Jay Fleming Smith Island Workshop - Mary Ada Marshall - "The Smith Island Cake Lady"

I attended the last 2020 Jay Flemings Smith Island Workshop about a month or so ago. One of the first things that we did was to visit with Mary Ada Marshall - “The Smith Island Cake Lady”. Mary Ada showed us how to make smith island cakes all the while passing the time with stories about the Smith Island Cake and her family’s history on the island. We were all encourages to participate and even Jay got in the action.

2020 Polar Bear Plunge Special Olympics Sandy Point State Park, MD

I had the opportunity to dun my drysuit and my camera housing to photograph the 24 hour 2020 polar bear plunge with John Schech and Deborah Gemmill. What a fantastic group of people and a great cause.


Starfish and the Old Nikonos Camera

Was on a cruise a couple of weeks ago and got to go to Cozumel, Mexico and visit the Starfish Sanctuary. Knowing that this trip was coming up I happen to run across an old Nikonos II film camera for sale so I quickly purchased it. The Nikonos II is a beautiful elegant compact rangefinder camera that is all manual with no electronics not even a light meter. I haven't shot film for a long time and I haven't used a range finder for over 20 years so this took some getting used too. No instant images more of a point shoot and pray.... Anyways here are a few of the Starfish as shot on the Nikonos II. Enjoy please like and share.

Bill

 

Vienna MD

While Traveling from Chesapeake Virginia to Annapolis MD I had the opportunity to visit Vienna MD. I have always admired the Nanticoke River from the RT 50 bridge so I decided on a whim to drive into town and see if there was a picture to be had. The waterfront is beautiful and has been recently renovated. if you have time stop in and explore. 

From the Town of Vienna Website http://viennamd.org/index.html

"Vienna occupies a special place on the Nanticoke River in its relationship to the long, straight and narrow Vienna meander. The shape of the Vienna meander is caused by a sand bar which has always made the town dry land and high ground. Vienna is located in the center of the Nanticoke River Watershed, and is also the place where busy U.S. Route 50, the main street of Maryland's Eastern Shore, crosses the river.

The river was named for the powerful Nanticoke Indian Confederacy that dwelled along its shores, and navigated its waters from the Chesapeake Bay to the inland reaches of Delaware. The first recorded European contact came when Captain John Smith encountered the Nanticokes near present day Vienna on his historic voyage of exploration around the bay and up the Nanticoke in 1608.

Vienna is currently embarked on a long range waterfront development plan called Emperor's Landing, which when completed will showcase the town's rich Nanticoke River and Chesapeake Bay legacy. We invite you to visit and join our journey of discovery."

Barrier Islands at Night

I love the Virginia Barrier Islands in the evening. The Islands are well away from light pollution and provided some of the most amazing star and satellite viewing around. The birds have returned in full force and provide a great show and of course the beautiful sunset and sunrises. Enjoy! 

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Arizona Superstition Mountains

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Visiting the superstition mountains for the first time in 20 years. Fortunately not much has changed a few more houses and a more developed trail system. I took one of my favorite photos here and have always thought of the Superstitions when thinking of Arizona. 

Enjoy and please share with your friends.

J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, FL

I had the chance to visit the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, FL this past week. The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located in southwestern Florida, on Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico. It is named for the cartoonist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling. With a 4 mile driving and biking trail and multiple hiking trails it is very accessible and an ideal place for outdoor enthusiast. I would recommend going as early as you can, the refuge opens at 7:00am during the month of February which coincides with the sunrise. Low tide is also a good time as the birds are forging for food in the exposed bottom. Bring your biggest lens and a tripod but also a 80-200 zoom and keep an eye out on the edges of the road and water. You can get very close to most birds by looking in these areas which are often hidden from the road. Also if coming at this time of year bring bug repellent with DEET the small flys or "no-see-ums" are brutal.

Gear: Nikon 810, Nikon 7100, Nikon 600 F5.6, Nikon 300 F4, Nikon 80-200 F4, Bogen Tripod