“Out East from Above | An Aerial Tour of The South Fork” is a new coffee table book by authors Lainey Stewart and Kaeley Michaelson. It offers a visual tour and a window into the heart and soul of the East End’s villages and beaches. We asked sisters Stewart and Michaelson to answer a few questions about the book and the process.
What inspired you to create the book “Out East From Above”?
We’re sisters, and we’re very close. For years, we talked about doing something creative together and what that first project might look like. Funny enough, our inspiration was there all along. Together, we have decades of shared memories, experiences, and love for the East End community. When Lainey started capturing aerial drone photography for her company, Ten Anchors, a few light bulbs went off. Why not fuse her photography with our stories and love of the local history to feature locations and businesses we admire and appreciate?
Five years later, and we are so excited to share a curated visual tour of the East End, providing a unique window in the heart and soul of the South Fork. Inspired by our favorite places to stay, things to do, and eateries to try, we want viewers to enjoy something they can look at and feel when they want to remember the magic of being Out East.
Tell us about your background and creative process.
Our creative process began to take shape through capturing countless drone photographs. We started to see a pattern as we sought out more of our favorite places to see how they appeared… from above. Then, we began pairing the photos with the recommendations and fun facts we shared with friends and family over the years. Whenever anyone asks us, “Where should we go when we come to visit?” we always have an answer.
In the beginning, we set a holistic look and feel to establish our aesthetic. We wanted to intentionally reflect colors from the natural environment and the vibrancy of the businesses we feature in an effort to compliment both the photography and the copy. Throughout the entire creative process, we’ve stayed in lockstep with each other, ping-ponging constructive feedback, back and forth, from one sister to another and then, using our family as a sounding board.
Overall, our goal was to create something meaningful together that would celebrate the places we love and give fellow fans of this special pocket of the world something beautiful to display at home.
What are a few of your favorite spots on the East End?
You’ll have to check out our book! But in the meantime, we’ve included a few gems you’ll see in these photos.
What do you love most about the East End community?
Everyone with roots here shares an overwhelming sense of appreciation for what the East End has to offer. The community is supportive, passionate, and inspiring. Every business owner we collaborated with was warm, welcoming, and excited to be a part of “Out East From Above.” Working with Joey Wölffer is another great example of genuine community support. We shared our story with her, and she was humble, gracious, and excited to contribute and write our Foreword. The East End is truly a sanctuary, and the community is a shining element of its culture.
The book is available for pre-order. Locally, you will soon find “Out East from Above” at BookHampton and the Parrish Art Museum.
