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 working a location, my own ability to move in and out of a scene–to explore and discover the subject intuitively–is limited or entirely restricted.  Unless, of course, I just want to be a dick.

If I can get to a popular spot at an unpopular time, however, I find the experience of photographing an iconic location no different than photographing a completely unique, intimate scene.  Both experiences are new to me.  And, most importantly, I’m granted the freedom of working the scene in a way that allows for the excitement and creativity that make photography such a fulfilling pursuit to me.

This scene at the Whalehead Club in Historic Corolla Park is a balancing act of atmospheric conditions and artificial lighting.  It’s rarely calm in the Outer Banks.  Moreover, I rarely find the exterior lighting on during the winter months.  On this particular evening, I was elated to find both calm conditions and a well-lit house.  I pounced on the opportunity.  Like many of my field experiences, I learned a lot about what I would do next time…and I certainly hope that there will be a next time when the conditions come together and I’m a more complete photographer to greet them.

Camera:  Nikon D850
Lens:  Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 27mm
Tripod:  Really Right Stuff TVC-33

Date taken:  January 14, 2021
Settings:  f11, 70.0 seconds, iso-64