In October, I finally had a chance to arrange a trip to Smith Island for a quick overnight stay. For those who aren't from the Bay region, Smith Island is a collection of three small barrier islands just over 10 miles off the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, near the town of Crisfield. One of the most storied places in the entire region, Smith Island is known for its people, who have been living on the island and working the waters of the Chesapeake, generation after generation, for over 300 years.

I've been curious to visit Smith for a long time, both for the scenery, which includes one of the greatest collections of working Bay boats in the entire region, as well as the people, who are as uniquely Chesapeake Bay as steamed blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning. Although visiting Smith Island today is different that it was even ten years ago, given the influx of "come here's" who seek a taste of small town America, the island still retains the flavor that has been described in many books and documentaries, including Tom Horton's An Island Out of Time: A Memoir of Smith Island in the Chesapeake.

Perhaps the most intriguing (and famous) characteristic of the people of Smith is their dialect. It's been compared to dialects such as Elizabethan, Tidewater English and even Ocracoke Brogue, each of which I know nothing about. All I can say is that it adds a mystique to the island and makes it one of America's most unique places. My one evening on the island, I sat quietly eating dinner while soaking up the conversations going on around me and enjoying every second.

If you're thinking of visiting Smith I highly recommend bringing a kayak. I brought mine along and was able to circumnavigate the island, exploring the many marshes and harbors around the island, as well as making a quick trip up to Martin National Wildlife Refuge at the north side of the island. I also suggest bringing a GPS unit of some variety if you're traveling by boat. The islands that make up Smith are a maze of tidal creeks and wetlands that can be quite easy to get lost in, provided you make a wrong turn here or there.

From the ferry trip over to Smith on the Captain Jason II, which only cost $30 roundtrip (including transporting my kayak) to the accommodations at the Ewell Tide Inn (whose proprietor Wayne makes you feel right at home), my trip exceeded every expectation.

For a sampling of many of the photos I took while at Smith, visit my Featured Collection section.

It was with great sadness that I learned this week of the passing of perhaps the Chesapeake's finest photographer, Marion Warren. With over seven decades of photography (his first camera being purchased in late 1930's), his portfolio consists of well over 100,000 photos from a variety of genres. However, his remarkable body of work will be best remembered for the iconic images he captured of the Chesapeake Bay, its people and traditions.

As I mentioned in an earlier post titled 'Days of Bay Gone By', I wrote about how Marion's work so tangibly captured a period in the Bay's history that its nearly impossible to study a Warren print and not be transported back in time. His work will continue to captivate people for many decades to come, especially as the time period that he so eloquently captured, fades away. We're very fortunate in the Chesapeake region to have had someone of his talent and vision to document the working Bay.

Unfortunately, I never had a chance to sit down with Marion and talk photography - and more importantly - thank him for proving inspiration for my work as well as the work of countless other photographers in the Bay region. And while it makes me sad to learn of his passing, it also warms my heart that his legacy will continue to inspire photographers like myself for many decades to come. I'm sure he had to know this and it must have given him a great sense of pride. May he rest in peace.

I would be remiss in launching a photography venture with a focus on the Chesapeake Bay without mentioning the incredible photographers who have provided inspiration for my work - Marion Warren, A. Aubrey Bodine and Dermott Hickey. While I typically shoot color photographs (and these three are known for black and white photos), it's their subject matter that continues to captivate me to this day.

Through their photos, all three captured a period in the Chesapeake's history that is all but gone - one with working skipjacks bulging with oysters, old crab houses with barrels of hot steaming crabs and deadrise workboats lined up in ego alley in Annapolis (yes, unbelievably there were actually workboats in Annapolis - and not that long ago).

Sure, some of those things do still exist, mostly in the far corners of the Bay in places like Shady Side and Crisfield. However, each of these three photographers truly capture the flavor of the working Chesapeake through their photos. As you browse through their collections, you can almost smell the aroma of steaming crabs or hear the watermen singing as they cull oysters. The photos literally transport you back in time.

Marion Warren, probably the best known of the three, has an extensive body of work consisting of over 100,000 black and white negatives and prints. His work is featured in many publications including Bringing Back the Bay, which focuses on the Chesapeake Bay and its people. If you live in or have visited Annapolis, you've almost certainly seen a Warren photo hanging in a restaurant or store. To view his photos, visit his website run by the Annapolis Publishing Company.

A. Aubrey Bodine (1906-1970), born and raised in Baltimore, is not only considered one of the most important photographers in Maryland, but in the entire region. His photographs range from landmarks in the region such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to crabbers to log canoes off of St. Michaels. For a taste of his work, visit the site run by his daughter Jennifer or a number of museums, including the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Va.

Dermott Hickey, a lifelong resident of Annapolis, honed his trade under a mentor of Marion Warren. His work mainly focuses around scenes in Annapolis - from the workboats I mentioned earlier to scenic shots around town. His work can seen around town and on his website.