Category: Maryland

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Frozen Waters and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Reflections

From a cold January cruise underneath the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Another of my older photographs dates back to January 31, 2014 and a winter cruise to warm Caribbean islands and sunshine. The frozen waters beneath the Chesapeake Bay Bridge reflect the waning light of the last sunset on the last day of January, 2014. We do not see an icy Chesapeake Bay like this very often and this particular combination of lighting and ice floes in the Bay may never be seen again.

Bay Bridge Silhouette Icy Sunset

Officially, the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge, this dual structure spans over four miles of the Chesapeake Bay connecting Maryland’s Western Shore to Kent Island and the Maryland Eastern Shore on the Delmarva Peninsula. Standing 186 feet high at the highest point, this bridge instills fear in the hearts of many drivers who cross it. However, most drivers and passengers simply revel in the beauty of this engineering marvel.

Chesapeeake Bay Bridge Sunset Reflections

The above are two slightly different views of this rare occurrence of seeing ice floes as far south as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The orange light of the setting sun adds to the dramatic impact of this scene and is likely something that will not be photographed again. Yes, it was cold on the top deck of the Grandeur of the Seas when I shot these photographs but certainly not as cold as being in the water.

Link to gallery at FAA/Pixels: Chesapeake Collection

Link to gallery at Pictorem: Chesapeake Bridges (Free Shipping)

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Misty Island of Assawoman Bay Wall Art

One of earliest and best selling images from my galleries.

This is one of the first photographs I offered for sale in my original gallery at Fine Art America. It was also one of the first images that was purchased by an art buyer from Newark, Delaware in August of 2014. I has been purchased many times since and on a variety of substrates such as a framed print, on canvas, on acrylic or metal. It is now also available in my Pictorem “Ocean City” gallery.

The Misty Island of Assawoman Bay Photograph is, historically, a best-selling image.

The original caption reads: “Late afternoon fog enshrouds this island on the western edge of Assawoman Bay near Maryland’s Ocean City resort. This is just on the Maryland side of the Maryland/Delaware state line, just south of the community of Live Bayside near Fenwick Island, DE.”

Click one of these links to see it in a larger size and view the purchase options. It is also available as a black and white print.

Link at FAA/Pixels: Misty Island of Assawoman Bay

Link at Pictorem (Ocean City): Misty Island of Assawoman Bay

Link at FAA/Pixels: Misty Woman of Assawoman Bay in B&W

Link at Pictorem: Misty Woman of Assawoman Bay in B&W

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American Flag in the Header

The 15-star flag flies over Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

With a domain name and site title of U.S. Pictures it is appropriate for the header image(s) to be of an American Flag. In addition the majority of photographs in this website should be from somewhere within the United States of America. Hence: USPictures.com.

My first real success with photographing the American Flag was at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. The first image here is of the Garrison Flag (the large flag) flying over the parade ground at the fort and being backlit by the sun. This flag is spanking in the breeze much like the flag that was flying at the end of the Battle of Baltimore near the end of the War of 1812.

American Flag Flying over Fort McHenry
Star Spangled Banner

The second flag I am featuring here is the smaller “Storm Flag” and it is shown against a (somewhat) stormy sky.

Storm Flag Flying over Fort Mchenry
Storm Flag Against a Stormy Sky at Fort McHenry

The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is located on the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland. It was here that Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry, ordered the large garrison flag to be flown over the fort as a sign to the British that he would not surrender during their attack on Baltimore from September 13–14, 1814. It was during this bombardment that Francis Scott Key, a Baltimore lawyer and amateur poet, saw through the “rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air” the American Flag still flying over Fort McHenry. Key recounted his experience later on board a British ship where he was being held captive. He wrote a poem entitled “Defense of Fort McHenry,” which came to be known as The Star-Spangled Banner after repeated printing. This eventually became America’s national anthem.

Click the links below to see larger images and the types of wall art and home decor items that are available.

Link: Star Spangled Banner at Fine Art America

Link: Storm Flag Against a Stormy Sky at Fort McHenry

Link to: A variety of Flag Images

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine Art America

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Pictorem

I have been a photographer for over twenty years and during this time I have photographed the American flag on a number of occasions. These included photographing a number of historical flags displayed at various museums including, of course, the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland. These two photographs of American Flags were selected to show how it is possible to photograph the Stars & Stripes in different ways that express different moods as well as different lighting. Click HERE for more.