Chesapeake Bay Experience

Tylerton, Smith Island, Maryland
August 8-10, 2008
Instructor: Ian Plant
Tuition: $625

This workshop travels to famous Smith Island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay for the quintessential Chesapeake photography experience. Only accessible by boat, the small waterman communities on Smith Island retain the spirit and charm of days long past. During this tour, we will take several boat trips to locations around Smith Island to photograph the island's natural and man-made scenery and abundant wildlife. We'll also take a trip to nearby Shanks Island, home to a huge brown pelican nesting colony, to photograph one of the most incredible wildlife events in the Eastern United States.

We'll have the opportunity to photograph brown pelicans, seagulls, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, and other shorebirds; beautiful salt marsh and unspoiled beaches; and the historic waterman towns of Tylerton, Ewell, and Rhodes Point.

Joining us on this workshop is famous Chesapeake writer and naturalist Tom Horton. Tom has written several books about the Chesapeake Bay, including his award-winning "Bay Country" -- and, most recently, he wrote the text for Ian's "Chesapeake: Bay of Light". Tom's Bay credits also include several National Geographic articles and a weekly column for the Baltimore Sun. Simply put, one would be hard pressed to find a better Chesapeake guide than Tom. He'll take us out on his boat to the best photo locations on and near Smith Island.

Participants are responsible for transportation to the island; passenger ferries travel between the mainland (departing from Crisfield, MD) and Smith Island on a regular basis.

As lodging is very scarce on the island, participants should be prepared for somewhat more "rustic" accommodations than would otherwise be available in a hotel. Several rooms are available in Tom Horton's guest house, and additional guest rooms can be secured if necessary from other island residents. Tuition includes the price of lodging in any of these guest rooms. Participants may be asked if they are willing to share a room. Similarly, dining options are somewhat limited, but we'll have one of the locals prepare a traditional Chesapeake Bay crab feast for dinner; the price of dinners is included in the tuition. As a result, workshop participants will be immersed in the local culture for a unique "organic" experience.

Tuition for this workshop is $625 per person, which includes lodging in a guest room, continental breakfasts, dinners, and boat transportation while on the island.