This Tangier Island Photo Workshop (May 2020) features photography of a unique waterman community and local wildlife. Just south of the Maryland line, in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, lays Tangier Island, VA. Covering approximately 1.2 square miles, Tangier Island is actually a series of small islands connected by narrow wooden bridges spanning marshes and tidal creeks. Tangier is a charming community of waterman and shop owners. Many inhabitants make their living, as did their ancestors for more than 400 years, by crabbing, fishing, and oystering. Each day we will rise before dawn, hoping to capture sunrise images and photos of the watermen as they man their skiffs, heading out to their offshore crab shanties and workboats to gather up their crab pots, scrapes, floats, and other gear for the day. For photos from the water, Saturday morning I chartered a boat for a trip around the island with the hopes of photographing the docks, waterman at work, and local birdlife.

During our stay, we will explore the beach, tidal creeks, and wetlands in search of wildlife. Ducks, geese, herons, rails, shorebirds, skimmers, terns, and pelicans take advantage of the rich food supply that the island and its surroundings afford. There is also a healthy population of ospreys nesting on nearby platforms and jetties. It is not uncommon to see one fly overhead with a fish in its talons.

From the mainland, Tangier can only be reached by boat or small plane. Golf carts replace cars as the primary mode of transportation on the island since the streets are narrow and barely wide enough for 2 carts to pass. It’s a peaceful community with friendly people and no traffic lights or violent crime. There are no banks, arcades, and only 2 bed and breakfast accommodations. Many born on the island speak a unique dialect of English dating back to that used by the first settlers arriving on the island from Cornwall England.

We will be staying at a local bed & breakfast.

PRICE: $885 based on double occupancy, additional $ 120 single supplement.

DEPOSIT: 50 % of total. Final payment due 30 days prior to workshop.

If the COVID virus is still an issue by the time of the workshop and you have health concerns and can't attend or if the workshop is cancelled, you will receive a full refund of the deposit & registration fee. Mask wearing, social distancing and other protective measures may be required depending on the virus situation at the time.

The price includes: instruction (one on one interaction in the field); image critiques; two nights accommodations at a B&B with a private bath & full breakfast; a 1.5 hour boat charter trip to photograph crab shanties, waterman and ospreys from the water; and golf cart transportation on the island.

Departure for Tangier from Crisfield on Friday, 20 Sep is 5:00 p.m. with return to Crisfield on Sunday, 22 Sep at 3:00 p.m. (approximately 1 hour crossing). Alternately, participants can travel to Tangier using the ferry from Onancock, VA.

Price does not include meals and snacks other than breakfast, boat transportation from Crisfield to Tangier and return. (Round trip fare is approximately $30.)

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Cancellations 75 days prior to workshop, full refund, less $50 processing fee.
Cancellations made between 74 and 46 days prior to workshop, forfeit deposit.
Cancellations made 45 days from the start of the workshop are non-refundable.

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Tangier Island Photo Workshop

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