ISO 200, f/10.0, 1/250 sec, Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

I know I've posted a lot of lighthouse photos on this site before, but I don't think I've posted many of the Ocracoke Lighthouse. It's the oldest continually operating lighthouse in the state of North Carolina, and has a lot of history that can be traced back to the days of Blackbeard the pirate.

The lighthouse itself is a short lighthouse at only around 100ft tall, but part of the charm of the lighthouse is the surrounding island. Ocracoke is an isolated island that can only be reached via boat or car ferry. There are a lot of small shops and restaurants, and the locals speak with a unique accent that you won't hear elsewhere.

Wallpapers: iPad iPhone

ISO 200, f/13, 1/400sec

This is an old photo I took back in 2008. It is also one of the very first HDR photos I created using Photomatix. I don't remember much about this trip, but I do remember we rushed to try and get there in time to climb the lighthouse, only to find out that it wasn't open on the day we went.

At first I couldn't decide if I liked the gutter on the right side of the picture, but I feel it almost frames the shot a bit, so I kept it.

ISO 200, f/10, 1/200sec

It's time again for the weekly lighthouse shot. This is Bodie Lighthouse in NC, which happens to be my favorite lighthouse. It's odd that it's my favorite. I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to this lighthouse, but I probably have more photos of this lighthouse than any other. I think it's my favorite because it is exactly what I think of when I think of a lighthouse: tall, vibrant, historic, and peaceful.

This shot is basically straight out of the camera. I did a bit of sharpening and added some vibrance in Lightroom. If you're ever on the outer banks of NC, I highly recommend stopping at this lighthouse. It is being restored, and should be ready to be climbed by summer of 2011. 

ISO 200, f/11, 1/250sec

I love this photo of the Ocracoke Lighthouse because the red roof really contrasts with the white tower and the blue sky. I dislike the fact that there is a green pickup truck in the shot. My Photoshop skills aren't good enough to get that pickup out of there though!

The Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest continually operated lighthouse in North Carolina. It's a short lighthouse, but worth the visit. Parking is hard at the LH, but the trip over to the island is awesome. There aren't many places you get to ride a free car ferry anymore.

This photo is straight out of the camera with no post processing. I hope you enjoy it.

ISO 200, f/6.3, 5sec

This lighthouse is actually a replica of the original Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse which was lost in the sound when it was purchased by a private owner and the owner was trying to move it from its original location to a location inland. It is my understanding that the lighthouse toppled into the water during the move.

This was shot on a tripod from the same pier as the lighthouse. One thing I never realized about piers until I started to shoot on them is how much they move! if it's windy or there are a lot of waves, the pier can move quite a bit and ruin a shot.

No post processing on this photo. This is straight out of the camera.

ISO 200, f/3.5, 1.6sec

If you ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you I'm obsessed with lighthouses. This is pretty much true. I guess they remind me of older, simpler times. I've been told I'm an old soul. I've also been told I must have been a lighthouse keeper in another life. I'm not sure which, if either, is true - but I definitely do love lighthouses. 

This photo is basically right out of the camera. I did some sharpening and noise reduction, but the sky was really this colorful when this was shot. If you ever get a chance to climb the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, the view is amazing, and you'd be silly not to climb the 248 steps to the top. Here's a fun fact, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in America, and was also moved to its current location to save it from falling into the sea.