hatteras, outer banks, wedding•
on August 20th, 2010•
Christine and Mike’s wedding took place on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Their July wedding ceremony was at Our Lady of the Seas and was followed by a reception on the waterfront at the Inn on Pamlico Sound. Both settings provided beautiful locations for the wedding. The couple had a youthful energy that really shines in the photographs.
Look for a separate blog post on the beach portrait session with Christine and Mike at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
A picture is worth a thousand words, here is Mike and Christine’s wedding story.
Subject: Mark and Beth by the sea in Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
This beach portrait is a glimpse into the casual, intimate life of the couple. Mark and Beth are avid ocean athletes and are passionate about the sea and all the life and mysteries within. The lines of the photo are clean and non-traditional and work powerfully together. The colors really capture that feeling of a great summer beach memory.
As a professional photographer, the mid-day sun can be a real challenge. Often, powerful lights are required to ‘overpower’ the sun’s bright light. More practically, a type of diffuser is used to block some of the sun’s direct light. The diffusers come in many different shapes and configurations. I have to admit this is the first time I have used a beach umbrella as a diffuser. Not only does it serve to help manage the bright sun, it also serves as a visual element adding to the photograph’s overall composition.
hatteras•
on November 8th, 2009•
After waking early and taking a peek at the water, I saw a beautiful morning coming to light. Realizing that there was no chance of of me going back to sleep I grabbed my camera gear and drove to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The morning sun was already above the horizon and just burning off the thin layer of fog that settled over night.
Most photographers in this area have their shot of the lighthouse and I have seen quite a few that are nice. I have shot the lighthouse on a couple of occasions, and find myself coming back to it from time to time. This morning I decided the light would make for nice photography.
This past weekend hosted a surf fishing contest, which ended yesterday, and a few fishermen were still in the area working for a big catch in the surf.
hatteras•
on November 7th, 2009•
For the most part, our travels to Hatteras Island involve chasing after a promising wind forecast, or a hopeful swell. For us, the activities on the island mostly revolve around getting blown around by the wind or tossed around by the waves. Or, both.
Today was one of the days where you are able to catch up on work or projects or just laze around. Me, I had to go into work for a couple of hours today. After getting away from work, I made some stops by to see friends and take it easy and snap some photographs.
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Cape Hatteras photography
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The beauty of the island is glaringly apparent when the elements are at rest and I actually take time to slow down and soak up the incredible scenery. I had hoped to catch the clean waves before they dropped off, but managed to get sidetracked before I could make it back home to pick up my wetsuit and surfboard.
Since I had my camera with me, I took time to capture some shots of the island in all of it’s glory.
As the sun set Kim and I went for a short paddle board session on the sound. The water is crystal clear and quite cold – we have had constant northern winds for the past two weeks.
I also managed to get a few shots for an ongoing project I am working on.
Aloha.
wedding•
on September 22nd, 2009•
To me, one of the best parts of beach wedding photography is the bridal portraits. This is when the Photogrpher and Bride are removed from the sometimes hectic atmosphere of the wedding day. Most traditional bridal portraits tend to follow a certain style of formal posing. With beach weddings, the style is often a little less formal – as beach weddings should be. I try and keep an element of formality, but the essence of a beach wedding can really come through with a less formal style.
So whenever I get a chance to shoot portraits on the beach I like to try many different poses as long as the bride is up to it and comfortable. Most brides are open to a photographer’s createive ideas, and working with a relaxed bride always makes my job easier. Then, if the other factors fall into place the shoot goes that much better.
With these shots, the light was just about perfect and the setting was ideal. I hardly used fill flash on these, except for a few that I was working to make the bride really stand off from the background, since the evening sunset provided a wonderful warm glow. I have been wanting to shoot in the sea oats that grow in the dunes on Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have had ideas swirling around that I finally got to test.
I was very happy with the results after this shoot. Wedding photography can be a little stressful at times and keeping the bride (and photographer) relaxed is important. When you do get one that is at ease, the job goes much smoother.
Working on more weddings in the Outer Banks I am excited to see what opportunities I can create with the endless beauty of the area.
Aloha.
sports•
on September 17th, 2009•
After a long wait for ridable wind, it seemed like a long wait, more like a couple of days, the wind picked up and people were on the water getting their fix. While waiting (and hoping) for the wind to build a little bit more, I took my camera into the shallow waters of Kite Point in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to shoot a couple girls that were throwing some nice moves. Not having a water housing for my camera(s) limits my shooting abilities near and around water. So I continiue to work in knee to waist deep water praying that nothing bad happens.
One of the girls is local rider Wendi Palmer. Ever since meeting Wendi a few years ago, she is constantly improving her riding and still rides better than most guys on the island – including me(!?!).
Another rider out that day is Kris Kinn of the Best Kiteboarding team.
This was a light wind day in Cape Hatteras but the girls were able to still develop some explosive moves on the water. They made for great photography subjects.
Always fun getting on the water in some form or fashion. I did manage to get out and ride for a little while but the wind died shortly after me getting my ‘fix’. Another beautiful day on Cape Hatteras.
Aloha.
outer banks•
on September 8th, 2009•
After a hectic week catching back up in Richmond, VA working on the house, yard, job, wedding photography, and some mountain biking, I came back to Hatteras last night.
Being a weather junkie, I have been watching the Island’s weather from Richmond, and the weather has been a little crazy down here the past few days.
Northerly winds have been kicking up a decent swell and lots of rain has been dumping all over the island. News reports indicates somewhere 8″-9″ between yesterday and this morning. This made the morning commute somewhat more interesting.
All of the water on the roads (and yards, parking lots, and just about everywhere) was from rain. Not storm surge or swell. All rain.
Luckily the Subaru made it through with no problems. I was more than a little late getting to work, but that is part of life here on the sandbar.
Aloha.
hatteras•
on August 28th, 2009•
With our latest storm sitting right off the coast here in Cape Hatteras, the expectations for severe weather have actually waned just a bit. Orignially, the storm predictions estimated the disturbance progressing into as high as a Category 2 hurricaine with chances of a direct hit to the Outer Banks areas. Things are still moody and rough, but not severe.
The storm has failed to strengthen into any appreciable threat. Unless you plan to enter the water. Of course, as wind/water junkies we (Kim, myself, and most of our friends) we fully intent to enter the water. All of the current warnings are for moderate to high rip current threat. The wind will not get much over 40mph and the storm swell is somewhere around 10 feet. Perfect conditions for ‘playing in the water’.
If the wind direction turns, as is expected, to an offshore direction the surf should be quite nice for the next day as the swell peaks – it is mushy and blown out today. After surfing too many days in a row, and sometimes multiple times a day over the past 10 days, today was a much needed break. The waves were out there, but it was not as well organized and clean as I prefer. Yes I’m getting picky.
Towards the end of the day today the wind started to come up to a level high enough for kiteboarding. I decided not to go out as the predictions called for somewhat drastic changes to the direction and velocity. Besides, just looking at the stormy skies I could predict less than favorable conditions for kiting.
About the only rideable location for the SE winds today was the ‘point’ of Cape Hatteras. Yes. The little tip of land where the sandbar makes an almost 90 degree turn to the west and creates a south-facing shore. With the storm swell and wind direction kiters and wind surfers alike were taking advantage of what little riding there was. The waves were very disorganized and sloppy. Part of me was itching to get wet and ride the waves, but the other 99% of me was not in much of a hurry to get out there.
I was happy hanging out on the beach with my cameras and friends to watch as most of the kiters eventually slipped further and further downwind until they walked back up the beach. Besides, I’m saving my energy.
With the wind direction predicted tomorrow it should make for nice surfing. So it is off to bed for me… I need my rest. I haven’t been this tired for this many days since performing long range patrols as a young Marine.
Aloha.
sports•
on August 25th, 2009•
Two recurring themes at my new home away from home. Surf and Photography. I have been fortunate enough to have an abundance of both lately.
I have always admired photographer’s work of the local area. I know a few that are practicing their trade sucessfully and their work is quite inspiring. Now, for myself, having the chance to shoot on Hatteras Island is something I really didn’t fully appreciate until spending so much time here. Before moving here I would always bring my camera gear on our weekend trips and make myself shoot at least a few shots each day I visited.
However, there is nothing like being in the right place at the right time in order to get a nice shot. With me spending so much time on the island my odds of getting what I consider a nice shot has gone up dramatically. Today, while out for an evening surf after work with Kim and some friends I made sure to bring one of my cameras to the beach. I had a feeling I would find something interesting to shoot after my surf session.
Some of our friends were already in the water and others showed up as we were surfing. The surfing was a fun little wave about chest-high. Kim managed to paddle out through the break which is a big accomplishment for any aspiring surfer. I have always said surfing was the hardest sport I ever learned, and I participate in a lot of steep-learning-curve sports. So to see her progressing is pretty awesome.
As the surf died I came in to shore and pulled out my camera and sarted looking for material to unfold before me. It is amazing how much you can find when you start looking for it, and here, you really don’t have to look hard.
After all of the years visiting this area, I am still amazed at the stunning sunsets. Never are two the same, and I never get tired of looking at them.
Aloha.
sports•
on August 23rd, 2009•
The past week or so on Hatteras Island has been a great time for playing on the water. With Hurricaine Bill passing by and sending some beautiful waves our way, and the nice dose of winds that have blown through on an almost daily basis, I have been surfing and kiting just about as much as I can stand.
Today, I surfed at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The swell was anywhere from chest high to 1-2 feet overhead. A very fun wave. Here I am dropping into a baby wave – last ride of the day.
As I write this, I have a head full of salt water and bloodshot eyes… Souveniers from another awesome day of surfing. Today has rounded out my run of surfing 6 of the past 8 days. A few of those days I surfed twice a day. Others, I was surfing and kiting in the same day. It is a tough job, but someone gets to do it.
Now, about the business of the storm swell Bill sent our way. Last week, the surf starting building to a crescendo of waves hitting the shores this weekend at somewhere around 20 feet or so. All week leading up to the weekend you could feel the energy in the air and people were buzzing with anticipation. The roads were jammed with people entering and leaving the narrow island.
We only had one day of surf that was crazy-high. Thankfully, the other days were more normal. The waves were anywhere from knee high early in the week to well overhead towards the end of the week, but not quite what we call double-overhead – or, even triple-overhead.
Until this weekend. Saturday.
When waves get as big as they were this past Saturday it starts to become very tricky to paddle into the wave and catch it for a ride. This is where motorized assistance comes in. A technique called tow-in surfing is when a JetSki pulls the surfer along until the surfer can use the speed generated by the JetSki to ‘drop in’ to the wave and successfully ride.
I am quite thankful the waves were ‘ginormous’ for only one day. For that one day, I happily sat on the shore and deployed my photography equipment to capture some of the phenomenal action directly offshore. My surf photography is not something I get to practice very often, so I was thrilled when Kim and I spotted two skis towing surfers into waves yesterday.
Back when I started surfing (too many years ago to mention) I found myself paddling into quite a few storm swells here in the Outer Banks, so I have enormous respect for the kind of heavy water these guys were playing with. Never did I attempt to paddle into triple-overhead though. Of notable mention, there were paddle surfers out in the waves catching rides on Saturday.
Aloha.
