Every page in Cameron Davidson’s “Chesapeake” is a rich treasure: in addition to being a delight to behold, the compendium of sumptuous aerial imagery enhances our understanding of this sprawling, complex watershed. The book is a remarkable accomplishment.
Cameron’s Chesapeake work stuns. Those images that aren’t simply breathtaking are outrageously stirring. He is a colorist and textural designer at 1500 feet, posing as a photographer. Cameron’s aerials are in that class called the best of the best and this book belongs on every coffee table and on every bookshelf.
As long as I have known Cameron Davidson, he has had a passion for the Chesapeake Bay. This passion is clearly expressed in his gorgeous and lush aerial photographs of tributaries, rivers and the great body of water, which makes up the Chesapeake Bay watershed. From the air, Cameron shows not only the natural history but the economic legacy of the bay; the fishermen, the Bay Bridge Tunnel, coastal beaches, even the industrial ports of Norfolk and Baltimore, all shown beautifully and graphically. These images can be found in Cameron’s newest book: “Chesapeake”. I was raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which hugs the lower end of the Bay before it empties out into the Atlantic Ocean. I have great memories of my young life near and on the Bay. If anyone wanted to share those memories with me, I would give them “Chesapeake”. Through Cameron’s photography, they will understand why I and others touched by the Bay also have a great passion for it.
I’ve admired Cameron Davidson’s beautiful aerial images for a number of years. In ‘Chesapeake’ the superb photographs are supplemented by fascinating text and a book design that greatly enhances this visual poem about a landscape formed by water and it’s diverse interfaces with the man-made world.
Author of Spacelands, Winner of the 2009 Brilliant Book Award
Cameron’s stunning aerial photography has always made me want to jump
in a helicopter and hang out the open door at 1000 feet. Luckily,
since I’m slightly afraid of heights, this book allows me to enjoy
that feeling from the safety of my living room.
Chesapeake is a labor of love, and it shows. This is a beautiful book.
Cameron Davidson captures the Chesapeake Bay that is unseen by most people –
from high above. Using incredible light and nature’s atmospherics the
photographs jump off the page, looking three dimensional at times. From his
unique perch Cameron’s images draw the viewer into the functionality,
fragility, and enduring beauty of this unique geographical region.
New York City, National Geographic Contract Photographer
It defies imagination to ponder just how many hundreds of hours Cameron Davidson spent aloft looking for the images in this beautiful book. He takes us there with him: at every hour of the day, every season, in every kind of beautiful light. It’s a ticket to the Chesapeake you definitely won’t have a chance to visit yourself, so go with Cameron. It’s a great trip.
New York City
To call Cameron an aerial photographer is an injustice. His work is bold, colorful and always has a strong sense of design. It just so happens that his favorite point of view is from the air which adds awe to his otherwise incredible work. Above all he also has immense passion and all of this is evident in his project that has finally come to fruition on the Chesapeake Bay. This is definitely a book for the coffee table to view over and over.
Cameron Davidson | Chesapeake 