NEW YORK, NY.- The new photography book by Anderson Zaca, Fire Island Invasion: Day of Independence (Damiani Books, 2025), celebrates the legendary Fire Island Invasion of the Pines, an annual event that takes place on July 4 on Fire Island, New York. The inaugural Invasion took place in 1976, when a drag queen from Cherry Grove was denied entry into a restaurant in the Fire Island Pines and a group of her friends, also dressed in drag, stormed the island in protest. Since then, The Invasion has been repeated every year, with hundreds of drag queens descending on The Pines to commemorate and celebrate this original act of protest. This book marks the 50th anniversary of this historic cultural phenomenon.

This project began with Anderson Zaca’s invitation to the annual Fire Island Invasion in 2007. Documenting the event with more than 3,000 images spanning almost two decades, Zaca's photographs serve as both an archive and a tribute to The Invasion, rooted in the rebellious spirit of the 1970s gay liberation movement. Shot in black-and-white film with a medium format camera, his work combines traditional and contemporary elements, showcasing the beautiful contradictions in the political, sexual, and fiercely competitive expression of the drag queens. Zaca’s images highlight the genius of their beauty and the elegance of this magical event.

The book is structured in four acts: Make Up, when the day begins with the queens getting dolled up; Invasion, when crowds of queens invade The Pines and start the drag ball; Pool Party, a raucous “high tea,” with dancing and performances; and Homecoming, the return to Cherry Grove and the ceremony crowning the new Homecoming Queen.

Thom (Panzi) Hansen, who led the inaugural Invasion, writes in the introduction, “Through these stunning portraits, [Zaca’s] work immortalizes the magic of that first Invasion, along with the vibrant energy that has followed every year since. This book will allow you to feel the pulse of the celebration, just as we lived it.”

Anderson Zaca (b. 1976), an award-winning visual artist, holds degrees in photography and film production. Zaca teaches photography, journalism, and filmmaking, while managing a portfolio of high-profile commercial clients, including Nike, Budweiser, Neiman Marcus, Spotify, Renault, Samsung, Rolling Stone, and Target. Named Best Fashion Photographer by the Visual Arts Press Awards in 2018, Zaca has showcased his work in exhibitions worldwide and in various publications.

Zaca’s first book, Block Party: Soul of Summer, documents the quintessential New York City tradition of the block party. Inspired by this body of work, Fuji Film and Samsung 360 sponsored an exhibition at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Zaca is currently working on a feature documentary about Carnaval, as well as screenplays for feature films. He is also the director, producer, and host of “The Darkroom MCs,” a photography documentary series premiering on PBS in Spring 2025.


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