I don't make it a point to avoid popular destinations. My rule is simple: if I see other photographers/tripods at the location, I move on to a different location. I'm trying to avoid the feeling of being trapped. When other photographers are setup on and actively...
Knobbed Whelk shells are quite the prize for non-discriminate beachcombers. Non-discriminate because they are rather gratuitous in size! Their thick, strong shells allow many Knobbed Whelks to make it through the rough surf and onto the beaches of Cape Hatteras...
The Duck Research Pier is the toughest pier to find in the Outer Banks. By design. The structure is not open to the public. Established in 1977 by the United States Army Corp of Engineers, the purpose of the Duck Research Pier and Field Research Facility is to...
Bad weather is good weather for landscape photography. Bad weather is what drove me towards the Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station on this particular evening. During January in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, bad weather means some sort of cold front. And cold...
The mystery of the sea is very much alive, for me, in the Outer Banks. One of the neatest ways to touch this mystery is to find a bright colored piece of sea glass in a pile of shell hash along the beach. Like a valuable jewel, the colors--electric green, cobalt...
I like to walk. It's a large part of how I develop a relationship with the land. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to walk in the Outer Banks (OBX). There's no development, few people, and miles of beautiful sand and ocean. On a winter...
During a predawn beachcombing expedition along Cape Hatteras National Seashore I found this large chunk of coral. It measured probably twelve inches wide and weighed as much as a bowling ball. It was still dark when I dug it out of the wet, loosely packed shell hash...
There are advantages and disadvantages to setting up base camp at different locations throughout the Outer Banks. The purpose of the project is going to dictate optimal location. For me, however, all things equal, Manteo is the best of the best. The only...
Cypress trees along the shallow shorelines of the Currituck Sound are not unique. However, unlike the largely public beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, most soundside properties are privately owned. Thus, the real challenge is finding the right tree in the right...
Reflection photography is hit or miss with my clients and friends: they either love it or they don't get it! Obviously, I love it :-). The historic Whalehead Club--originally called Corolla Island-- is a 21,000 square foot Great Gatsbyesque mansion built in 1925 and...
One of the neatest things about beachcombing is the surprising combination of color, pattern and shape of individual shells. Winter is the perfect time to beachcomb. Walking keeps you warm and the cold temperatures--and often gusty winds--keep the crowds far from...
In March of 2020 the Ocean Pursuit, a 73-foot steel-hull commercial scallop trawler, beached along the Bodie Island Spit. The spit is just north of Oregon Inlet and part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. North Carolina's barrier islands are infamous for...
I dreamed of extended stays when I became a full-time landscape photographer. Every year a different location. Twelve months of intense exploration in a new place. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to realize that dream. Yet. Instead, like most other working...