Dark Skies, Bright Ideas, and a Passion for the Outdoors
When you think about our amazing Eastern Shore, ‘one-of- a-kind’ comes to mind. With its unique barrier islands, bountiful waters, and delicate natural habitats, it’s an area like nowhere else in the world. It’s also the home of another one-of-a-kind: veteran television producer, photographer, musician, and award-winning filmmaker, Jim Baugh.
Outdoorsman, Jim Baugh gives us an incredible, new perspective on our Eastern Shore home.
With his show, Jim Baugh Outdoors, spanning three decades, exploring the wild and wonderful outdoor adventures in Maryland, the Outer Banks, Virginia, West Virginia, Colorado, Miami and down to the Florida Keys, he’s a master of telling a great story and captivating imaginations.
His award-winning short film, “The Milky Way Galaxy, Our Home” is one such incredible story. Highlighting four never before published dark sky sites right here on the Eastern Shore, the four-minute film utilizes Jim’s photography taken over four months and his time-lapse video spanning four years.
Weaving four years of footage and thousands of photos together to share the wonder of the Eastern Shore night sky with the world sounds like an enormous endeavor. But for Jim, it’s a way of life.
Jim has seen a lot in his decades advocating for getting outdoors. So when he says the Eastern Shore area is unique, that’s certainly saying something. His work in astrophotography—photography of celestial events and the night sky—shows just how right he is.
“The Eastern Shore of Virginia is the place for nightscapes and stargazing,” says Jim. When he began the detailed process of looking for dark sky sites on the Eastern Shore, he was excited by what he found. Before he moved to Cape Charles with his wife, Donna, in 2013, the only time Jim was able to really see the night sky was when he was out on a boat. His dark-sky- friendly location of Cape Charles has changed that. He suspected the Cape Charles area might have potential for ideal dark sky sites— so he set out to find them. He began by using satellite imagery to find what looked, to his trained eye, like possible spots.
“At night, I’d take our dog, Jazz, out to the darkest locations to check them out,” he remembers. He found several of these in the Cape Charles area.
His latest photo release several days ago is a testament to his dedication. His photos of Cape Charles’ King Neptune statue and the iconic LOVE sculpture beneath the Milky Way are absolutely awe-inspiring and…eye-opening. This is, in part, because many of us have never seen the night sky of Cape Charles captured this way.
“If you’re going to be filming astrophotography on the Shore,” says Jim, “Cape Charles is probably the best central location.” Knowing our hometown is home to several exceptional dark sky locations—now identified and captured by Jim—is exciting.
Showing people something new is what Jim Baugh is all about. A lover of all things outdoors, his life’s work has been sharing the joy of being in nature with others. With his show now based at Oyster Farm at Kings Creek Marina, he’s using his trademark energy and passion to showcase the natural attractions of the Eastern Shore.
What inspires the man whose films, footage and photos inspire so many others? In short, it’s the glory of nature. “When we can get people outdoors, to enjoy it, they start to care about these places,” explains Jim. The beauty of a message like this is that it isn’t an admonishment to ‘save the environment.’ It’s an invitation—to make the great outdoors a part of your life and experience the genuine thrills and joys that come from that. The rest, Jim explains, takes care of itself.
From his home studio, Jim has an incredible place in which to observe our area’s stunning natural resources. “I started to notice how much the sun moves every day,” he says. The dramatic movement of the shadows of the trees as the sun passes over caught his attention. “The sun sets in different parts of the sky at different parts of the year,” Jim explains.
His photograph, Sunset at the Concrete Ships, is the result of his keen sky observations. “This was taken during the winter solstice,” Jim says. That, he explains, was the rare time he was able to capture the setting sun at that specific position in the sky.
And though producing his stunning photos and films often requires a winter solstice, a new moon, four years of footage, or an all-night, once-in-a-season exposure, his championing of Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore’s outdoor paradise is an everyday thing.
Jim’s endeavors are part of what makes Cape Charles special—and we’re glad he’s sharing his talents and passion for the outdoors here in our special corner of the world.
His vast show archive and new show episodes, alike, take viewers on a deep dive of the natural resources, lifestyle and flavor of waterways, the sea, the shore and more. And his fine art photography of the Cape Charles and Eastern Shore area are reminding us that we live in an incredible place—just waiting to be explored.
Watch the Skies: If you’re feeling starry-eyed, here are a few areas to try for night sky observation and astrophotography on the Eastern Shore. On a clear night, it can be spectacular!
• The area around Magothy Bay Natural Preserve
• Red Bank Boat Ramp | County Rd. 715, Marionville, VA
• The Greater Wachapreague area | Accomack County
• Most areas along Seaside Road heading north from Cape Charles • The Town of Cape Charles
Watch the award-winning documentary, “The Milky Way Galaxy, Our Home” a short film by Jim Baugh highlighting four never before published dark sky sites. The locations are Magothy Bay, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, and Red Bank.
Jim Baugh’s show has broadcast over the years on The Outdoor Channel, the Sportsman Channel, the Family Channel & NBC Sports and is now on Amazon Prime.
You can see more of Jim Baugh’s work at
https://jimbaugh.blogspot.com/