Station by Summer '07 contender Fran Minien.

I was stuck inside all day. For those of you who aren't in New York, I have to explain that today's weather was impeccable: it was warm, perpetually sunny, and not at all humid (as has been the case for the past few days.) It was, in essence, a perfect day. At least it was for all the Saturday strollers and lucky brunch-ers I got to serve from within the confines of my East Village restaurant.

Peeved by my indoor day, I was ecstatic to find relief in Fran Minien's sunny seaside photos. The above image of a lifeguard station has enough color in it to make up for my entire day. I also checked out Minien's collection of photos from the British seaside, which offer a beautiful glimpse into what he calls, "coastal culture." I'm particularly fond of number 4--the image with the colorful tents crammed onto the shore.

Mr. Minien was born and raised in Reading in the U.K., to an English mother and a Mauritian father. After studying History and Media Studies, he decided to pursue a Masters in Photography, since it was the field in which he excelled most. Of his interest in photography, he cites a memory of her grandmother snapping away family photos and eventually buying Minien his first camera. He also cites the creative power he found in the medium:

I have always taken photographs, I have always felt that in gave me a sense of freedom to explore my environments, something I loved to do. The moment I realised the full potential of photography [was when it became] a way for me to communicate and engage audiences through what I saw and how I interpreted my vision. The moment the creative side took off for me was the moment I first stepped into a darkroom and realised the potential for my image making.

His influences (besides grandma)?

Some of the photographers who have inspired me and opened my eyes [on] how to look and explore these themes would be Don McCullin, with his work on the human condition, be it at war or impacted by war. In addition, the photographs of Eggleston and Friedlander provided me with a new way to look at taking photographs and the subject matter of what one is taking. They provided, along with Martin Parr, a way to view popular culture and its environments, a fresh approach with a creative and artistic view.

The above photo of a lifeguard post reminds me of my time spent on the beach in Tel Aviv during a recent trip to Israel. There, the lazy lifeguards just sit in their posts shouting at the swimmers through a megaphone, saying things like, "Hey, you! The boy who looks like a girl! Get outta the water!" (I'm pretty sure this was aimed at my well-coiffed kid brother whose blond locks make him look like a 9-year-old Rod Stewart.)

Anyway, I enjoyed looking at Minien's seaside photos on a day like today. It's nice to look at good pictures of the beach, especially when you can't make the trip yourself. Sometimes, it's even nicer just to look. That way you don't get sand stuck in your bathing suit, or sunburnt, or have to schlep around all of your beach gear. In all honesty, a trip to the beach--especially when the closest one is Coney Island, is such a hassle. After a long and tiring day of work, I'd rather just sit back on my Manhattan couch and enjoy Minien's bright blue seaside photos.

For all the rest of you, also sitting back on your city couches after a long day's work, all it takes is a click here, a few words, and an upload for you to be entered in the Summer 2007 edition of Hey, Hot Shot! With only about 3 weeks left, you should really enter now!