That's me on the left and my friend Mark on the right, both taken with a Canon Powershot G7. Photo credit goes to each of us respectfully.
It was a weekend raft up at Still Pond on the Chesapeake Bay. Two sailboats, one heading north from Annapolis, the other south from North East, Md. At the outset, we all knew it wasn't going to be a great weekend weather-wise, but with busy schedules, you take every opportunity you can to spend time with friends.
I'll spare you the details of the weekend in order to protect the innocent, but it was clear when we awoke early Sunday morning and went topside that we should probably forgo breakfast and get underway. We weighed anchor aboard Valiant, my friend, and fellow photographer Mark's Tartan 34c and slipped out of Still Pond.
Almost as soon as we entered the channel and pointed the boat south, the first rain squall hit and the wind picked up. It was clear it was going to be a long wet slog back to Annapolis. However, one thing I did know is that I wanted to make a few photos. With Mark at the helm, I went below and grabbed my Canon Powershot G7, and made a few pictures as the boat heeled hard and the storm clouds continued to gather.
After I made a few photos, we switched positions and Mark captured me at the helm doing my best to keep the boat moving in the right direction. I think both images came out great and certainly represent that day on the bay, but I especially like the one Mark made of me because it captures more of the Bay.
But this is more about how one of those photos was selected for the April 2018 cover of SpinSheet magazine. The editor of SpinSheet saw the photos on Mark's Facebook page and contacted him about using one as the cover photo. Mark reached out to me and asked if I would mind if he shared them with the magazine, which I didn't. The only question left was which one of us would wind up on the cover and which one of us would receive photo credit. Well by now you know they choose my photo of Mark and according to him, it was due to the red jacket he was wearing. I really think it's because Mark is an Annapolis resident and lifelong sailor, which made him the natural choice regardless of jacket color.
April 2018 edition of SpinSheet magazine featuring my photograph of Mark at the helm of Valient.
For a quick snapshot, I think the cover looks great and I didn't even realize they flipped the photo until I was writing this blog. Doesn't bother me.
But more than the cover or how this photograph ended up there, It started as a great weekend among friends and ended with an epic day of sailing.
And with the money I made off this shot, Mark and I will get a chance to relive that day over a few drinks while overlooking the Bay from drier and warmer vantage point. We may even talk about photography and future cover shots.