Taken at Jones Beach during the time the world shut down, socially distanced and masked up, photography was an excuse to be in the company of friends and create a peaceful image in a world that was in turmoil.

The photograph is 11 x 14 in a 16 x 20 frame. The photograph was donated by the very talented Sue Auriemma, a long time KACS volunteer and parent advocate and internationally renowned photographer in honor of her daughter Kate who survived after Sue backed over her at age 3.                                                                                              

Taken during the unprecedented stillness of the global shutdown, The Weight of Quiet captures a rare moment of serenity at the Jones Beach Piers. With the world paused, socially distanced and masked, photography became a refuge — an excuse to safely gather, create, and reflect. This image holds the hush of isolation and the comfort of companionship, suspended in the soft gradient of dusk. The long exposure smooths the water into a mirror of calm, echoing the quiet that settled over us all. A peaceful image born from a time of turmoil, it speaks to the resilience of creativity and the deep human need for connection — even at a distance.