Photographer Jay Fleming to present new book Nov. 20
The Lewes Public Library will welcome Jay Fleming for a presentation of his new book “Island Life,” a visual narrative of Smith Island, Md., and Tangier Island, Va., at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, by the library fireplace.
Fleming’s “Island Life” explores the environment, communities, and commercial fisheries of Smith Island and Tangier Island – the last inhabited offshore islands in the Chesapeake Bay. Although less than 15 miles of water separate Smith and Tangier from the mainland, centuries of isolation have preserved the unique way of life of these island communities, making them feel worlds apart from the life most people know. Since his first trip to the islands in 2009, Fleming has seen remarkable changes to the islands’ landscapes and communities, and he felt a sense of urgency to document these working waterfronts as the very forces that sustain them also threaten to take them away.
Fleming is a photographer and writer who documents the complex interactions between humans and their natural environment. Born and raised in Annapolis, Md., he grew up with an affinity for the water. He discovered his passion for photography at the age of 13, after inheriting his father’s hand-me-down Nikon film camera. In 2015, Fleming turned his attention to photography full time, leading to the publication of his first book, “Working the Water,” in 2016. Since then, he has spent his career chronicling the unique people and places of the Chesapeake Bay.
Space is limited and registration is required. To sign up, go to lewes.lib.de.us. Participants also are encouraged to support the author by purchasing a copy of the book from local independent bookstore Browseabout Books. Orders may be placed online at browseaboutbooks.com, by calling the store at 302-226-2665, or in person at 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
