Lifeguard Towers: Miami

By Tommy Kwak

A visual homage to resilience, color, and design, Lifeguard Towers: Miami captures the vibrant spirit of South Florida through the lens of photographer Tommy Kwak. After Hurricane Andrew’s devastation in 1992, Miami Beach reimagined its shoreline with artistically re-designed lifeguard towers — bright symbols of recovery and civic pride.

Following in the footsteps of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s typological studies, Kwak meticulously documents over 30 iconic lifeguard towers along Miami Beach. Each image is unified by long exposures and consistent framing, highlighting unique architectural forms against serene skies and sea backdrops. The result is a meditative, almost surreal portrait series that transforms functional structures into graphic art.

With his signature eye for composition, color, light, and form, Kwak elevates the lifeguard tower from municipal necessity to cultural icon. Lifeguard Towers: Miami is both a love letter to coastal architecture and a celebration of Miami's enduring energy.

Book Details

Format: Hardcover
Size: 8.25” x 6.25”
Pages: 56
Photos: 42 full-color photographs
Cover: Debossed with tipped-in photograph
Publisher: Blurring Books (Brooklyn, NY)
Introduction by Karen Taylor Quinn (The New Yorker)
Print Status: Sold out of first and second runs (3,500 copies total), currently in third printing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many lifeguard towers are featured in the book?
A: The book features over 30 lifeguard towers photographed along Miami Beach.

Q: Is this book suitable for design and architecture lovers?
A: Absolutely. The book’s focus on structure, color, and form makes it ideal for fans of architecture, design, and photography.

Q: Who is Tommy Kwak?
A: Tommy Kwak is a fine art photographer known for his minimalist aesthetic and mastery of color and light. This book is one of his most recognized series.

Q: What makes this series unique?
A: The consistent framing, long exposures, and pastel sky-sea backgrounds strip distractions, allowing the towers’ eccentric forms and vivid colors to shine.

Q: Is this a limited-edition book?
A: The first and second printings sold out quickly. The book is currently available in its third printing, making it a sought-after item for collectors.

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