UPDATE: At our last stop on this tour - Graffiti Alley - street artist West will join us, talk briefly about his work, answer your questions, and then create new work especially for us. Don't forget to bring your cameras!

——————

Street murals are changing the way we think about art. Gone are the days when art was confined to museum showrooms and art galleries. Public space is art’s new home, and whoever is there to see it is invited to communicate with it. Street art is also ephemeral. What’s here today could be derelict tomorrow, or gone altogether. As one street artist says: “It’s what street art is all about: murals come and go.” Artistic creation flourishes when the new replaces the old.

This tour will focus on the often-overlooked way in which these works of art integrate with their surroundings. Instead of discovering these artworks by chance, we’re going to lead you to some of our favorites, so that you can see Baltimore through the lens of street art. Our challenge as photographers is not only to photograph the murals, but to capture the neighborhoods that provide the context for the art. We should have an opportunity to capture people’s reactions to the artwork as well.

Jonathan Dimes, Baltimore resident and documenter of Baltimore’s street art scene, will co-lead this tour. He’ll provide information about the art and artists as we explore and photograph the murals as well as the buildings, blocks, and neighborhoods in which they reside. You can see Jonathan’s work on his @themuralhunter and @charmcityquirk Instagram feeds.

This is a driving and walking tour. We’ll consolidate into two cars, driving to different locations and then getting out to photograph and explore. Starting in Highlandtown, home of artists and galleries, we’ll work our way northward into the various neighborhoods of East Baltimore. We’ll finish in the Station North Arts District, where our last stop will be at Graffiti Alley. Throughout the tour, you’ll see works by some of Baltimore’s most skilled and creative street artists.

And, as is our tradition, we invite you to join us for a meal at the conclusion of the tour, this time at Joe Squared on North Avenue, a popular spot with the local art crowd. (The meal is optional.)

All cameras and skill levels are welcome. We can provide whatever technical assistance you may need, give you ideas on how to shoot the murals, show you highlights of the neighborhoods - or just leave you alone to do your thing.

The cost is $90. You’re registered when you’ve paid: https://www.paypal.me/RSullivan2038

And when you’re registered, we’ll send you the meeting location, and a liability waiver to fill out and return. No refunds unless we cancel (though you can transfer your spot to someone else).

Note that the above mural - on the side of a rowhouse - was created by Bridget Cimino in 2013.

Please join us!

Arabbing has deep roots in Baltimore, particularly within the African-American community. It became widely popular after the Civil War, as the brightly decorated horses and carts moved produce from ports and warehouses into the city’s neighborhoods. As industry grew, African–Americans were initially excluded from many factory jobs, but not from arabbing.

Today, Baltimore is the only city left in the country that still has working arabbers. But the number of arabbers on the city streets has dwindled to just a few, and they are in danger of extinction.

Our tour starts at a stable in west Baltimore - one of three left in the city - that is known for its beautiful carriages. It’s an historic building, and it’s also the only functional building on its block, which is otherwise devastated. We’ll have exclusive access to photograph the stable, horses, and carriages, and we’ll meet the owner and her family, and talk with her about her long involvement with arabbing.

We’ll then photograph the arabber as she makes her rounds, with horse and a fully-loaded wagon, on the streets of west Baltimore. We’ll be on foot, as she’ll go several blocks before turning the wagon over to another arabber, who will take it for the rest of the day. This is unusual, as you will not see another female arabber on the streets of Baltimore. She is doing this especially for us.

This is a unique opportunity to photograph not only the stable, but a working arabber on the street. The tour is limited to six people. Cost is $95. The tour runs from 10:00am to about 12:30pm.

You’re registered when you’ve paid: https://www.paypal.me/RSullivan2038

And when you’re registered, I’ll send you a “liability waiver” form to fill out, as well as the location where we’ll meet. No refunds unless we cancel (though you can transfer your spot to someone else).

Please note that a portion of the proceeds goes to the stable.

Legend has it that duckpin bowling originated in Baltimore in 1900, with two Baltimore Orioles players who owned a bowling, billiards, and pool hall. (New research claims it was developed about a decade earlier.) There was a time - in the 1950’s and 60’s - when duckpin bowling was all the rage. Now duckpin alleys are few and far between.

Our first stop will be at the oldest operating duckpin alley in the country, opened in 1927. We’ll have access not only to the bowling lanes, but also behind the scenes - where we can photograph the 1940’s machinery that makes it all work. This is classic Baltimore, and it will be fun to shoot.

From there it’s a 10-minute ride to a very unique site. This outdoor shopping mall has been a market site since the early 1800’s. Baltimore Heritage notes three architectural categories at the mall: row house shops dating to the 1820’s, Victorian stores from the 1870’s, and newer styles - such as Art Deco - from the 20th century. The two blocks that make up the mall were closed to traffic in 1968 to create a pedestrian walkway, as part of a federal urban renewal project.

The renewal project failed badly. What remains is a ghost town, just a few blocks from downtown Baltimore. One block is completely boarded up and decayed; the other - longer - block has just a very few stores still open amidst the decay and abandonments. And yet… there are new windows in a few of the buildings, and pickup trucks parked in front while work goes on inside. The former Kaufman’s department store is now a haunted house (open only in October). This is a strange, spooky site that is ripe for redevelopment - but not before we get some great photographs.

Our final stop will be at Old Line Spirits, which opened in the Highlandtown neighborhood in February 2017, though its owners - both former Navy pilots - spent considerable time beforehand learning the art and craft of distilling whiskey and rum. Baltimore Magazine awarded it “best distillery” in 2018, and one of the owners will give us a tour of the facility, after which we’ll settle into the new cocktail bar to sample the goods. (Note that the price of cocktails is not included in the cost of the photo tour.)

You’re registered when you’ve paid: https://www.paypal.me/RSullivan2038

The cost is $85. You’ll need to fill out a liability waiver, which I’ll send you as well as the address of our first location. No refunds unless we cancel (though you can transfer your spot to someone else).

Because there is ample parking at all three locations, you are free to use your own vehicles. Addresses and directions will be provided for all three sites.

This tour is SOLD OUT. Next arabber tour will take place in early August.

We’ll meet at a stable in southwest Baltimore. It was built in 1899, and has always been used as a stable. We’ll have exclusive access for about an hour, at which point a wagon will pull up - partially loaded - and we’ll photograph the arabber as he finishes loading his wagon. You can use a tripod inside the stable, which is dark.

The horses will either be in their stalls, running free on the stable grounds, or running free in a small “corral” across the street from the stable. It’s great shooting, regardless.

When the arabber is finished loading the wagon, he’ll head off down the street. We’ll be coordinating with him so that we know his route, and know where he’ll stop. In this way, we can get in front of him and photograph him coming down the street, as well as from behind and from the side. We’ll be with him for about an hour.

The tour is limited to six people. Cost is $95. The entire time of the tour will be about 2 1/2 hours, and will run from about 10:30am to 1:00pm. Times are approximate - arabbers work on their own time. Please be patient.

You’re registered when you’ve paid: https://www.paypal.me/RSullivan2038

And when you’re registered, I’ll send you a “liability waiver” form to fill out, as well as the location where we’ll meet. No refunds unless we cancel (though you can transfer your spot to someone else).

Please note that a portion of the proceeds goes to the stable and to the arabber.

Without creative vision, a photograph is just an everyday record of an event. With vision, however, a photograph can go beyond being a snapshot, and convey emotion, tell a story, or express the depth and meaning of your unique way of looking at the world.

In this class, we’ll use different exercises to stimulate our creativity, discuss and illustrate good composition, look at lots of photographs to see what works and what doesn’t, explore the elements of a photographer’s “toolbox,” and talk about workflow and good habits to learn and practice.

We’ll break up the classroom discussion with a photo shoot at nearby Rose Hill Manor, with its beautiful fields, log cabin, barns, and so on. You’ll have a chance to practice what we’ve talked about in the classroom.

You should leave this class with new ideas for how to make your photographs more interesting and reflective of your ideas, interests, and passions. All cameras are welcome, though some of the techniques we’ll be discussing will be based on the semi-automatic or manual modes found in a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

This class will be taught at Frederick Community College in Frederick, MD. https://www.frederick.edu/

Thank you to all who joined me for this tour; you made this thoroughly enjoyable.

We’ll meet at a stable in southwest Baltimore. It was built in 1899, and has always been used as a stable. We’ll have exclusive access for about an hour, at which point a wagon will pull up - partially loaded - and we’ll photograph the arabber as he finishes loading his wagon. You can use a tripod inside the stable, which is dark.

The horses will either be in their stalls, running free on the stable grounds, or running free in a small “corral” across the street from the stable. It’s great shooting, regardless.

When the arabber is finished loading the wagon, he’ll head off down the street. We’ll be coordinating with him so that we know his route, and know where he’ll stop. In this way, we can get in front of him and photograph him coming down the street, as well as from behind and from the side. We’ll be with him for about an hour.

The tour is limited to six people. Cost is $95. The entire time of the tour will be about 2 1/2 hours, and will run from about 10:30am to 1:00pm. Times are approximate - arabbers work on their own time. Please be patient.

Please note that a portion of the proceeds goes to the stable and to the arabber.

This tour is SOLD OUT.

It’s the goal of Baltimore Photo Tours to show you parts of Baltimore that you might not normally visit. This tour starts at Fort Armistead Park and ends at an arabber stable. (Baltimore is the only city in the country that still has working arabbers - horse and wagon vendors of fruits and vegetables.) We’ll also visit the Baltimore Cemetery - a distinct contrast to the elegant and popular Green Mount Cemetery - and Graffiti Alley.

Our tours not only offer unique locations, but will highlight the history of each location. We’ll also provide technical assistance in the use of your camera, and ideas and suggestions for improving your photography.

More tours will be scheduled soon.

Night shooting on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We’re here to assist you with the following:

- shooting in manual mode and in RAW
- photographing the moon - long exposure photography
- setting the correct white balance
- using the histogram
- dealing with mixed light sources
- using a remote, or cable release, and mirror-up mode
- achieving accurate focus
- long exposure NR
- starbursts
- light painting

This is a Milky Way workshop, though we’ll gather early enough to shoot sunset and the wild horses of Assateague. The training for the Milky Way is geared towards first timers with an interest in Nightscaping. You will need a DSLR (preferably full frame), a wide-angle lens with an aperture of f2.8 or wider, a cable or remote release, and a sturdy tripod. We'll provide all the necessary information on camera settings. The key for success is getting proper single frame captures combined with accurate focus for pinpoint sharp stars.

Night photography is a time to explore and experiment, to play and have fun. We've timed this workshop for the full moon, and moonlight is wonderful illumination for your night exposures. Even if it's cloudy, though, there are many other sources of illumination, and we’ll explore different sources at each location.

We'll start at sunset, because sunsets here are amazing. We'll then take you to several of our favorite spots on the east bank of the Honga River and on Tedious Creek. All locations are in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. You'll see a small fishing village that looks like it could be in Maine, marinas filled with working (watermen's) boats, abandoned buildings and boats, and an old church hall, among other sights. Most of the locations have beautiful views of the water.

Join us for an evening photographing the night sky. We'll show you the best camera settings and techniques for capturing the night sky, with a special focus on the Milky Way.

We'll be photographing on Hoopers Island, in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We'll send the location at which the group will meet, and then we'll carpool to one or more locations from which we'll shoot.

We are delighted to sponsor this cruise, which will visit six lighthouses, getting close enough to each one for you to get some great photos. The last lighthouse visited will be at sunset, though there should be beautiful late-afternoon light for the other lighthouses.

The entire cruise covers about 70 miles, and leaves from Hoopers Island. You are welcome to bring food and drink on board with you. Note that we'll be on the water for about five hours, and will not be getting off the boat. There are plenty of shaded areas on board so that you can get out of the sun. There is also a small, but perfectly functional, bathroom on board. Monopods are welcome, but tripods are not.