East Channel, Canton - A Baltimore Harborscape

East Channel, Canton - A Baltimore Harborscape

It is always a source of enjoyment when I return to my hometown of Baltimore
to enjoy a few hours of photography along the city’s bustling harbor.

Whether stationed downstream of the graphically repeating patterns of gantries (*) at the sprawling Seagirt Marine Terminal, to capture the massive container ships passing under the soaring Francis Scott Key Bridge of the city’s outer Beltway on their way out to sea via the Chesapeake, or along the channels of the Inner Harbor, the views always inspire this photographer, whether shooting digital or film, color or black and white.

The Inner Harbor, where this photo was taken, is likewise always rich in motifs, especially in how it unites the busily scurrying water taxis and pleasure craft, whether motored or sail, with large harbor sightseeing vessels…or a bulk carrier tied up at the Domino Sugars plant (**)…or the four leviathan Ready Reserve ships stationed at Canton or Tide Point.

On this particular afternoon in late spring, I was shooting along the Inner Harbor’s East Channel, from
Fort McHenry with the late afternoon sun bathing the maritime and industrial features of Canton across the water.

There were lots of examples of the aforementioned sailboats, water taxis, a handsome harbor cruise ship, even some colorful kayaks navigating these waters, but what I like about this photo was how the bright yellow of the “Seadog” harmonized with those yellow stripes on the funnels of the two Ready Reserve ships, as it sped past.

The moment was captured on Fujichrome-100 slide film, through a Canon
EF 28-8omm L-Series lens wearing a polarizing filter on my EOS-3, in May 2015.

This is its first appearance, as it joins my “Baltimore Harborscapes” portfolio.

©2021 Steve Ember
(*)