Scenes From a Pre Digital Camera Summer Camp

Before smartphones and social media transformed every moment into a potential post, summer camp was a place where time stretched long and slow

Memories were etched in film. Photographer Mark Steinmetz captures this ephemeral magic in his series Summer Camp, documenting American youth at camps across North Carolina, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Georgia between 1986 and 1997.

Steinmetz's black-and-white photographs reveal the quiet intensity of adolescence: a girl crossing a foggy bridge with a sleeping bag, campers covered in shaving cream, moments of solitude and camaraderie. These images reflect the emotional landscape of growing up—joy, uncertainty, and the poignant realization of change. As Steinmetz notes, there's a "grave maturity developing at around 11 years old," a time when emotions carry a unique poignancy.

In an era before digital cameras and instant sharing, these photographs serve as a testament to the unfiltered experiences of youth. They remind us of a time when summer camp was a world apart—a place of self-discovery, fleeting friendships, and the bittersweet passage from childhood to adolescence.

For those interested in exploring this evocative collection, Summer Camp by Mark Steinmetz is available through Nazraeli Press