I have had a busy summer since last posting to this blog. Summer draws you outside almost every day. Flowers, birds and great things to photograph are everywhere. I guess the long, long winter helped me to forget how much I enjoy being a part of the outside world with my camera in the summer.
My recent vacation found me in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. My family and I have been heading to the Maryland/Delaware shores for so many years I can't remember when it all started. I just know Rehoboth has become my favorite spot, not only for its family-safe atmosphere, but because it provides me the opportunity to take a jaunt across the Verrazano Bridge to the Maryland end of Assateague Island, home to the wild ponies and countless other forms of beach wildlife.
When our children were much much younger, we visited Assateague Island. I had not been back since. I went alone because dragging people with you when you are concentrating on photography work isn't always the best thing to do. I like the solitude that Assateague allows.
I kept my gear to a minimum. One small camera bag. My Nikon D300 and two lenses: a 70-300mm Nikon Zoom and a 50mm 1.8 prime lens. I bagged my camera from the elements by using a ziploc bag with a hole cut out for the lens.
Driving over to Assateague there is much to see in the many pull offs for wharfs and piers along the journey. This fleet of boats caught my eye from the main roadway as I took a leisurely drive to the island.
My recent vacation found me in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. My family and I have been heading to the Maryland/Delaware shores for so many years I can't remember when it all started. I just know Rehoboth has become my favorite spot, not only for its family-safe atmosphere, but because it provides me the opportunity to take a jaunt across the Verrazano Bridge to the Maryland end of Assateague Island, home to the wild ponies and countless other forms of beach wildlife.
When our children were much much younger, we visited Assateague Island. I had not been back since. I went alone because dragging people with you when you are concentrating on photography work isn't always the best thing to do. I like the solitude that Assateague allows.
I kept my gear to a minimum. One small camera bag. My Nikon D300 and two lenses: a 70-300mm Nikon Zoom and a 50mm 1.8 prime lens. I bagged my camera from the elements by using a ziploc bag with a hole cut out for the lens.
Driving over to Assateague there is much to see in the many pull offs for wharfs and piers along the journey. This fleet of boats caught my eye from the main roadway as I took a leisurely drive to the island.
As did this amusement park from a distance. I would love to ride that coaster.
The boat photo was taken early in the morning, when the sun had not yet burned off the remaining clouds. The park photo was taken late morning, when the day turned into a 97 degree landscape of sun and haze. This is a challenge when doing photography work at the shore. While I love the sun, sand and surf, it's a nightmare to deal with constantly in terms of camera settings. The reflective quality of sand is about a million times per particle. At least it seems that way to me when I'm trying to set my aperture for beach sun. Reflections can be used to your advantage, but you have to always make sure that sun is behind you, unless you are looking specifically for an artsy shot including some sun rays.
There was probably much more I could have stopped and photographed along the way to Assateague, but I wanted to get to the island and spend the largest part of my day there. I'll save some of the stops for another trip.
Assateague Island is a National Park. The park covers an area of 41,320 acres (37 miles). The portion of the island designated as national seashore extends from the Ocean City, Maryland inlet to the Maryland/Virginia state border. Over 2.1 million people visit the park each year with more than 1/2 staying and camping in the park's many camp areas. The park was created in 1965 after a strong nor'easter destroyed the planned and started resort community of Ocean Beach, Maryland. The nor'easter destroyed the few existing structures on the island that had been built and ripped the roads apart. Realizing that the island was too unstable to build upon, the housing development firm sold all of its land to the federal government. To this day, it is not possible to drive the entire length of the island; one must travel on the mainland to journey between the National Seashore in Maryland and the National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. The national seashore is famous for its white sand beaches and wild ponies.
It is also famous with me for it's nasty biting insects. What I remembered from our past visit was that upon exiting our car we had to sprint to the beach, where the wind kept the biting flies and mosquitoes from landing on us. We also had to slather ourselves in bug spray. I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to not have a SINGLE encounter with a biting bug on this trip, even though I came prepared and ready for bug battle. Maybe the 97 degree weather and the prevaling island breeze were helpful? Or maybe it was the time of year (September). Whatever it was I am very thankful because my camera hands got to remain steady, instead of being used to swat at things.
My first stop was the main gate where I paid my $15 car fee (good for one month) and got my map of the island. I was also issued a flyer about the dangers of getting near or touching the wild horses. I own six horses and have years of experience in horse body language. But I am astounded at the number of people who put both themselves and their children in peril by trying to approach these ponies or get close to them for photos. I know that the ponies have become used to people and their camps, sometimes raiding campers' lunches, etc. But for the most part they stay their distance and they are wild animals. I once was bitten by a perfectly well trained mare who wasn't wild, so I know how quickly that can happen without a person expecting it to happen. Multiply that tenfold in terms of a wild horse and you have an inkling of the danger involved.
I did find this pony parked in the parking lot as I pulled into the North Beach area. There was a stallion munching on the side of the road (see photo at top of this blog entry), so I'm guessing she was waiting for him to decide what he wanted to do next, or she was a car buff.
There was probably much more I could have stopped and photographed along the way to Assateague, but I wanted to get to the island and spend the largest part of my day there. I'll save some of the stops for another trip.
Assateague Island is a National Park. The park covers an area of 41,320 acres (37 miles). The portion of the island designated as national seashore extends from the Ocean City, Maryland inlet to the Maryland/Virginia state border. Over 2.1 million people visit the park each year with more than 1/2 staying and camping in the park's many camp areas. The park was created in 1965 after a strong nor'easter destroyed the planned and started resort community of Ocean Beach, Maryland. The nor'easter destroyed the few existing structures on the island that had been built and ripped the roads apart. Realizing that the island was too unstable to build upon, the housing development firm sold all of its land to the federal government. To this day, it is not possible to drive the entire length of the island; one must travel on the mainland to journey between the National Seashore in Maryland and the National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. The national seashore is famous for its white sand beaches and wild ponies.
It is also famous with me for it's nasty biting insects. What I remembered from our past visit was that upon exiting our car we had to sprint to the beach, where the wind kept the biting flies and mosquitoes from landing on us. We also had to slather ourselves in bug spray. I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to not have a SINGLE encounter with a biting bug on this trip, even though I came prepared and ready for bug battle. Maybe the 97 degree weather and the prevaling island breeze were helpful? Or maybe it was the time of year (September). Whatever it was I am very thankful because my camera hands got to remain steady, instead of being used to swat at things.
My first stop was the main gate where I paid my $15 car fee (good for one month) and got my map of the island. I was also issued a flyer about the dangers of getting near or touching the wild horses. I own six horses and have years of experience in horse body language. But I am astounded at the number of people who put both themselves and their children in peril by trying to approach these ponies or get close to them for photos. I know that the ponies have become used to people and their camps, sometimes raiding campers' lunches, etc. But for the most part they stay their distance and they are wild animals. I once was bitten by a perfectly well trained mare who wasn't wild, so I know how quickly that can happen without a person expecting it to happen. Multiply that tenfold in terms of a wild horse and you have an inkling of the danger involved.
I did find this pony parked in the parking lot as I pulled into the North Beach area. There was a stallion munching on the side of the road (see photo at top of this blog entry), so I'm guessing she was waiting for him to decide what he wanted to do next, or she was a car buff.
I decided to explore the North Beach area and look for shells. The beach was very quiet. I think possibly five families were there. I had no umbrella, so I used a beach outbuilding for shade and to establish my "camp." Here are some scenes from the beach area.
I stayed here for about an hour, actually swam a bit, dried off, and had a great conversation with a couple who camp every year. I was biding time waiting for ponies to track my way. Unfortunately, the heat of the day seemed to be a deterrent. The couple noted that during the very high heat times, the ponies tend to stay in the forests of the bay area. So, I packed up my gear and headed down the road to the next stopping point--Old Ferry Landing.
At Old Ferry, this fellow--a Black-backed Gull--was a great poser.
At Old Ferry, this fellow--a Black-backed Gull--was a great poser.
Some kayakers were taking off from the landing, and I noticed in the backdrop that this is what they were headed for.
It's easier to gain access to pony sightings in a boat or kayak in the marsh areas. I decided to go further down the road on my map to the salt marsh to see what kinds of birds I could find there. There are large walkways built above the marsh for travelers to walk on and observe the marsh wildlife. Birds, especially the great white egrets, seem to like these walkways as well. Notice the Loblolly Pines in the background, a staple on this island.
I did manage to spy an egret at work getting lunch in the inlet from these structures.
And then one totally surprised me and flew out from under the walkway and over my head so quickly I had no time to think of a camera setting, I just shot. The result isn't too bad.
This particular walkway also led to the bay area, where I shot this photo of the point, a good representation of the types of vegetation on the island shore.
As the day progressed, I left the island momentarily to find food at a local emporium, then returned to a late afternoon of pony sightings. The island really has so much to offer, besides the wild horses, but most people come for them. I've decided that next time out, I'm going to focus on the bird habitat a little more and bring extensive hiking gear to walk the Chincoteague side of the equation.
And so as my day drew to a close, here are some of the pony sightings.
These road warriors came galloping in front of my car (luckily, the speed limit is 15 mph and I saw them out of the corner of my eye in the forest, hiding just like deer) and then came to an abrupt halt and walked slowly by. I jumped out as they were passing to grab these shots.
And so as my day drew to a close, here are some of the pony sightings.
These road warriors came galloping in front of my car (luckily, the speed limit is 15 mph and I saw them out of the corner of my eye in the forest, hiding just like deer) and then came to an abrupt halt and walked slowly by. I jumped out as they were passing to grab these shots.
The shots below were taken in the South Beach area. Many of the wild ponies on the island look the same, but there are nuances about the painted horses that set them apart. Leg markings on the chestnut horses often tell the tail of who is who.
As the late afternoon was drawing down and I felt really hungry, I reluctantly plodded toward my car to pack things up, knowing I would be back. This mare gave me one last parting shot. She, like me, was headed to her late afternoon place. Mine would involve a shower. Hers might involve a little swim. Goodbye Assateague. Until I see you again.
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