‘I’m drawn to a combination of things. The emotion and story behind a photo are just as important, if not more important, than the visual appeal.’

Sutton Lynch, East Hampton

“I started photography as a hobby when I was around 12 or 13 years old, spending almost 100 percent of my time at the beach. I was a lifeguard until I was 22. When the resurgence of marine life started on the East End in 2018 or so, I coincidentally had gotten a drone and wanted to play around with it. In between shifts, I would fly the drone out and check out these whales. I’m drawn to a combination of things. The emotion and story behind a photo are just as important, if not more important, than the visual appeal.

“In 2022, I graduated from Colorado College. My degree was in integrative design, a cross between art and environmental science. Now I spend my time searching for marine life. Obviously, I can only do it during migration season, which begins in May or June, depending on water temperature. It goes through the middle of November.

I’ll have my own studio soon for shows and exhibits, but I don’t want to limit myself.

“This is my first offseason. I didn’t really commit myself to doing this work full time until last May. I’m trying to figure out the business aspects. I’ll have my own studio soon for shows and exhibits, but I don’t want to limit myself. Data collection and science are really important. I hope over the next five to 10 years, I’ll be able to accumulate a broader database to show how migration patterns change, how these animals respond to changing climate.

“My favorite photo, I think, is the humpback image I captured this summer — two humpbacks bubble-net feeding. It was the only time I’d seen them use that method to feed. It was super cool, the fact that it’s a learned behavior, and they have to do it together. When the humpbacks are farther away, I’ll fly the drone around.

“In July, I came across a hammerhead about a quarter mile offshore, aimlessly swimming along the shore. It was big. I work for the Town of East Hampton and let them know if I see anything concerning. That hammerhead was far enough offshore. I wasn’t concerned; there are very few cases of them attacking humans. I’m much more concerned with bluefish. They have razor-sharp teeth, and they’ll eat whatever they get their mouths on. If a person happens to be nearby, there’s a decent chance someone will get a little nibble, which would not feel good.”

Interviewed by Barbara Schuler

‘For me, setting that goal and starting along the journey to the finish line was such a turning point because up until then, I, like many women, had the unhealthiest inner dialogue that you can imagine.’

East Hampton

“I-tri comes from my own experience. Even though I loved to swim and ride my bike as a kid, I never thought of those as athletic endeavors. They were just things I liked to do for fun. It wasn’t until I was 37 when we were in Block Island and I saw a group of people running down the beach, completing the Block Island Triathlon, that I was inspired.

“I told a few of my friends — we all had young kids at the time — that you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I just signed up for this race next August. A few of them said, ‘Let’s do this together.’ So, we looked up how to train for a triathlon and signed up to swim at the Y. I did one lap and thought I was going to die! But as the weeks progressed, I found myself getting stronger.

“For me, setting that goal and starting along the journey to the finish line was such a turning point because up until then, I, like many women, had the unhealthiest inner dialogue that you can imagine. I was my own worst critic. I often tell the girls today I’d never let anyone talk to me the way I talked to myself.

“While I was transforming my body, I was also transforming my mind and my soul and my spirit. I was working to change my inner dialogue and learning how Olympic athletes use visualization to achieve big goals like this. It was the first time in my entire life that I was actually kind to myself. When race day came, it was unbelievable. But as great as that moment was at the finish line, what I realized was that it was really the journey to get there that was so transformative.

“I became the Pied Piper of triathlons. The next year, I brought 20 people to do that race, and over the next five years, went on to do every race on the East End of Long Island.

“In 2010, my daughter, who was about 6 when I started, was getting ready to go to middle school. I had this sense that if I could have learned all of this at her age instead of waiting until I was in my thirties, it would’ve made a huge difference. That’s where the idea for I-tri came from, to take a group of girls in that most vulnerable middle school age and give them all the tools, training, love and support to achieve a really big goal.”

“I went to my daughter’s school, Springs School in East Hampton, and pitched the idea, and they gave me the green light. That first year we worked with 10 girls in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. I wrote the curriculum that we still use today, training the body, mind and spirit.

“Thirteen years later, we now offer the program to girls at 13 schools from Montauk to Mastic and have had over 1,100 girls cross the finish line! Each week,we do after-school empowerment sessions that include lessons on self-love, visualization and affirmations, followed by a fitness session like yoga and Zumba to make fitness fun.

“On Saturdays, they train to swim and run at training facilities in East Hampton and Riverhead. In the spring, we all come together to do biking in preparation for the race. Then we move to on-course sessions in Sag Harbor.

“To level the playing field and make sure that this program is accessible to girls who can benefit, we provide transportation and all the training, equipment and uniforms at no cost to families. It’s just a magical journey that these kids go on.

“Many come to us not knowing how to swim or ride a bike and in a short amount of time successfully complete our Hamptons Youth Triathlon. It’s open to all kids 10 to 17 and held on the third Saturday of July. It consists of a 300-yard open-water swim, a six-mile bike ride and a 1.5- mile run. Many of our alums come back to coach and become lifeguards and swim instructors.

“We’re not just training them for a triathlon. We’re working on social-emotional learning and mental health. We have an integrated Science of Triathlon curriculum. What better way to explain what an incline plane is than to be riding uphill on a bike? Many of our girls go on to play sports for their schools. Some would’ve done that anyway, but so many of them wouldn’t have had the confidence to try out for a team.

“What I said about my experience on the other side of the triathlon is true for each one of those girls.: They cross that finish line feeling like there is nothing I cannot do. If I can do this, I can do anything! They’ve been taught and have learned that they matter, that their thoughts, their actions and their voices matter.”

Interviewed by Liza Burby

‘2015 and even this past year were hard, though they are reminders that we have one life and need to keep moving forward and doing what we can to enjoy the ride.’

East Hampton

“2015 was hard. I was diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm at age 35 after attending a 5k honoring a friend’s sister, who had passed away of a ruptured brain aneurysm.

“Multiple doctors had told me nothing was wrong, despite experiencing facial drooping and tingling. At the 5K doctors spoke about tests and symptoms and I knew I needed those tests. After surgery, the doctor told me my aneurysm was growing and would have been a fatal rupture if left untreated. Also, within that 12 month period, I lost a dear friend and a cousin. They were ages 35 and 48, respectively. I had started Exploring Paths in 2013 to teach students how to cycle and to get them out exploring and experiencing what NY had to offer. Partnered with the YMCA and Citi Bike classes began, as well as rides to museums, nature preserves, anywhere that might spark an interest, and seeing their reactions to these destinations and experiences was incredibly fulfilling.

“My aneurysm and Sanae’s and Monique’s passing strengthened my desire to find a way to ensure more students and those wanting to explore had the opportunity. That’s where I wanted to make an impact. My career has been in technology, though wanting a mix of my passions I had been toying with the idea of making Exploring Paths full-time.

My aneurysm and Sanae’s and Monique’s passing strengthened my desire to find a way to ensure more students and those wanting to explore had the opportunity.

“In 2019 I began building a tech platform to encourage teens and the young-at-heart to explore the world. COVID sped it up. In March 2020, I was hospitalized, and that April I lost my job. Needing to fully recover, I decided to move to Long Island and spend time on Exploring Paths. EP launched in May, and in addition to helping youth and families find destinations to visit, our app will be supporting local museums’ youth programming. We have 162 explorers and over 1,100 global in-person and virtual destinations and experiences for them to find. I’m also excited to expand the program to Long Island and will begin teaching classes this summer. 2015 and even this past year were hard, though they are reminders that we have one life and need to keep moving forward and doing what we can to enjoy the ride.”

‘I’ll start by saying that I grew up knowing very specifically that I didn’t want to be a rabbi.’

East Hampton

“I’ll start by saying that I grew up knowing very specifically that I didn’t want to be a rabbi. And the reason I had that question posed in my head is because my father’s a rabbi and every single person who I met growing up asked me, ‘Do you want to be a rabbi just like your father?’ And the answer that I had formed in my head was a very concrete, ‘No.’ I always had a strong Jewish identity. I went to Jewish summer camp, went to religious school…but I just knew it wasn’t my path.

“When I got to college, things changed. It was a period of self-discovery. On a whim, I took an intro to Hebrew Bible class. I thought it was an ‘easy A’ because I know all these stories! It turned out not just to be more challenging than I thought, but also very revelatory. It made me think about sacred Jewish text in a way that was deep, meaningful and beyond the surface.

The question became eventually, what do you want to do with your life? I realized that it had something to do with creating a Judaism that was different than what I grew up with — something that would engage the future generations.

“And that was kind of the hook. I didn’t want to become a rabbi just because of that one class, but I did want to take another class. And so eventually I found myself teaching at a religious school nearby my university, studied abroad in Israel, and found an affinity to Judaism in a way that I never really felt before. The question became eventually, what do you want to do with your life? I realized that it had something to do with creating a Judaism that was different than what I grew up with — something that would engage the future generations. The one thing that’s very consistent about Judaism is that it constantly changes from each generation to the next, and that’s partly what’s kept our tradition alive for thousands of years. It’s the ability to adapt, to be creative. And so, although I’m a rabbi like my father in that we share the same profession, I’m very much a rabbi unlike my father. And he’s proud of that.

“When you become a rabbi, one of the traditions is that the president of the college ordains you. But when one of your parents is a rabbi, they also take part in that ordination. My father met me in front of the arch and offered me blessings as I was literally becoming a rabbi. That was one of the more special moments I’ve had with him, where his role as a rabbi is directly associated with who I am today.”