Local photographer spotlights Assateague Island in new book

Assateague Island off the coast of Maryland draws visitors to its shores from both near and far. Whether it be to enjoy the soft sand beaches, or take in the sights with the famous wild ponies, guests enjoy the island’s magic for a myriad of reasons.

Local nature photographer Tyler Smiley is no different, and now he shares some of his experiences with the world in his first photo book, “Assateague Island’s Wild Horses.”

“I initially wasn’t planning on doing a photo book for Assateague as my first book,” Smiley said. “It sort of came up out of nowhere after a trip to the island in September when I realized how many photos of the horses I had taken over the last year.”

In one year, Smiley estimates he’s gone to Assateague more than 20 times, drawn by its stunning coastlines, wild marshes, and of course, the wild horses. His first visit as a photographer, spurred on by friend and fellow local photographer Kevin Lynam, came in November 2022. That visit inspired Smiley to work on capturing the beauty of the island every chance he could.

“Part of what makes Assateague Island so special is that you never know what you’re going to see or experience from one visit to the next. There have been some visits where I didn’t see anything – be it horses or other wildlife – and then others I’ve left with several hundred images to comb through,” Smiley said.

By his last count, Tyler said he has photographed approximately half of the current 80-plus-member herd of horses living on the Maryland side of the island. Though he hopes to in the future, he hasn’t yet gone to the Virginia side.

“I’ve already been asked if there will be a book like this one for the Virginia herd, but all I can say is time will tell,” he said.

“Assateague Island’s Wild Horses” is available through Smiley’s website as a limited-edition printing with only 24 copies available. Each copy is $45, and they are signed and numbered. For each copy sold, Smiley has committed to donate 15% of profits to the Assateague Island Alliance to assist its conservation and education programs. To purchase the book, go to tylersmileyphotography.com/shop.

For more information, contact Tyler Smiley at tyler@tylersmileyphotography.com, and go to the Assateague Island Alliance website at assateagueislandalliance.org.