Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 8 | Page 9

SOPHIE
Sophie is particularly fond of playing fetch
with crab pot buoys. She is much loved by
owner Andrew Benton, grandson of Art
Daniels, despite her relentless energy.
“I took this shot because I was fortunate
to catch Sophie sitting still”, said Fleming.
“Some waterman will fish 600 pots a day;
hauling up those pots can be monotonous.
A companion like Sophie makes this
boredom bearable”.

JAY FLEMING

WORKING THE WATER

I

JAY FLEMING IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER BORN IN ANNAPOLIS AND RAISED ON
THE BAY. JAY’S PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY BEGAN IN CHILDHOOD, WHEN HE TAGGED
ALONG WITH HIS FATHER, ALSO A PHOTOGRAPHER, ON REGIONAL ASSIGNMENTS.

n middle school, when cameras weren’t yet digital and
film was an expensive medium, he used a Nikon N90S
to photograph a heron rookery in Delaware. One photo
from that shoot won Grand Prize in an Environmental Protection Agency contest.
Since then, Jay has never looked back. When he isn’t doing commercial work, he spends a considerable amount of
time on, in and around Chesapeake Bay waterways, photographing an environment and a way of life that is rapidly
changing.
Certainly, there has never been a time before that required of both watermen and wildlife such intense adaptability. For the watermen, it is increasingly difficult to absorb the
costs of doing business, whether that is direct payments for
licensing, processing and equipment, or the takeover of valuable leases held by families for generations for governmentregulated sanctuaries. For wild-life, it is increasingly difficult
to survive loss of habitat, pollution and invasive species.

Fleming’s portfolio reveals a keen eye for observation
of his immediate surroundings and of the people and creatures who meet at the intersection of industry and nature.
He specializes in capturing small yet distinct moments: a
fin slicing through still water, the first cast of a net, the bitter cold evident as solid ice on a waterman’s beard, wind
catching a sail. His work has been showcased on magazine
covers and as artwork for homes, restaurants and businesses. To see more of his work visit workingthewater.com
Jay recently wrapped up a three-year project to document the fascinating dynamic of change at work across
the Bay. His first book, entitled Working the Water, is
available for order now and will hit area bookstores in October 2016. To finish it, he culled 175 photos from more
than 300,000 images. He kindly agreed to share some of
his favorites with GreenBook readers.

GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2016

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