Thirty-Two Coats; The Story Behind The Image

Thirty-two coats for sale from $1-$5 US (click to enlarge)
Nikon D800E, 24-120mm f/4 lens @ 46mm; 1/80th sec. @ f/9; ISO 500

I was on my annual early winter wildlife excursion with some photographer friends.  For years we have met on Virginia's Eastern Shore at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge for a long weekend of photographing migrating birds, raptors, shore birds, wading birds, Sika elk, otters, and any other wildlife we find.  It has always been a great time, both in the field, at meals and in the hotel in the evenings sitting around and sharing stories.

During this particular outing (2013), I decided to take a ride over to Deal Island, Maryland to see if I could find a couple of the old "Skipjacks."  Skipjacks are sailing vessels, largely now disappeared with the exception of just a few, that were used in the Chesapeake Bay for fishing for oysters.  These had no motors, but sailing vessels for scooping up oysters by hand with giant tongs.  A hundred or more years ago, there were hundreds of skipjacks in the Chesapeake Bay everyday.  I love history and photographically recording those things that are fast disappearing forever.  I knew there were a couple of skipjacks remaining on Deal Island and since I was so close, I thought I would take a ride over there to see what I could find.  I did find two of them, by the way, and made some nice images of them.

On the way back to Chincoteague and while driving on the road from Deal Island to Route 13 (the main north/south road all through the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware), by luck I spotted these coats hanging from a fence.  Since I was traveling from left to right when looking at this image, I didn't see them at first, but the old house caught my eye which caused me to turn and look.  There were these coats, with a sign, hanging on an old wooden fence adjacent to that old, abandoned clapboard house.  I drove on for a few minutes then decided that, no, I have to turn around and make a few images as I would regret it in the future.  I made a U-turn and came back to make this image.

I stayed and photographed for several minutes.  No one approached me wondering if I wanted to buy a coat and I didn't see anyone at all around.  Honor system?  I don't know.  I wondered if the person or persons who collected these old coats did it for charity or for profit.  I was hoping they had been collected to help others who may not be able to afford a warm coat for the impending winter.  

I think this is one of those images in which a single image can tell an interesting story with the right narrative.  Some say a photograph should not need words to accompany it and a good photograph should speak for itself.  I don't agree.  Sometimes a good narrative to go along with an interesting photograph makes the photograph even more interesting.

I finally drove off, none the wiser but with a few interesting images.  I haven't been back that way since, but I may try to visit Deal Island again during this winter's photographic adventure.  I'll surely be looking for the coats and anyone around that I may be able to ask what their story may be.

I'll let you know.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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