Outer Banks Photo Workshop, Dec 2025

by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jan 29, 2025

Bufflehead Duck & Swan

Outer Banks Photo Workshop

4 – 7 Dec 2025

with Irene Hinke-Sacilotto

This Outer Banks Photo Workshop offers a variety of photographic opportunities —lighthouses, miles of pristine beaches, sand dunes, small boat harbors, historic sites, fishing piers, wildlife reserves, and parks. Over the ocean, along the shoreline, and in the marshes, waterways, and forests, we will look for photographic subjects including pelicans, herons, shorebirds, warblers, pelagic seabirds, dolphins, deer, fox, and other wildlife. Locations to be visited include Bodie and Currituck Beach Lighthouses, Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Duck boardwalk overlooking Currituck Sound, Wanchese Harbor, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Hatteras National Seashore. On the Outer Banks, sunrises are often spectacular.  The image below is of Avalon Pier as the sun is rising.  Jennette’s Pier (1000 foot-long pier in Nags Head) also offers wonderful opportunities for photography where we hope to capture images of flying pelicans, pelagic birds, propose, surfers, and fisherman.

Avalon Pier with Brown Pelicans flying overhead.

Avalon Pier pilings early morning.

On 4 Dec there will be an orientation meeting at 7 pm, EST at the John Yancey Inn Oceanfront, Kill Devil Hills, NC where participants are invited to share their background in photography and goals for the workshop. I will discuss logistics, safety, the tentative schedule, potential subjects and locations, and photo tips. Each day will begin at dawn for sunrise photography and will end the day at sundown except on Sunday, 7 December when the program will end at noon.  Three night’s accommodations at the John Yancey Inn are included in the workshop price.

Note: As usual with my workshops, I will arrive several days prior to the group to access current local conditions and to scout the best locations for photography. The exact locations and times may vary according to weather, safety considerations, current road conditions, and desires of the group. 

I do not photograph during the workshop so my attention can be focused on each participant.

Surfer at Jeanette’s Pier.

Jeanette’s Pier at sundown.

Waves crashing against abandoned pilings.

The Changing Face of Barrier Islands 

The Outer Banks consists of a narrow string of barrier islands running parallel to the North Carolina coast for 150 miles from the Virginia border to Shackleford Banks in the south. A network of bridges and ferries join the islands together making it easy to travel from one to the next.   The Outer Banks are separated from the mainland by bays and inlets including Currituck and Pamlico Sounds. Like all barrier islands, those of the Outer Banks are in a constant state of flux being reshaped by the wind, waves, tides, & storms. Today’s shallow coves fill with sand and become the marshes of tomorrow. The most dramatic changes in appearance are caused by fierce coastal storms like the winter “nor’easters” and the fall hurricanes. When these storms coincide with seasonal high tides, the results can be disastrous, creating new inlets, washing out sections of the main highway running the length of the Outer Banks (Route 12)  and tumbling beach-front homes into the sea.  Our exact itinerary can be influenced by weather and  road access.

Wave with spray on windy day.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

For thousands of years, North Carolina’s Outer Banks have survived onslaughts of wind and sea. This thin, broken strand of islands curves out into the Atlantic Ocean and back again sheltering North Carolina’s mainland and offshore sounds.  Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects long stretches of beach, sand dunes, marshes, and woodlands that are part of three barrier islands– Bodie Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island. It extends more than 70 miles south of Nags Head.

It and other undeveloped beaches, offer wonderful opportunities for photography–sunrise, waves, shells, patterns in the sand, dunes, driftwood, beach vegetation, and local wildlife. Because of strong currents and turbulence off shore, food is abundant, supporting not only large populations of seabirds, but dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. Those will longer lenses may be able to capture images of the sanderlings or other small shorebirds as they chase receding waves to feed on crabs and other tiny organisms in the exposed wet sand.  Or you may have opportunities to photograph Brown Pelicans flying in formation, gliding just inches above the water’s surface, or plunging head first into the ocean.

Oregon Inlet

Oregon Inlet connects the Atlantic Ocean with Pamlico Sound.  For years, the Bonner Bridge, the longest bridge on the Rt. 12 which runs the length of Outer Banks, provided vehicle access to the southern part of the Outer Banks.  Due to shifting sand, strong currents, and instability, the Bonner Bridge in recent years had to be replaced.  The 2.8-mile Marc Basnight Bridge now connects the northern and southern parts of the Outer Banks.

The southern portion of the old Bonner bridge was turned into a 1046-foot long fishing pier. The Pier opened on Oct. 1, 2021 with cooperation between the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.   Oregon Inlet is rich with marine life due to mixing of salt water with fresh and attracts fish, birds and fisherman. From the pier, we will try to get images of pelicans, cormorants, ospreys, and pelagic sea bird attracted to the abundant food supply.

Tundra Swan flapping backlit.

Near the entrance to the pier is a historic US Coast Guard station, (formerly a Lifesaving station) that has great photo potential.  Near to the ocean, it sits in the midst of beautiful sand dunes.

Historic life saving station.

Bodie Lighthouse.

Bodie Lighthouse

The Bodie Island Lighthouse was erected to mark the entrance to Oregon Inlet and is still operating today. It is located at the north end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, just south of Nags Head and 4 miles before the inlet.  Todays  lighthouse was built 1872 after the original one on the opposite bank of the inlet was destroyed in the Civil War.  It was renovated in recent years, with the work concluded in 2013.  It stands 150 feet tall and has a keepers quarters is adjacent to it.  It is tucked away between tall pine trees and freshwater marshland.  Deer are not an uncommon sight on the main entrance road to the parking area.  There are several nature trails nearby including a .4 mile long boardwalk leading to a viewing platform overlooking a pond and marshland frequented by wading birds and others species.

Whte-tailed Deer at edge of woods

Ibis flying at sunset

Duck Boardwalk and Currituck Sound

The community of Duck on the northern end of the Outer Banks constructed an elevated boardwalk that is nearly a mile in length and is adjacent to Currituck Sound.  At times, herons, waterfowl, turtles, and other species can be photographed from the various points along the walkway.  It is the perfect place to capture incredible sunsets with swans or cypress trees in the foreground.  

Boat house & heron at Historic Corolla Park.

Currituck Lighthouse during Christmas season.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse & Whalehead

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse still functions as a guide for passing mariners.  It located in the heart of Corolla near the northern end of Rt. 12, the primary road that runs the length of the Outer Banks. This 162 foot tall lighthouse stands out for its distinctive red exterior. The design was intentional to set the Currituck Lighthouse apart from its Outer Banks neighbors. The lighthouse has been left unpainted so visitors could marvel at the sheer number of bricks involved in its construction. The lighthouse is adjacent to the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, the historic Whalehead Club, and Corolla Historic Park.  The Whalehead, with its beautiful architecture, is a 1920’s mansion. It has served a number of purposes over the years including a secluded oceanfront retreat for this country’s wealthy hunters and conservationists.

Duck boardwalk Cypress sunset

Commercial fishing boat at Wanchese.

Manteo & Wanchese

On Roanoke Island, in the late 1800s, Manteo served as an important port and is one of the oldest towns in North Carolina with large ships docking at is waterfront.  A short distance away is Wanchese, another fishing port. Once centers for boat building, both ports have diminished in importance today.

Roanoke Marsh Lighthouse in Manteo.

The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is on the east end of the Manteo waterfront. Reaches 40 yards out into Roanoke Sound with a boardwalk for access. Unlike Bodie and other lighthouses on the Outer Banks, the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is a replica of a lighthouse that was constructed in 1877 at the southern entrance of the Croatan Sound in the village of Wanchese to help sailors and fishermen to find their way to port.  It is a river lighthouse. So like its counterparts, it is much shorter and squatter than the other lighthouses on the Outer Banks. With its red roof, black shutters,  and cottage-like appearance, it is a favorite subject for photographers.  The town of Manteo, one of the oldest towns in North Carolina, is quaint and worth visiting with a number of unique shops, pubs, coffeehouses, restaurants, and a boardwalk along the waterfront. It is a nice place to pick up a coffee or sandwich after an active morning shooting session.

Nearby is the small community of Wanchese with a small harbor with trawlers and other commercial fishing boats plus a marina with a large number of sport fishing boats.  Usually there are a few work boats tied up at the wharf along with nets, crab traps, colorful floats, and other fishing gear.

Tundra Swan aggressive pose.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge 

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is on the southern side of the Oregon Inlet and covers more than 5,900 acres. The water level is managed by a system of dikes and ponds to favor the production of food high in value to wildlife. The refuge provides a safe haven for wintering migratory waterfowl with 25 species of ducks and more than 265 species of birds including osprey, Wilson’s plover, black skimmers, herons, avocets, white pelicans, and terns.  We will explore the overlooks and trails in search of photo subjects. In early winter thousands of waterfowl including many tundra swans arrive at the refuge.

Tundra Swans fighting.

What to Bring

DSLR or Mirrorless camera, instruction manual, spare memory cards ,and batteries.  Lenses from wide angle to 300 mm or more. Polarizing and a neutral density filter (optional).  Sturdy tripod. For the image review session and editing images, bring a laptop computer or tablet.  Edited images should be saved to a flash drive for transferring to my computer for viewing by the workshop group.

CLOTHING

It can be cold at this time of the year, so bring some warm clothing including gloves and hats.  But in early December temperatures can also be mild.  Dress in layers. The workshop will begin each day at dawn to take advantage of the warm, early morning light. Activities will proceed in the rain, so bring rain gear and waterproof covers for your camera and lenses. At this time of year, although not likely, ticks, flies or mosquitoes could still be present so bring insect repellant. For protection from UV radiation, I suggest wearing a hat and using sun screen.  To prevent dehydration, bring water to each outing.  Since we leave before the hotel offers breakfast, bring snacks.

Ducks flying over Pea Island at sunset.

Rt 12 road on Pea Island runing parallel to the dunes.

HANDOUTS

 Also prior to our first meeting, please bring me on a thumb drive 2 sample images of your nature photography images for discussion.  In a future handout, I will provide guidance as to file naming and formatting.  Using the recommended naming protocol helps when sorting and reviewing the images. Also I will send other info on what to bring. You will be sent a liability release form and pre-workshop questionnaire that will help me to better address your needs.

SPECIAL NOTES

I will provide individual attention to each participant in the field matching each person’s skill level. The itinerary is flexible and will be adjusted according to the location, availability of subjects, the weather, safety, group interest, and other factors. Paths may be uneven, wet in spots, or sandy. The trails I selected for the workshop are easy to moderate in difficulty. Anyone may abstain from any activity and select an alternate one that is less strenuous. Boots with firm ankle support for hiking are recommended and boots or shoes suitable for walking along the beach and near the water’s edge.. The pace of the workshop is adjusted to the desires of the group and to allow participants to explore each location thoroughly and to ask questions. Car pooling is encouraged. 

Brown Pelicans flying at sunrise.

PRICE $1058 based on single occupancy; $ 955 based on double occupancy. 

ACCOMMODATIONS – Price includes 3 nights accommodations (John Yancey Inn, Ocean Front, Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks), but does not include food, transportation, tolls, any park fees or personal items.

Note: Part of your payment goes to fund the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Maximum number of participants – 6

Full payment due 30 days prior to the start of the workshop. Deposit: 50% prior to that date to hold your spot in the program.  See cancellation policy posted below. If you have questions, contact me at (410) 679-2873 or (410) 960-5871 or e-mail me at ospreyphot@aol.com

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Website:  www.ospreyphoto.com

CANCELLATION POLICY

Notifications of cancellation must be in writing.

The following charges apply per person at the time I receive your written notification of cancellation:

• Cancel up to 121 days prior to departure date – full refund.
• 120 to 61 days prior to departure, $35 admin fee.
• 60 to 46 days prior to departure, 50% of workshop cost.
• 45 days or less prior to departure – NO REFUND

Medical circumstances or emergencies do not constitute grounds for exception to the cancellation policy nor does weather. Therefore, trip cancellation, interruption & medical insurance is HIGHLY recommended. Travelers Insurance Company and others provide such policies at a reasonable rate. In the unlikely event that the trip is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, your money will be refunded in full, with the exception of expenses you personally incurred while preparing for the trip