LOCAL LENS, GLOBAL VISION: Jay Fleming's Journey from Annapolis to the Galapagos and Beyond
For local photographer Jay Fleming, Annapolis isn't just home-it’s part of his DNA. Born in the old downtown hospital in 1987, Jay's connection to the city stretches back generations. His father, a National Geographic photographer, came to Annapolis in the 1980s to work on a story about the area. "He ended up buying a house in Epping Forest and renting out the basement," Jay recalled. "My mom was a college student that summer, renting the apartment from my grandmother-and that's how the met. That's how I came to be"
Jav's mother went on to work for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), while his father often brought him along on photography excursions-eventually gifting him one of his Nikon film cameras. During high school, Jay interned with the DNR, participating in fish tagging and monitoring projects with biologists. Those earlv experiences gave him a lasting appreciation for the environment and life on the Chesapeake Bay.
After college, Jay joined the DNR's seafood marketing program, developing strategies to connect consumers with Maryland's watermen. He helped launch the True Blue initiative to promote locally sourced seafood - an experience that inspired his Idea for a photographic proiect focused on the Bay’s seafood industry. By 2015, he made the leap to pursue photography full time documenting the people and places that define the Chesapeake.
TURNING A PASSION INTO A PROFESSION
"By 2015, my entire income depended on my camera - my books, my prints, my workshops. It's all me, Jay said with a smile. Over the past decade, he has led photography workshops that have inspired and connected more than 500 photographers. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Galápagos Islands, his workshops bring together people who share a love for nature, light, and storytelling through photography "I put people in the right place with the right light and subject matter so they can experience and learn firsthand," he explained. "It's about giving them the confidence to do it on their own”
COMMUNITY BUILT THROUGH THE LENS
Jay's work is deeply rooted in his local community. He’s spent years documenting the Chesapeake’s commercial fishing industry, bridging the gap between watermen and consumers. “want people to understand where their seafood comes from," he said. "I've photographed countless local watermen, capturing the heart of what makes our bay culture so special”
His images have become synonymous with the Chesapeake-raw. real. and reverent or a wav or lite that defines this region.
In 2016, Jay self-published his first book, Working the Water, a photojournalistic collection celebrating watermen, crab pickers, and boat builders. He spent three years gathering images and immersing himself in the Bay's seafood culture. His second book, Island Life (2021), focuses on Smith and Tangier Islands, exploring their unique communities and documenting the impacts of rising sea levels and climate change on their fragile environments.
GIVING BACK TO THE BAY
Jay also serves on the board of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, contributing photography, assisting with exhibits, and supporting fundraising efforts."It’s Important for me to give back to the community that gave me so much” he said.
He'll host an Open House at his Kent Island studio on November 29-30, where visitors can meet him in person, view his work, and take part in giveaways and special sales. Then, on December 5, he'll host a holiday fundraiser at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, featuring local products and support the museum's mission to preserve the Chesapeake’s maritime heritage.
THROUGH JAY'S EYES
From his roots in Annapolis to his global adventures, Jay Fleming remains true to one thing telling authentic stories through his photography. His ens doesn't lust capture the beauty - it connects people, places, and purpose.
