Archive for August, 2010

For most of you … it is the last days of summer. One more Holiday weekend and the bathing suits get put away. I wish you a productive and speedy work week as you daydream about the dog days of summer.

The Big News facing the Outer Banks this week was that Hurricane season appeared to be blooming out in the Atlantic but luckily, Hurricane Danielle, did not make her way ashore.  The massive “swell” hitting the shores of North Carolina were tons of surfers, kite boarders and wind surfers expecting big things from the lady.  Few could resist the predictions of big waves and winds as the beaches became jammed with cars, surfboards and the beautiful people surfers heading from beach to beach jockeying for the perfect position and the perfect wave

For two days it was difficult to find a piece of beach to claim all for your own with all of the surfers, shore fisherman and spectators lining the shores. In the end it was the perfect weekend but the ultimate surf and waves never quite lived up to its billing.

So Brah (friend) most all that came were stokaboka (very excited) about the sand, sun and surf but d-u-u-u-de  (term said way too slowly by a valley sheep) there were way too many hodads (person who never goes in the water but acts and dresses as if he does} who sat and soaked up the sun as their dogs went sognar (wet dog shaking off) around them.

Over all it as a great weekend for the Outer Banks because any surfer will tell you he never wants to hear, “Brah, you should have been here yesterday!”

So with that said.” “Howzit, brah? The surf was epic today, fully macking double overhead corduroy to the horizon. Now it’s all buggery. Think I’ll jet to the food hut and grab a burrito and some sweet nectar. Latronic, dude.” Surfer speak translated in English, “the surf was good, now it is not, so lets head and get some food and libations.”

If you find yourself in need of stock photography or have an assignment coming up, give thought to giving us a call and see how we can bring your vision to fruition.  Please do keep you fingers crossed that Hurricane Earl will miss the NE coast and not become a Knarly and un-welcomed visitor.

Best regards
~dK~

I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend and are now hitting the office with Monday Morning Mania. I am on the road traveling back from Baltimore where I was instructing at a photographic workshop.

Sometimes it just pays to be in the right place at the right time. Last week my girlfriend and I decided to head out to the beach and do a little location scouting in spite of the bad weather that was looming. As we got to the beach it started to rain but ever so slightly so we chose to continue with our mission. As we toured the area I looked to the ocean and saw what appeared to be the start of a rainbow. While we stood and watched, the rainbow continued to grow little by little and increased ever so slightly in color intensity. As we stood there, I began to think it would never reach it’s full potential but it continued to grow both in size and in color. It was as if the colors began pulsating in rich neon colors and each band of the rainbow was becoming more defined. But again as we stood and watch as the colors became more brilliant we both thought that we would never see if continue to become a full arch. It was if it was teasing us with some growth and tempting us with its brilliant colors. I decided to go back to vehicle and get another lens just in case. As I turned back from the car to see the extent of the rainbow, it had miraculously manifested itself into the most majestic image of brilliant colors and shape I have ever witnessed. It was breathtaking and I can honestly say in all the years I have been a photographer I have not witnessed the beauty of a rainbow or experienced the intensity of colors this rainbow possessed. To top it off it was a double rainbow.

We stood in awe of the beauty of what appeared before us and it was difficult to decide whether to continue to photograph it or just stand and take in the moment. It was a hard decision to make so I attempted to do both. As the rainbow diminished we both stood in disbelief of what we had just seen.

Over the next couple of days the talk of the island was whether or not you had seen the rainbow that evening. I even think the island shifted a little to the east with everyone attempting to get a view of the double rainbow. Everyone was talking about just how amazing if was and how incredibly neon the colors were. I could not help but join in the conversation knowing that I had not only been witness to one of the most incredible acts of nature I had ever seen but I actually had proof.

If there ever was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this was the one where it would have been found. The only way to describe it is, “It was Picture Perfect!”

All my best for the week ahead and if you are in need of any photographic services do not hesitate to call.

Best regards!
~dk~

If there is one thing that has been proven for sure with my weekly blog is even though I love their beauty, I do not know “jack” about flowers and it appears that my flower experts do not either. It was brought to my attention last week that my flower of the week was not a Black Eyed Susan but rather an Indian Blanket Flower or a Gaillardia. I will keep photographing them but it appears that I need to enlist some new experts.

Last week I was hired by one of the local Outer Banks magazines, the Island Breeze, to photograph a tour conducted by the National Park Service at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It was not just any tour but one that is offered once a month to the public during the full moon. As we went through the procedures of getting the ok from the NPS, I received a press release which stated in part, “All participants are required to be at least 42 inches tall and must climb the 257 steps on their own (the equivalent of a 12 story building) – they can not be carried! The lighthouse is tall, dark, often hot, humid, and can be a challenge to climb.” All I could think was that I had the 42 inch requirement covered but that 257 steps and no one to carry me, I was just a little concerned. I contemplated whether being drug up the stairs would be considered being carried.

It ended up being a beautiful, cool and breezy evening for the climb.  As the moon ascended from the ocean floor with the sun’s reflection, it appeared as a brilliant orange disk and then proceeded to take on it’s own identity as it rose in the evening sky lighting up the coast of the outer banks. It was the perfect Full Moon and no one making the 257 step climb left disappointed. I stood in amazement of the beautiful spectacle by mother nature and for the moment thought that it was definitely worth the climb to have the view.

Not to be out done by the expectations of the anticipated “full moon rising”, earlier that evening sky was layered with a beautiful array of clouds highlighted by the setting sun. It was as if the sun were saying I have my own show to worthy of notice. With the lighthouse in the foreground it was all of that and more. To say the least, either show was well worth the price of admission.

Many thanks to everyone at the NPS for their assistance.
If you are in need of any stock photography or have an assignment coming up, do not hesitate to contact me. I am no more than a phone call or an email away!

Best regards
~dK~