Mike Cuomo’s love of photography began in Montauk, the place that first inspired him to pick up a camera. Starting in the late 1970s, he spent summers there with his family, using a Canon AE-1 gifted by his aunt to capture 35mm images of fish, birds, and countless sunsets. Those early photographs were his first attempts to share his personal view of the magical landscape at the eastern tip of Long Island.

Aviation also shaped Mike’s connection to Montauk. His father, a pilot, chose their home for its proximity to Montauk Airport (MTP). For several years, his father and a partner leased the airport from Perry Duryea and operated a small charter service, Montauk Air, flying a Cessna 207 to destinations such as Connecticut and Block Island. Mike spent many summers working at the airport and logging hours in small planes, gaining a lasting appreciation for Montauk from above.

Although he never pursued a pilot’s license, the aerial perspective stayed with him. Today, Mike uses drone photography to share that same breathtaking view of Montauk that he once experienced from the co-pilot’s seat beside his father.

Through his images, Mike invites viewers to explore Montauk’s beauty and atmosphere, while he continues to cherish the early 35mm photographs that first sparked his passion for capturing the place he still holds close.

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