Outer Banks of North Carolina Trip Report of Coastal Scenes

New Fine Art Pictures of Lighthouses and Sand Dunes on the Outer Banks

See Also the Complete Gallery For

North Carolina Outer Banks Landscape Photography


I have been to the South Carolina coast numerous times shooting in the vicinity of Charleston, but I always wanted to go the extra distance up the coast to the North Carolina Outer Banks.

Although I had a week there, it is not that much time when you have to explore and learn an area. It takes time to find good compositions that will qualify for a fine art print.

Perhaps the most iconic location in the area is the Bodie Island Lighthouse. I forget how many times I went down there in the pre-dawn darkness hoping to get good clouds behind the lighthouse for the sun rising over the ocean to light up. Persistence pays as it all came together on this morning.

Colorful sunrise skies above the marsh and the Bodie Island Lightouse on the North Carolina Outer Banks
"Bodie Island Sunrise" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunrise at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Click on Photo to Purchase
dramatic wispy clouds rising behind Bodie Island Lighthouse on the North Carolina Outer Banks
"Bodie Island Lighthouse" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Click on Photo to Purchase

Futher north on the Outer Banks is the little town of Duck, North Carolina. It is an extremely cute and inviting waterfront town with shops, restaurants and a very nice boardwalk along the Currituck Sound. It is absolutely the best place on the Outer Banks to photograph sunset with the docks extending out toward the sunset.

Colorful sunset skies above the pier on Currituck Sound on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
"Currituck Sunset" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunset over the Currituck Sound. Click on Photo to Purchase
A covered dock extending out above deep blue water with colorful sunset skies in Duck, North Carolina
"Orange and Blue" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunset on the Currituck Sound. Click on Photo to Purchase

Also in Duck is this amazing tree just off the boardwalk. It is simple, yet intricate with its branches. Once again, it required several visits there, but in the end, I was able to capture the photograph I was hoping for.

A tree with wide spreading limbs in the water at sunset at Duck, North Carolina
"The Tree at Duck" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunset behind a small tree in Duck, North Carolina. Click on Photo to Purchase

The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is a small, but charming, lighthouse in Manteo, North Carolina. Manteo is also a great place to hang out in shops and restaurants. When the sun begins to set behind you, the soft light of the setting sun can light up the lighthouse and the clouds behind it beautifully.

Colorful sunset skies above the pier and the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on the North Carolina Outer Banks
"Roanoke View" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunset at Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. Click on Photo to Purchase

Nearby to the Outer Banks is Lake Matamuskeet. The lake has a group of Cypress trees that are a short distance out into the lake. There are two times of the year where the sun will be rising behind the trees in April and October. Since I was there in April, it was a priority on the list. I do my best reviewing the forecasts to decide when to be somewhere. In this case, I got lucky and made the right choice. I was able to capture the sun rising just like I wanted to.

A panoramic view of the sun rising behind the cypress trees in the water at Lake Matamuskeet, North Carolina
"Lake Matamuskeet Sunrise" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunrise at Lake Matamuskeet. Click on Photo to Purchase

Also in another part of Lake Matamuskeet are some pretty special Cypress trees in the water. I love photographing Cypress trees as you can see in my Cypress Trees Gallery. The early morning sun was rising off to the left behind the trees resulting in perfect front and back lighting. The calm reflective water brought it all together.

A closeup view of cypress trees reflecting in the water at Lake Matamuskeet, North Carolina
"Matamuskeet Cypress" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunrise color and cypress trees. Click on Photo to Purchase
A vertical closup of cypress trees reflecting in the water at Lake Matamuskeet, North Carolina
"Cypress Reflections" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of cypress trees reflecting in a lake. Click on Photo to Purchase

A photography expedition to the Outer Banks would not be completed without capturing the sand dunes at sunrise. This turned out to be a little work hiking on the dunes finding the right location and composition. My mid-day time is used for this kind of exploring. I found the location I wanted and returned for several mornings to capture the scene as I had envisioned it.

Warm sunrise colors in the sky and on the sand dunes on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina
"Beach Dunes" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunrise light on the dunes of the Outer Banks. Click on Photo to Purchase
Sunrise colors in the sky above the sand dunes on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
"Dunes of the Outer Banks" - A Limited Edition print of 100 of sunrise on the dunes of the Outer Banks. Click on Photo to Purchase

It certainly feels good when you spend a week somewhere and come away with the images you were hoping for. I hope you have enjoyed these images from the Outer Banks.