·      Full Summary

Jay Fleming’s first book, “Working the Water,” is a visual narrative of the lives of those individuals whose livelihood is directly dependent upon the Chesapeake Bay — America’s largest estuary. The book comprises photographs of seasoned watermen, scenic seascapes, weathered workboats and bay bounty — a true and complete depiction of Chesapeake Bay life.

Fleming has spent the past three years actively documenting the fascinating and rapidly changing way of life of those who make their living off of the Bay’s resources. He has travelled thousands of miles around the Bay's watershed and photographed hundreds of individuals and dozens of fisheries with the goal of documenting all aspects of the Bay-influenced industries.

Organized chronologically by season, “Working the Water” illustrates a behind-the-scenes view of commercial fisheries not visible to the average seafood consumer. From underwater shots of the fish in their natural habitat to images of them being harvested, and ultimately processed, Jay’s collection of photographs creates an all-encompassing vignette of the seafood industry that is sure to evoke a newfound appreciation for the seafood on your plate.

Equal parts informative and aesthetically pleasing, Jay’s flagship book, “Working the Water,” is relevant to the seafood enthusiast, the history buff, the biologist, photography fan and Chesapeake Bay lover alike.

·      Truncated Summary

Jay Fleming’s first book, “Working the Water,” is a visual narrative of the lives of those individuals whose livelihood is directly dependent upon the Chesapeake Bay — America’s largest estuary. The book comprises photographs of seasoned watermen, scenic seascapes, weathered workboats and bay bounty — a true and complete depiction of Chesapeake Bay life. Equal parts informative and aesthetically pleasing, Jay’s flagship book, “Working the Water, is relevant to the seafood enthusiast, the history buff, the biologist, photography fan, and Chesapeake Bay lover alike.