Fleet Week: A Celebration of Service and Maritime Tradition

Every spring Fleet Week transforms New York City into a site of cultural exchange, where military precision intersects with urban spontaneity. This sequence examines the temporary reshaping of public spaces when uniformed service members step into civilian rhythms. The project looks at how these annual encounters challenge our understanding of authority, identity, and social boundaries within the urban landscape.

The work reveals underlying tensions between institutional power and individual expression. The images trace how service members negotiate their dual roles during this liminal period – maintaining their military bearing while participating in civilian life. This oscillation between duty and leisure illuminates broader questions about performative identity and social ritual in public spaces.

The project extends beyond documenting a cultural tradition, instead examining how Fleet Week functions as a unique social laboratory. By focusing on moments of intersection between military and civilian life, the work explores temporary disruptions of established social hierarchies. These ephemeral encounters offer insights into how institutional structures adapt when placed within the improvisational nature of city life.