Welcome to Michael Land Photography
About
Over the past seventeen years, my experiences working on and around the Chesapeake Bay have instilled in me a love and respect for its natural wonders, heritage, lore and most of all, its rich traditions.
From
the deck of a research vessel, I've studied and experienced the Bay since
graduating from college in 1992. My profession has provided me the opportunity
to spend a great deal of time out on the water year-round - involved in
a multitude of activities ranging from sampling fish to dredging crabs. During that time, my respect and love for
the Chesapeake Bay and all that it embodies has grown with each passing
day.
Since moving to Annapolis in 1999, I've continued work on the Chesapeake Bay, albeit in a slightly different capacity - that of a web designer. Over the past seven years, I've led the development and oversight of several information-rich, educational, Bay-focused websites. However, it's a little hard to continue the connection with the Bay behind a computer - thus the pursuit of Bay photography.
With the fast pace of life in the 21st century, I feel that it's important to slow down and notice the small beautiful details of life. Photography is my outlet for doing just that - a form of meditation in many ways. There's nothing that compares to the solitude of a Bay marsh in the early morning - watching a blue heron quietly wading in search of prey or a raft of dabbling ducks diving in Bay grasses in search of food. It's in the incredible wetlands, tributaries, refuges and parks of the Bay that I've been able to hone my photographic skills, tracing the footsteps of the greats like Warren, Bodine and Hickey, but also trying to find my own identity at the same time.
While there's no denying the beauty of the Chesapeake - there's also no denying that we're in a very precarious position in its history. I feel that one of my most important roles as a Bay photographer is to capture compelling scenes that I can bring back to share with others. My intent is to evoke an emotion, create a connection, and garner an appreciation of the Chesapeake - with hopes that it will lead to the individual choices we all must make to help restore and protect this resource.
As you browse through my collection of photographs, you'll quickly notice
a number of images of Bay
workboats, blue
crabs and scenic wetlands
- places and traditions that define the Chesapeake Bay and make it truly
a unique national treasure. Also, there are photos of birds,
some of which use Bay marshes and wetlands as stopovers on their migrations,
activities such as kayaking
and sailing, and recognizable landmarks such as the Thomas
Point Shoal lighthouse and the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge.
In addition to Bay related images, you'll find a range of other photographs from various parts of the United States, as well as some food photography.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed getting out there and capturing them. Please contact me if you have any interest in purchasing a print or using an image in a publication -- or simply want to talk photography.
