February/March 2015, Freeze-Up

Three years ago today, the freeze of 2015 started as record cold temperatures took hold of the Chesapeake Bay region. February 2015 was the fourth coldest month on record at BWI Airport behind January 1977, January 1918 and February 1934. Temperatures did not let up until early to mid March, making navigation, commerce and commercial fishing activity difficult and dangerous.

I spent time documenting the effects of the ice on the seafood industry for 'Working the Water' on Tangier Island, Smith Island, Taylors Island, Kent Island, Cambridge, Tolchester Beach and Annapolis.

Smith Island, February 2nd-5th 2018

I spent the weekend on Smith Island to attend a community dinner and photograph the progress being made to the 'Rhodes Point Navigation Project.' Wind, rain and ice kept me indoors and off the water. Being indoors gave me an opportunity to layout chapters for 'Island Life' and plan for shooting this spring/summer. Winter 2017-2018 is turning into a long one. Most of the oystermen on Smith Island have not worked since December 23 with a handful of intrepid watermen getting only one day of work in January after the freeze that locked up most of Tangier Sound. 

During a break in the weather on Saturday evening, I was able to photograph the bow of the 'Carol Ann' reflected in the channel with Allen and Morris Marsh's shanty in the background.

Potential Winter Crab Mortality - January 2018 Freeze on the Chesapeake Bay

Harsh winters can be tough on crab populations, especially on crabs burying themselves in the shallow mud bottoms that are exposed on low tides. Crabs that bury in deeper water are less susceptible to being killed by cold temperatures.

“We left a lot of juvenile crabs on the bottom last fall (2017) . I am worried about the crabs with the freeze up that we had. Tides were making low and I saw ice as thick as it was in 1976 - 1977. ”

— Smith Island crabber

Private Photography Workshop - Maryland Oysters - Kent Narrows

On Friday January 26th, I hosted a private photography workshop out of Grasonville, Maryland to photograph the harvesting and processing of oysters on the Chesapeake Bay - it was a cold but beautiful morning!