Archive for the ‘2010’ Category

I hope that this email finds you doing well and recuperating from an over indulgence of Christmas Holiday Cheer and Family Celebrations.

It is just my luck and the story of my life that the East Coast finds itself covered in a beautiful blanket of snow and I am in Phoenix, Az stuck in the beauty and warmth of a mid-western holiday. I know most of you may think I am crazy but growing up in Florida and being a photographer, I just cannot get enough of it.

So I thought that the best I could do was offer a snow shot taken at Falls Mill upper falls in Belvidere, Tn. some winters ago. Wishing you the warmth of the Holiday Season.

Wishing you a very safe and enjoyable New Year!!!!

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

It was blistering cold when I left the Outer Banks last week and then accentuated by the snow flurry I drove through to get back to Sweet Home Blistering Alabama. Of course there is something totally wrong when it is that cold and you are “at the beach”.

I am taking time off from OBX with the season slowly come to an end and will be back spending the majority of my time in Huntsville. So for those that thought you had finally gotten rid of me, think again. I’m BaaaccccK!

The one thing I know I will miss most, photographically, is my afternoon excursions chasing sunsets on the island. It is the one precise moment in the day when I can escape all that I am dealing and make peace with it all. There is nothing I can think of that provides more to one’s reflection on their day then watching the pageantry of the setting sun and the fleeting moments of the kaleidoscopic colors that follow. There is a peace and solitude that accompanies the sun as it disappears into the horizon. Surely you have noticed the tear drop shape as the sun kisses the earth for one last time. It appears to be a “wish of good will” that takes our breath away and says, for that moment, all is right with our world.

How hectic most of our lives are today with all that the holidays demand and how sad that most do not stop to appreciate that one moment Mother Nature provides to us as “free therapy”.  Next time when all seems to be closing in on your day, pull over where ever you might be and take a moment to reflect and appreciate this gift of peace, solitude and splendor. For me, at that exact moment, all my cares seem to slip away.

I send all my best to you, your family and your friends as the Holidays approach. Reach out to someone and show him or her the true meaning of holiday spirit. It is a gift that they will never take back.

Best wishes – Happy Holidays!!!!!
~dK~

There are those that say Life is a Beach and then you die …. The one part they leave out is you still have to go through Atlanta to get to your final destination. 

I will spare you the total story this week because I will be on travel heading to Huntsville and parts unknown. Of course the parts unknown I really do know. So, if you see a guy that looks like me in Huntsville and he is wearing a Red and White suit with a funny looking hat it’s not me, but a guy in black and white may just likely be ME!!!!

OK, maybe I do have a little statement in that tourism and fishing with beach access provides many benefits to the Outer Banks including employment opportunities, improving awareness of conservation objectives and stimulation of economic activity. Tourism, along with prudent conservation, is a major vehicle for realizing tangible benefits for local communities with wildlife populations occurring on their land. There continues to be the constant struggle of man vs. nature and nowhere is it more prevalent than Cape Hatters National Seashore. The “battle for the beach” is a David vs. Goliath epic being waged by the Audubon Society and the National Park Service and pits them against the residents and tourists of these thriving island fishing communities. If interested become aware and get involved …… there are a few sides to every story:

Outer Banks Preservation Society: http://obpa-nc.org/joomla/
National Park Service – http://www.nps.gov/caha/parknews/nps-notice-of-availability-of-final-environmental-impact-statement.htm

Of course we all know the best preservation policy is … “Take only Photographs, Leave only Footprints” …. Happy Trails!!!

What better gift to give for the holidays than ART? All the photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase.

Best wishes – Happy Holidays ……….
~dK~

If most of you are like me, you are suffering from a “turkey hangover!”

Last week was wonderful with friends opening their homes and adding another plate for the boy from Bama. Can’t get enough of those “day after” turkey sandwiches.

The weather has been absolutely fabulous in the Outer Banks making the island the perfect place for families to come together for the Thanksgiving holiday. Black Friday was really Wonderful Weather Friday.

With winter approaching, my favorite time of day comes early here in OBX and Mother Nature continues to provide the best in photographic opportunities. Last week we had the sun setting and the full moon rising within minutes of each other.

The thanksgiving crowds have come and gone and the gallery was quiet Sunday, so I decided to close early, with the approval of the “boss”, and go chase sunsets. With the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse striking poise, I think I caught a good one.

I hope it shines a little golden light on your Cyber Monday – Enjoy!

What better gift is there to give for the holidays than ART? All the photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

What more needs to be said than it is Thanksgiving and my apologies to all those turkeys because I sure do love a good “day after” turkey sandwich.

More importantly and all kidding aside, it is that time of year when we give thanks for family and friends and for all that we are so blessed with, both spiritual and physical.

One of the things that I am truly grateful for is that my mother has come through her ordeals and she and my dad are now safe and sound with my sister in Arizona. I am not sure what we would have done without her care and support and I am very grateful for all that she sacrificed for them.

In giving thought to what might be an appropriate image for Thanksgiving, I could not help but think “where” we give thanks the most. It is the one common place where we all find solace, our choice of a house of worship. I think of all the years I spent with my family in worship and when I return home to visit, it is the one place that my family and I continue to share.

On a recent trip to Portsmouth Island, off the coast of North Carolina, I came across the islands house of worship, which has endured the test of time and all that Mother Nature has thrown at it. In 1913 a hurricane destroyed the island’s two churches. The Methodist church, rebuilt the following year, was left leaning after a 1944 storm but still stands proud today.

As I stood in reverence and marveled at the majestic beauty of this simplistic structure, I could not help but wonder what testaments to faith all those that came to worship during those years of residence had professed. I am sure to those that survived and to those that perished this was the one place where they found time to give thanks.

I hope that you all take time to reflect on what the year has meant to you and how much we all have to be thankful for with family and friends – Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

With the holidays fast approaching what better gift to give than that one of a kind memory. All photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase. More importantly, if you have a corporate shoot upcoming or you need stock imagery, I am no further away then a phone call or email.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

For more information about Portsmouth Island you can go to:
http://www.friendsofportsmouthisland.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_Island,_North_Carolina

Last year around this time the coastal Northeast was dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Ida. There was massive flooding caused by the huge surf and gale force winds from the tropical storm which the media affectionately named Nor-Ida (nor-easter).

Fast-forward one year and the Northeast finds itself once again dealing with the leftovers from Tropical Storm Tomas. I have yet to hear the term Nor-Tomas and luckily the storm has not caused near the damage its November sister did a year ago.

The one great thing about these storms is the huge swells it creates and with that comes the pageantry of surfing. The North Carolina coast and specifically the Outer Banks is known internationally for its surf and last week was no exception for why it is such a popular east coast destination. The surf was large, the tubes went forever and the surfers were out in record numbers.

Here are a few shots taken at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse where the surf was “cooking” and the “brahs” were totally “smokin”. The locals called it  “wicked”!

With the holidays fast approaching what better gift to give than a one of a kind photograph. All photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase. More importantly, if you have a corporate shoot upcoming or you need stock imagery, I am no further away then a phone call or email.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

This week we honor those Men and Women that have served our country in the Arm Forces. On November 11, Veterans Day. It is a time for us to reflect and pay our respect to those that have served and fought for the freedoms we share. My gratitude to each and everyone of them.

Knowing that the last day of daylight savings was upon us and that sunrise on the island was to step back an hour, Cheryl and I decided to get up early Saturday morning and drive on the beach looking for the perfect spot to capture the morning light. As we drove we came to realize that the weatherman’s prediction for a clear and sunny day had gone array and instead, we encountered gray skies, heavy winds, large surf and a slight drizzle of rain. But as they say, when one door closes another opens.

As we drove the beach we spotted an object on shore, off in the distance, just beyond the reach of the surf. Much to our surprise, as we approached, we realized that is was a fully-grown loggerhead turtle that had come ashore. You cannot imagine how mesmerized we were, to be so close, by the presence and beauty of this incredible creature.

The loggerhead is the worlds largest hard-shelled turtle, measuring up to 84 inches ( 213 centimeters) long when fully grown. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kilograms or 300 lb. Loggerhead sea turtles spend most of their life in the open ocean and in shallow coastal waters. Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Coming face to face with such a majestic creature was well worth the early morning rise and the weatherman’s missed forecast for a beautiful sunrise. In fact, the once in a lifetime opportunity was better than anything we could have imagined we would have encountered or witnessed that morning on OBX.

With the holidays fast approaching what better gift to give than a one of a kind photograph. All photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase. More importantly, if you have a corporate shoot upcoming, I am no further away then a phone call or email.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

Fall has definitely arrived and what better way to announce its arrival than to celebrate the spirited and goulish annual holiday Halloween. It is the one day where dressing up as pirates, ghosts, devils, drag queens and Madonna is acceptable and all for the bounty of chocolate and kernel korn.

Cheryl and I decided to take the ferry over to the island of Ocracoke and take advantage of the cool weather. The village was full of little pirates and costumed characters trick or treating. We could think of no better place to be on Halloween than the one place where the most infamous of all pirates, Blackbeard, sought refuge and was eventually captured and beheaded.

As history has recorded, Blackbeard (Edward Teach) roamed the Caribbean to the Virginia Capes robbing ships in 1717. In the fall of 1718 Teach returned from his piracy at sea to his favorite hideaway, the island of Ocracoke. He hosted a huge, wild pirate get-together with dancing, drinking, and bonfires. Other famous pirates sailed in for the days-long event. In November 1718, Lt. Robert Maynard of the British Navy, commanding a sloop sent by the Governor of Virginia, captured and killed Blackbeard in a bloody duel near Ocracoke. As a warning to other pirates, Blackbeard was beheaded, his body tossed to sea and his head suspended from the bow of Maynard’s sloop..

As we past through the heart of the village and Silver Lake Harbor came into view, a ship gave us cause to pause and reflect back on the history of the Island and the pirate Blackbeard. Moored out in the middle of the harbor, was a sleek but aging black sailboat sporting a pirate flag. For that brief moment we found ourselves wondering if the ghost of Blackbeard was back sailing the high seas and had returned to Ocracoke to reclaim his bounty. Happy Halloween!!

All photos appearing in the blog are available for private, corporate or stock purchase. If you have a corporate shoot upcoming , I am no further away then a phone call or email.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

I trust this email finds you all doing well and that hopefully you had a fabulous weekend.  With summer in the rear view mirror, fall must be just around the turn ahead.

Last weekend was jammed packed with tons of activities occurring around the island with a surf fishing tournament, the Day at the Docks festival and a surfing competition complimented by huge waves courtesy of Hurricane Igor. Of course the most important event this weekend was celebrating my birthday with my girlfriend. She surprised me with a “bucket list” boat trip to the deserted island of Portsmouth where we spent the day stepping back in time. The island was the hub of activity in the late 1800’s and is now abandoned. As luck would have it, other than the caretaker, we had the island all to ourselves for the day.

The biggest celebration for the weekend was actually the Day at the Docks. It is the annual celebration that pays tribute to the men and industry of commercial fisherman known as “waterman”. The day brings local fishing families and tourists together on the waterfront where commercial fishing boats, charter boats, and fishing gear are displayed in celebration of the history of this storied profession. The days’ activities conclude with a procession of fishing vessels entering into the harbor and the actual “Blessing of the Fleet” by local clergy to ensure a “safe and bountiful season”. The tradition of blessing  began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities and continues toady in coastal communities around the world. It was my first and was a true spectacle filled with history and tradition.

A traditional blessing asks for the safety and bountiful season for the fisheman – “Most gracious Lord, who numbered among your apostles the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John, we pray you to consecrate this boat to righteous work in your name. Guide the captain at her helm. So prosper her voyages that an honest living may be made. Watch over her passengers and crew and bring them to a safe return. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon this vessel and all who come aboard, this day and forever. Amen”

I had the pleasure to be invited by Captain Ernie Foster and his lovely wife Lynne to ride on the lead vessel, the Albatross II, and photograph the long procession of  vessels as they entered the harbor from the sound. Once docked, I headed to a higher elevation to capture the entire spectacle just as the sun broke though the clouds while the blessing was being given.

I am on the road for the next two weeks heading to Tampa and then home to Huntsville. I hope you have a great week and please do not hesitate to contact me for me with any questions you may have about any future photographic assignments.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~

For me, last week was somewhat surreal as I reflected back on the previous week and what could have been a disastrous event for those living on the Outer Banks. Luckily, for the residents and tourists, Hurricane Earl spared the coast and a week later little is left to remind us of its potential fury. It is as if it were all just a dream. This week the Outer Banks is experiencing weather that could be termed “fall like” or better yet … Football weather!

There is, unfortunately, one significant reminder of the effects of the hurricane and that is the damage to one of the icons of the area, the Frisco Fishing Pier.  For most fishermen visiting the area, the Frisco Pier had provided an ample platform to get out past the surf to fish and for visitors it has been the backdrop for thousands of photographic memories.  The pier had extensive damage from Hurricane Isabel in 2003 but was repaired only to find itself with further damage from more recent nor’easters.  It had been closed to the public while the owners, the National Park Service and the local community leaders attempted to negotiate a game plan for it’s repair. It is possible that with Earls’ visit, the final blow may have occurred.

I sat along with hundreds of others the night before Earl’s powerful winds found their way to OBX and watched as the waves pounded the fragile structure.  The after effects of the winds and waves battering the pier were very noticeable up and down the beach as huge beams and piles of wood littered the area on Friday. Many saw it as the end to an incredible icon that had provided memories for generations of families that lived here as well as visited.

The bad news is the pier suffered extensive damage and is missing the end along with two additional prominent sections. The good news is, in spite of the onslaught of winds and surf, it may be weak and battered but it still stands majestic and proud.

A shot of the pier as the sun rise pays tribute from the east.

I would be remiss if I did not mention …… “Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL!?!?!?!?”

I hope you have a great week and that if you have any photographic assignments coming up, do not hesitate to contact me for my assistance.

Best wishes ……….
~dK~