Reflecting on Annapolis Photography Workshops - July 2018

This week, I hosted fifteen photographers on the water out of Annapolis during three workshops. A break in the recent wet weather pattern provided us with great weather each morning for shooting at the mouth of the Severn and South Rivers. We focused our shooting efforts on watermen targeting crabs and clams, recreational fishermen, Thomas Point Lighthouse, the commercial shipping industry and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.   

There are two spaces available for both the Thursday (8.2.2018) and Friday (8.3.2018) workshops next week. Contact me for more information or to reserve a space:

Jaypfleming@gmail.com
or
410-279-8730

Fishermen targeting Striped Bass at Thomas Point Shoal Light as the moon sets in the west. 

The spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge silhouetted in the morning light. 

Tankers anchored just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at the mouth of the Severn River. 

Fishermen targeting Striped Bass silhouetted at Sunrise. 

Ward Museum - Smith Island Workshop - August 11th

I am excited to be hosting the Ward Museum's third annual Smith Island photography workshop on August 11th, 2018 as part of the Art in Nature festival. This one day workshop provides a great opportunity to get a taste of what the island has to offer. Space is limited to 10 photographers. 

For more information or to sign up, contact the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University. 

www.wardmuseum.org
or
410.742.4988

Exploring the Eastern Shore of Virginia - July 2018

Following a book presentation at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences in Wachapreague, Virginia, I had an opportunity to explore Virginia's seaside with Annapolis photographer, Bill Misch. Bill has taken my Hoopers Island and Smith Island photography workshops. Bill extended an offer to stay at his family's vacation home in Wachapreague for three days while we explored the shallow creeks and inlets of the seaside.

  Most of our exploring was centered around Cedar Island - a narrow barrier island that extends north to south approximately five miles. Cedar Island is a dynamic island, with sands constantly shifting from wind and wave action. Dozens of buildings on stood on the island, with the last house falling into the ocean in 2014. The Coast Guard station on the north end is the last remaining structure, it sits approximately 100 yards west of the breaking waves of the Atlantic. Cedar Island hosts an incredible number of nesting birds, including the hard-to-photograph Black Skimmer. This was the prime time to photograph the nesting colonies, as the eggs had just hatched and adults were actively bringing fish back to the chicks. 

  The waterways of the seaside are dramatically different from those in the Chesapeake Bay. Narrow marsh creeks, sand bars, oyster bars extending out of the water and shifting channels make it a difficult area to navigate. My smaller skiff - 17' privateer - was the perfect vessel for navigating the erratic bottom. 

The decommissioned Coast Guard station on Cedar Island, now privately owned, is an icon to the Barrier Islands. The Coast Guard station is the last remaining structure of dozens that once stood on the island.

Sunset light over the marsh looking west from Cedar Island to Folly Creek. 

The maritime forest on Parramore Island falling victim to the forces of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Dawson's Shoal is a waterbird nesting site at the mouth of Wachapreague Inlet. 

Thousands of Black Skimmers utilize the remote beaches of Virginia's Barrier Islands for nesting grounds during the summer months. 

2019 Galapagos Islands Photography Workshop - Accent on Travel

  Photography is a significant component of travel these days, and Rehoboth’s Accent On Travel is proud to be a leader in this capacity by partnering and co-hosting April 2019’s exclusive 14-day exotic charter yacht trip with award-winning photographer Jay Fleming, son of National Geographic Photographer. This Galapagos bound adventure will host 14 travelers who are eager to hone their amateur or professional skillsets. If you’re supporting a loved one or are always carrying a camera around your neck, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Galapagos Islands through a professional’s eyes.
  Featured in over 30 publications, Fleming is well-known for his wildlife, scenic, underwater and local photography making him an exemplary and exciting leader through the Galapagos Islands.
  A frequent destination for travelers from all around the world this trip is designed to dive deeper than a typical vacation plan, offering travelers an insight into local life with an individualized touch. This simultaneous luxurious and up close and personal excursion will include four nights in the historically rich Quito, Ecuador.
  Also on the agenda are three nights at the internationally recognized Finch Bay Hotel. Centrally located in the hub of the beautiful land and seascapes, shopping and highlands, our 14 guests will not only enjoy Accent On Travel’s and Jay Fleming’s hospitality, but the superior comfort and adventure the Finch Bay Hotel has elevated for years.
  As the trip continues, travelers will have the privileged opportunity to follow a local fisherman, better immersing themselves in the culture and environment. Another itinerary feature is visiting the local blue-footed booby hatchery. This colorful bird found on the Galapagos Islands is estimated to include nearly half of all breeding pairs population of the blue-footed boobies.
  Each day includes expert photography workshops with Fleming, as he teaches the travelers how to hone their skills, understand lighting, put their photography vocabulary to the test and much more. By the end of the two weeks, you should not only be able to handle your camera better, but you should also have a better appreciation for the outdoors, remote lands and species rarely seen.
  For any interested passengers, Accent On Travel of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware will be hosting a complimentary presentation July 17, 2018, where they can meet Jay Fleming and learn more about his photo retreats, his professional instructions and the trip logistics handled by Accent On Travel. Space is limited, so RSVP is required. Call Accent On Travel’s office number at 302-278-6100 to save your seat today. Interested in other Accent On Travel cruises and trips? Visit their website at www.accentontravel.us.