Maryland DNR - Ice Breaking - Tangier Sound

Before flying to Tangier Island last Wednesday, I was out on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources's ice breaker 'J. Millard Tawes' taking food to Smith Island and escorting an oil barge through the icy waters of Tangier Sound. The 100-foot steel hull vessel ran through ice that was up 10-12" thick as they cut paths to and from Smith Island. The thickest ice that the crew encountered was at the mouth of the little Annemesex River. 

Yesterday, the Tawes ran into Virginia waters to bring food, mail and medicine to residents the residents of Tangier Island had been cut off since their last delivery since the National Guard's Blackhawk Helicopters had delivered food on Saturday. Captain Eddie Somers and his crew worked around the clock for 11-days straight to accommodate the needs of the residents of Smith and Tangier.

“Ice this year was thicker and covered a larger area that it did in the last big freeze of 2015. And winter is not over yet.”
— Captain Eddie Somers
Ice Breaking Tangier Sound © Jay Fleming04.jpg

Reflecting on 2017

Scroll through the post below to see highlights from 2017 - looking forward to more adventures on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond in 2018! 

Spent 28 days in Cuba traveling throughout the island. Shot over 15,000 pictures of people, places, architecture and landscape.  

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Started shooting for my upcoming book Island Life.

Great photography outings on the Chesapeake Bay. 

Photographing commercial fishing in North Carolina with Jake and Charlie Griffin. 

Hosted 15 Photography workshops on the Chesapeake Bay, taking over 60 people out on the water.

Rebuilding a 22' Privateer for use in 2018 Photography Workshops

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Got my "6-Pack' USCG Captains License 

Time with new and old friends 

Opened a photography studio and office in downtown Annapolis. 

Events, Exhibits, Lectures, and Parties 

Commercial assignments for clients in the United States and Canada covering a wide variety of subject matter. 

Photographs published in 25+ different publications.

Dorchester County, Maryland - 12.31.2017

A quick trip - less than 24-hours - down to lower Dorchester County, Maryland to photograph landscapes with light from the sunset, full moon and sunrise. Heavy Winds and temperatures in the low 20's after sunset made for difficult conditions.

  Ice has started to form in the creeks and along the shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay. With sub-freezing temperatures in the forecast for the first week of 2018, expect to see more 'hard-water' in the bay. 

St. Thomas Church Hall. Bishops Head, Maryland 

St. Thomas Church Hall. Bishops Head, Maryland 

Pritchett's Grocery - the last store on the Bishops Head peninsula. Crocheron, Maryland 

Pritchett's Grocery - the last store on the Bishops Head peninsula. Crocheron, Maryland 

Caskets washing into the Chesapeake Bay reveal bones and coffin handles. Hoopersville, Maryland

Caskets washing into the Chesapeake Bay reveal bones and coffin handles. Hoopersville, Maryland

Workboats, illuminated by the moon, tied up in Farm Creek. Toddville, Maryland 

Workboats, illuminated by the moon, tied up in Farm Creek. Toddville, Maryland 

A workboat breaks ice on Farm Creek, a tributary to Fishing Bay. Toddville, Maryland 

A workboat breaks ice on Farm Creek, a tributary to Fishing Bay. Toddville, Maryland 

North winds and temperatures in the 20's resulted in ice covering north facing shorelines. 

North winds and temperatures in the 20's resulted in ice covering north facing shorelines. 

Loblolly Pines reflected on ice in a shallow tidal pond in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Near Golden Hill, Maryland 

Loblolly Pines reflected on ice in a shallow tidal pond in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Near Golden Hill, Maryland 

Sunset over an ice covered marsh creek. Hoopersville, Maryland 

Sunset over an ice covered marsh creek. Hoopersville, Maryland