CAPTURING LIFE

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CAPTURING LIFE ON THE WATER

A Q & A WI TH C H E S AP E AKE B AY P H O TO G R AP H E R J AY FLE M I N G

B y M a r y M c C a r t h y

Whether it’s the simple reflection of a boat hull on the water, the worn face of a lifelong waterman on a Chesapeake island, or a family of nesting brown pelicans captured down to the detail of their eye color, Jay Fleming’s photos illustrate life on the Chesapeake Bay like no other photographer past or present. Like the watermen that often surround him and are depicted in his book Working the Water, Jay works the water by spending countless hours on it himself. He rises with the sun and often spends full days in its rays until it sets.

He is nostalgic. The fact that he keeps a dozen of old cameras used to shoot images across his lifetime in his office reflects a sentimentality that shows in his work as he tells the stories of those whose lives are illustrated forever in one of his candid portraits. Captaining his custombuilt Privateer, or if conditions call for it, the trusty kayak that served as his first means of transportation around the disappearing islands of the Bay to capture moments that can’t be seen from the shoreline, Jay’s images document what might be lost were it not for his ability to tell these poignant stories of the Chesapeake. His new book, Island Life, will be out in 2021. We sat down with Jay to ask some questions about his photography and what we can learn from his work:

Chesapeake Family Life: When did you know you wanted to be a photographer? Jay Fleming: I was 13 when I received a film camera from my dad. I learned how to process film on my own. When I finally got a driver’s license and could go out in the early morning to capture wildlife, I took my kayak to places that weren’t accessible by car. I loved to photograph birds: herons, egrets and other shorebirds. But I never thought I’d be able to make a living from it.

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CFL: What is your process for choosing photos for a book? JF: It’s really about figuring out the story you want to tell. I am starting with about 330,000 images and I have to narrow them down to about 300 for the book. The story evolves over time. I’m looking at the seafood industries: the people, the boats, the product, the gear. And there are the details, like which pound netting or crab potting photos best tell the story.

CFL: What tips do you have for capturing wildlife? JF: Try to get out early in the morning before sunrise when the light is soft, or at sunset. Marshy areas are great, and it’s even better if you can get out in a kayak and paddle around small creeks to find herons and other birds on the shoreline.

CFL: Do you have some advice for parents and young kids beginning photography? JF: Pick up another device: the camera. Get outside, start kids young. Take a photography workshop—I offer workshops in June to Smith Island, in August in Annapolis and I offer private trips on the water.

CFL: What can people gain or learn from your photography workshops? JF: In my workshops we visit remote

locations in the Chesapeake where few others travel. It’s a one-on-one, hands-on experience where we go over concepts and composition and with optimal lighting I put people in the best positions to shoot. We also do review and critique of photos.

CFL: What was your focus/goal for your second book, Island Life? JF: This book has a narrow geography focusing on the offshore islands of the Chesapeake Bay of Tangier and Smith Islands. I’m documenting their way of life and how isolation has made them unique: what they eat, their religion, recreation, how they talk, their economy, their boats.

CFL: How has coastal erosion changed the way you photograph the Chesapeake? JF: The islands are constantly changing, becoming smaller—most notably Holland Island, which is most exposed in all directions. These places are changing all the time, and documenting that change is important. That’s what keeps me motivated to go back out and shoot.

Visit Jay Fleming’s website at jayflemingphotography.com or find him on Facebook or Instagram to see more of his work.

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Events worth hiring a babysitter

Monthlong Annapolis Restaurant Week Feb. 29–Mar. 8. Over 40 participating restaurants featuring specials and unique dishes for lunch and dinner. Plenty of parking downtown and some restaurants are offering free parking vouchers. Various Locations, Annapolis. downtownannapolispartnership.org/ restaurant-week

6 Friday Cocktails & Comedy See NYC comedians perform in Annapolis at this 5th annual festival. All proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to find a cure for all CF mutations. $75. 7–11 p.m. The Graduate Hotel, Annapolis. haussm1222.wixsite.com/website

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8 Sunday Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade Wear your green, get some beads, and have a ton of fun at Annapolis’s big parade. Annapolis. Free. 1 p.m. Amos Garrett Boulevard to City Dock. Annapolis. naptownevents.com/irish-week

12 Thursday Ignite Annapolis This Ted-Talk-style high-energy evening features 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd. The evening will be emceed by local radio DJ Rob Timm of WRNR and is produced in partnership with Annapolis-based non-profit The Friends Foundation. $10. 6:30 p.m. Maryland Hall, Annapolis. marylandhall.org

14 Saturday Colonial Tavern Dinner Mid-18th-century tavern dinner featuring colonial food and spirits, and live music. Reservations required. Ages 21 and up. $45. 7–9 p.m. Darnall’s Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro. history.pgparks.com

17 Tuesday Dublin 5 Live St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the best Irish band around at this free show! Doors open at 9 a.m., free breakfast 9–11 a.m.; Dublin 5 live at 6 p.m. Union Jacks, Annapolis. unionjacksannapolis.com

18 Wednesday The Bachelor Live on Stage Featuring Bachelor alum Ben Higgins as host, The Bachelor Live On Stage Official Tour guarantees all the drama, the gossip and the romance of your favorite TV show in one delightful evening for the ultimate fan party. $25–$50. 7:30 p.m. The Modell Lyric, Baltimore. modell-lyric.com

19 Thursday Pub Runs Third Thursday of every month. Meet and end at Charm City Run in Annapolis. Run a few miles, followed by drinks at a local pub. All paces and levels welcome. Free; please register. 6:30–8 p.m. Charm City Run, Annapolis. charmcityrun.com

21 Saturday Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning Welcome spring with this annual ritual: A bonfire on the beach stoked by socks and an oyster roast. Admission includes unlimited oysters, live music, admission to the Museum’s exhibits and a chance to enter the oyster shucking competition. $30; ages 12 and under, free. Noon–4 p.m. Annapolis Maritime Museum. amaritime.org

22 Sunday Yoga & Whiskey Grab your yoga mat and head to the distillery, where you’ll get a brief 15-minute “sneak peek” tour of part of the distillery. The yoga class will then begin in the processing room where you will be surrounded by the amazing aromas of our whiskey. Following the class, each guest will get a sample of one of a signature cocktail made with Rye Whiskey. $20. 9:30–11 a.m. Sagamore Spirit, Baltimore. sagamorespirit.com

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