Our day will start with an early launch before sunrise, as we head out onto the water to capture the haunting beauty of the concrete ships at first light. The soft glow of dawn creates a perfect atmosphere to photograph these historic structures as they rise out of the bay, bathed in the gentle, cool light of the morning. After we’ve spent some time photographing the ships, we’ll turn our attention to the sea birds that nest on the ships and pilings scattered throughout the bay. We’ll spend a couple of hours capturing these fascinating creatures, using the early light to highlight the textures of their feathers and the rugged surfaces of the ships.

After our morning shoot, we’ll return to the hotel for an afternoon class focused on post-processing and image critique. This will give you a chance to refine your editing skills, discuss techniques, and review your work from the morning, ensuring you leave with both beautiful images and enhanced technical knowledge.

In the late afternoon, we’ll venture back out for a stunning drone sunset shoot along the marshes of the Virginia Coastal Preserve. The aerial perspective will allow us to capture the intricate patterns of the tidal marshes, as well as the rich, vibrant colors of the sunset reflecting off the water. This will be an excellent opportunity to experiment with aerial photography, as the drone offers a unique vantage point to photograph the marshland and surrounding landscape.

On our final day, we’ll launch from a local boat ramp to explore even more of the tidal marshes. After setting out on the water, we’ll focus on capturing the local fishermen at work, photographing them as they navigate the marshes in their boats. This is a fantastic opportunity to capture the quiet, timeless rhythm of life on the bay, with the fishermen providing dynamic subjects against the backdrop of the rugged coastal landscape. We’ll spend several hours on the water, giving you plenty of time to experiment with compositions, lighting, and techniques in this unique environment.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel for a class session, where we’ll review the images from the day and engage in group critiques. This is a valuable opportunity to refine your skills, receive feedback on your work, and learn how to enhance your photos in post-processing. We’ll cover any remaining questions you might have and discuss how to approach photographing coastal environments like the ones we’ve explored.

As the day comes to a close, we’ll head back out to photograph the iconic concrete ships at sunset along the Chesapeake Bay. The golden light of the evening will bring out the textures and details of the ships, making them the perfect subject for a dramatic final shoot. We’ll also have the chance to photograph the surrounding landscape, capturing the beauty of the bay as the sun dips below the horizon.

The workshop will conclude after the sunset shoot, leaving you with a diverse portfolio of images, new techniques, and lasting memories from this unique coastal adventure. Whether you’ve captured the fleeting moments of the fishermen at work or the serene, abstract beauty of the marshes, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for this beautiful, wild region and the skills to continue your photographic journey.