Hobby or Obsession

Nikon D850 & Tamron 17-35

1/30sec f/14 ISO 64

March 12, 2021 5:58pm

I was born and raised in beautiful North Carolina where both the mountains and the sea were easily reached with a short road trip. I remember visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina numerous times as a child and some of my fondest memories were made there. When I learned that a local photographer would be hosting a workshop there, I was quick to get my name on the list. Going back to this special place as an adult and photographer brought new adventures and forged new memories.

There are moments in life when you realize your hobby has clearly become an obsession. This moment, early in the spring of 2021, was one of those times for me. Our small workshop group arrived at the Salvo Day Use area not long before sunset and quickly assessed our composition options. The most obvious foreground was an uprooted tree on the beach. Realizing that we might be able to capture a view of the setting sun between a couple of the branches, several of us spread out around the tree.

I found a spot I liked, framed up the shot, and then took one step backwards. That's when it happened! Down I went, one camera in my left hand and another camera and tripod in my right hand. A tiny little root had caught the back of my heel and landed me flat on my backside in the sand. As I fell, I heard a crack. I quickly checked all my gear, and everything looked good. Then the pain started. The crack I heard was my pinky finger on my right hand taking the impact of the fall. One of my friends who witnessed the fall was sure the knuckle was broken and urged me to go have it checked but all I could think about was not missing the sunset. I grabbed an ice pack out of cooler and carefully found a new position under some low hanging trees. The new vantage point provided me with a much stronger composition with the leading lines of the tree branches and the shoreline pointing towards the setting sun. Before long there was a whole group of other photographers gathered round me jockeying for the same composition, but I held my ground.

It may have taken a broken knuckle to get the shot, but it was worth it.

The next few days of the workshop were a challenge with a swollen and throbbing right hand, but I didn't let it make me miss a single shot. That's when I knew my hobby had become an obsession.

Surprises After Sunset

Nikon D850 & Sigma 24-105 f/4

1.3 sec., f/16, ISO 125

June 8, 2021 9:04pm

Sometimes the most beautiful light comes just before sunrise or just after sunset. As a lover of light, I always look forward to these times and for the surprises that are in store.

In early June 2021, I visited the wild and wonderful area of West Virginia known as Canaan Valley. I was there for a two day photography workshop. One of the places we had the privilege to visit was the Freeland Boardwalk Trail in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It's a wonderfully peaceful place with a lovely boardwalk that meanders through a valley filled with local trees, grasses, and wildflowers.

Our workshop group visited the nature trail one morning for sunrise and then a few of us met back at the trail for sunset after the workshop ended. Although sunset was pretty much a bust, the hour or so after it brought new adventures. As the last light of day faded away, we were treated to a view of a storm developing on the horizon which eventually ended with a lightning show. As the storm started forming, I watched a cloud far in the distance start to grow.

I was mesmerized with it's ever changing shape and at how fast it was growing. I took many pictures over about a 30 minute timeframe but this one is my favorite. I imagine a dragon is forming in the sky, ready to breath fire, or lightning, over the valley. How fun to watch these wonders of nature. The next time you have the opportunity to watch a sunset, I encourage you to linger a little while afterwards and just watch the magic happen. Learn to slow down and enjoy those peaceful moments as the world falls asleep.

Bear Rocks Sunset

Nikon D850 & Nikon 20mm f/1.8

1/5 sec., f/16, ISO 64

June 6,2021 8:29am

West Virginia is often described as “wild and wonderful” or “almost heaven” and with views like this, I can certainly understand why. This photo was taken in the wild Dolly Sods Wilderness area (Bear Rocks Preserve) in the northern part of the state. In June 2021, I took my first trip to the area, and I quickly learned how it got its name. While set up for this shot, I kept hearing an odd sound nearby. After some time, it suddenly occurred to me that I was hearing a bear! Another photographer nearby confirmed that there was a female black bear and cubs in the area. Apparently, we were getting a little too close to her den, so she was warning us to move back. As soon as the sun set, I packed up and moved closer to the car for safety. The next morning, I went back to the same area for sunrise and found bear tracks in the mud not too far from where I was positioned.

The road into the Dolly Sods Wilderness is not for the faint of heart. Although 4-wheel drive is not required, a vehicle with good ground clearance and good shocks would be recommended. The 30 minute or so drive on the pothole filled dirt road is sure to shake loose anything not tightly fastened down. If you are brave enough to spend the night close to the bears, there are plenty of primitive tent camping spots nearby. Be sure to arrive early for sunrise or sunset as this is popular spot for photography groups and nature enthusiasts.

Reflections of Daybreak

Jennette’s Pier - Nags Head, NC - The Outer Banks

March 14, 2021 5:39 AM

Nikon D850 & Sigma 24-105 @ 24mm

5 sec. f/16 ISO 320

Waking up super early can be hard to do, but it sure makes it easier when there is a view like this waiting on you. In March 2021, I joined a group of photographers on a workshop at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This morning was the last day of our trip and we were pretty much exhausted but decided to give it our all for one more outing. We met up at the beach around 4:00 AM to shoot the milky way and then moved down to Jeanette's Pier to watch the sunrise. Just before heading out to the pier, we had the pleasure of witnessing the Space X Falcon launch out over the ocean and a couple of us managed to snag a quick photo of it. As we walked out onto the beach, I saw the beautiful bands of color on the horizon, and I knew we were in for a treat. The sunrise did not disappoint, and I was able to capture many beautiful images.

There are so many beautiful places to photograph along the rugged North Carolina coastline and Jeanette's Pier seems to be a photographer favorite. It's easy to access and has plenty of parking available. It is also a great place for 'under the pier' shots as the pier supports create some nice framing.

For this image, I set up my tripod fairly near the highest point of the surf but not quite in the water. I set my Sigma 24-105mm lens to the widest angle at 24mm in order to capture the full length of the pier as well as the beautiful gradient of color on the horizon. A 5 second exposure gave me the look I was going for. I love how the light in the sky is reflected in the receding waves. This was shot about 30 minutes before sunrise and if you look closely, you can still see a few stars in the sky.

Boneyard Beach Serenity

Nikon D850

Sigma 24-105mm f/4 at 28mm

6 sec. f/8 ISO 100

April 11, 2021 6:28am

✨ published to Landscape Photography Magazine

You can view it here: https://landscapephotographymagazine.com/2021/st-helena-island-sc-usa-by-stephanie-sheffield/

During a recent trip to South Carolina, I had an opportunity to visit Hunting Island State park which is also known as the "Boneyard" because of the numerous downed trees along the beach. Hurricanes have hammered the area over the years uprooting trees and changing the look of the coastline. 

During high tide, these trees become partially submerged and provide endless composition options for photographers seeking a unique photo opportunity. After hiking the 3/4 mile path through a "Jurassic Park" like forest, I arrived at the beach about an hour before sunrise. The tide was still coming in, and the rolling waves created some very interesting patterns in the sand adding to the overall scene. 

I was shooting the soft colors of pre-dawn but decided this view would look great as a black and white image as well. This image was shot with the Nikon d850 body and Sigma 24-105mm lens. I positioned my tripod just inside the area where the highest waves were reaching. I waited to fire the shutter until the waves receded leaving the ridges in the sand. It was worth the wait, even though the no-see-ums had found me by that time! Those pesky little insects made it a fight to stay focused long enough to capture what was I was after that morning, but I stuck it out and was fortunate to witness a glorious sunrise. 

If you have an opportunity to visit Hunting Island State Park, you definitely don't want to pass it up. If you make the effort to get to the beach in time to see the sunrise, you will not be disappointed! Be sure to allow enough time to explore the beach and the surrounding wetlands where you can see many varieties of animal and plant life.

The First Light of Day - Bodie Lighthouse

Nikon D850

Sigma 24-105mm f/4 at 32mm

1/30 sec. f/16 ISO 64

March 12, 2021 6:30am

✨ published to Landscape Photography Magazine

You can view it here: https://landscapephotographymagazine.com/2021/bodie-island-lighthouse-nags-head-dare-county-nc-usa/

As a child, I grew up vacationing at the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I have many fond memories of that unique shoreline. When I learned that a photographer friend of mine would be hosting a workshop there, I was super excited to join them. Once again, the location did not disappoint, and I came away with some lovely images.

We began our workshop that first evening at the Bodie Island lighthouse nearby on the island of Nags Head and managed to catch some nice light for sunset. Early the next morning, we returned to Bodie Lighthouse to photograph the Milky Way as it passed behind the lighthouse. That was my first time trying astrophotography and it was a thrilling experience.

As the first rays of light started to make their appearance in the sky, we all moved further out away from the lighthouse to find a new composition for sunrise. Many of the photographers in the group were shooting the sunrise out over the sound but I was drawn in by the wooden walkway leading to the lighthouse. I set up my tripod, framed up my shot using the walkway as my leading line and waited, somewhat impatiently, for the clouds to inch their way behind the lighthouse to fill in my sky. Just as the clouds got into position, the sun broke the horizon to the left and lit up the lighthouse with a beautiful golden light. I managed to fire off several frames before the light was gone and I was thrilled with the results when I loaded them into Adobe Lightroom. I love how the windows in the house at the base of the lighthouse appear to be on fire with a glowing yellow light. This image ended up being one of my top favorites from the entire workshop and proves that sometimes it is absolutely worth the wait!

The Making of a Moment

Hang on….new blog coming soon!