South Fork

The Hamptons: Behind the Hedges & Beyond the Dunes

In his preface to Jake Rajs' beautiful new book, Beyond the Dunes: A Portrait of the Hamptons (Monacelli Press, $60), New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger notes the photographer "shows us a vision of the Hamptons at once beautiful and fragile, prosperous but not smug." No easy feat when it comes to portraying such a storied locale, and Rajs manages it magnificently. The book is divided into geographical sections of the South Fork: Westhampton, Quogue and Hampton Bays; Shinnecock and Southampton; Water Mill, Bridgehampton and Sagaponack; Sag Harbor and the Springs; East Hampton and Amagansett; and Montauk (or, as we like to call them: No Money, Old Money, New Money, Some Money, More Money and What Money?). Along the way he finds everything from privet hedges to pumpkin fields and fishermen to polo players. Pictured here is an imposing "cottage" on Southampton's fabled Gin Lane. The book won't be out for another couple of weeks, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon. Meanwhile see the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Beyond the Dunes