C H E S A P E A K E
Within a three hour drive of home, the land gradually transitions to water on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in The Chesapeake Region. I have long been fascinated by marshland and where the land meets water. Unlike the dramatic transitions of the rocky shores of Maine or California, this is a more gradual, more subtle transition. And it shows off a character that stands the test of time. I plan to explore this region often in the coming months and years. This is very much a work in progress, so check back often.
One Monday Morning
The highlight of my first trip was a glorious sunrise on a Monday morning. I had the entire place to myself - except for the abundant wildlife that were enjoying the sunrise as much as I was. I saw several bald eagles... could hardly hear over the "roar" of frogs, birds and other animals... and watched and listened in amazement as a beaver worked on its lodge. I did all of this in the hours before most people start work.
Color In The Sky
It’s big sky country in the southern part of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And when the sky is performing its magic show, you have no choice but to stand in awe, and watch. Each minute it seems to change… sometimes subtle, and sometimes dramatic. I think the land being surrounded by huge amounts of water on three sides impacts the weather and the light. It is captivating to witness in person and it is amazing what happens down there when the conditions are right.
A Return Visit
In June 2023, I returned to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay near the Blackwater area. It is one of my favorite places to visit... flat, wide open, marshy areas with lots of wildlife... and hardly any people. Those grand, wide open, flat marshy scenes require great light and interesting skies in order to make worthwhile images. And if you live in the northeast, you know we had terrible hazy white skies almost all spring because of the wildfires in Canada. Hazy white skies are about the worst you can have if you are trying to make good photographs.
Luckily, the smoke does something else. It partially obscures the sun and gives a warm, orange glow to the land at sunrise. So, with a wake-up call at 4:45am, I went to my favorite place on Maple Dam Road and started looking. After some time, I found the right combination of color, sky, water, and trees.
Left Behind On The Eastern Shore
During one of my trips to the lower Eastern Shore, I did some kayaking and bike riding. The area is one of the most beautiful areas where I have ridden my bike… many miles of scenic roads with hardly any cars. We did a little exploring and found a small community called Bishops Head… far down at the bottom of Fishing Bay. I was struck by the challenges of life in this remote area and the large number of abandoned houses. It seems many have tried to make a go of it down here and many gave up. I came back on a future trip to make some images of these houses left behind to whither away in the harsh elements.
