I hope that this week’s blog finds you and your love ones safe and sound. May we all find a moment to wish well to all that were affected by the severe storms over the weekend.

I write you on my way home from a stay in the Outer Banks, which is fast becoming my home away from home destination. My girlfriend thinks it is because of her that I make my way to the islands so often but, in reality, it is the beauty and the allure of the North Carolina coast and the endless photographic opportunities. But lets keep that a secret between you and I, shall we?

The Outer Banks, as I have said many times, is truly a paradise and one of the most well kept secrets to most that travel south to visit the “Redneck Riviera”.  As the season approaches the beach communities come alive with all the businesses dusting off their porches and putting out the “welcome mats!” In a few more weeks the population in the communities will begin to double or triple as the tourist begin to arrive. Signs of it were visible this weekend with so many different activities taking place – a motorcycle rally, an Indian Pow-Wow, a runners 10k and an angles fishing tournament.  Not forgotten are the many windsurfers, kite boarders and surfers that flocked to the coast to enjoy the wonderful winds.

One event that really caught my attention was the scheduled Homecoming for Portsmouth Island adjacent to Ocracoke. Established in 1753 by an act of the North Carolina Assembly, Portsmouth grew to be the largest settlement on the Outer Banks by 1770. In 1842, more than 1,400 vessels and two thirds of North Carolina’s exports passed through Ocracoke Inlet, and Portsmouth’s population grew to 685 residents by 1860.  Unfortunately, the coming of the Civil War and the shoaling up of Ocracoke Inlet was the beginning of the eventual demise of Portsmouth’s. The population dwindled to 14 in the 1950s and to three by 1971.  The last two residents finally moved, leaving behind the remnants of a once vibrant coastal community which today include a church, Life-Saving Station, post office and school. Although the weather may have precluded many from attending these weekends Homecoming, because it is only accessible by boat, it is a grand way to commemorate the history and individuals that once inhabited the thriving community.

We have made the trip, via the ferry, many times to Ocracoke and hope to one day soon find our way over to Portsmouth to take in the photographic journey. Until then I leave you with the beauty of a sunset from the Ocraccoke -Hatteras Ferry dock.

This image, like all my other North Carolina art can be found at either of two galleries that represent me on the Outer Banks. Roads End Gallery in Hatteras and Down Creek Gallery in Ocracoke. They can also be purchased through me directly.

As you might also know, if you have a photographic assignment I can assist you with I am no further away than a phone call (or email). Until then

Best regards …….
~dK~

What a Beautiful weekend it was last week in Kansas City and then to come home to a stunning week in Huntsville.  Can it get any better than that?

I always look forward to spending time in Kansas City. I find it to be a city that has allot to offer and, as much as it is a big city, it does not have a big city feel or the traffic. The city is known for the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. When you think of Barbeque you think of KC and it being host to the World Series of Barbeque, the American Royal. It is home to the Negro League Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum – where it can be said “that jazz was born in New Orleans, but it grew up in Kansas City”. Even though it is known for BEEF, there are some pretty fabulous sushi bars in town. But when thinking of KC, most would not think of the ARTS being that it is a mid-western cow town.

Traveling to Kansas City I have found the city to be in a rebirth of support of the Arts.  Artist Lofts, Galleries and Museums can be found all over the city and the surrounding communities. It is known as the City of Fountains.

While driving around the city we came across the Nelson-Atkins Museum of the Arts and the eye-catching display of larger than life “badminton birdies”. It was just too incredible to pass up. All I could wonder was …… where were the racquets? Just to enlighten those novices such as myself, in the game of badminton the birdie is actually called a “shuttlecock” and is a derivative from the traditional English game of battledore and shuttlecock. Of course … you knew that!?!?

As you might know, if you have a photographic assignment I can assist you with I am no further than a phone call (or email) away . Until then

Best regards …….
~dK~

What a world wind two weeks it has been. I write you from Kansas City as I head home, once again.

Many have commented that reading my blog and viewing the images gives them a sense of living vicariously or at least riding “shot gun” along the way. The old phrase, “Be Careful What You Ask for, Because You Just Might Get it!” definitely applied to my last two weeks and may give you second thoughts about “offering to carry my camera bags.”

With a weeks worth of photographic assignments scheduled in Huntsville last week, Mother Nature threw me the first curve by socking in Norfolk Airport with fog and causing my departure flight home to be delayed a day. So the process begins, rescheduling my flight for the earliest next day departure, finding a hotel to spend a “distressed flyers” night in and frantically calling and emailing clients in an attempt to reschedule my 4 days of assignments into 3 1/2 days. But this is where the real fun begins.

Arriving in Nashville, I had a 4 hour drive ahead to shoot an assignment in Hamilton, Al . that afternoon. From there it was home and my bed for the first time in two weeks. The next morning I was up early climbing into a helicopter to shoot aerials of Huntsville and that afternoon off to shoot an environmental location portrait of a CEO. After that, on to the studio to deal with two weeks of mail that had piled up. The following day … two more location portrait sessions and an executive portrait shoot in the studio and then dinner with friends that evening.  On Friday, a 12 hour drive to Cocoa Beach, Fl. for the STS-131 shuttle launch. Two days with NASA activities, then up at 1 am on Monday morning to travel out to view the 6:21 am launch. Back to the hotel for a couple hours of shut eye then up for an 8 hour drive to Pensacola to be with friends getting married on Tuesday. Back home on Wednesday, one night in my bed and then hop a plane for Kansas for a 3 day workshop.

The say – “All In a Days Work!”  So do you still want to carry by bags?

I say all of this to say that you have love something allot to spend this much time doing it and still finding time to shoot for yourself. My reward for dealing with all of this – viewing a successful shuttle launch and enjoying the last remaining hours of last Thursday shooting in Big Spring Park.  What an incredibly beautiful spring day it was and how wonderful the park looked in full bloom. I walked around taking it all in and when I came across the red bridge and the beautiful portrait being created by its afternoon reflection in the pond I could not help but point my camera downward.

The reflection of the city, the bridge and the trees combined with the gold fish was just the perfect moment and perfect statement for the perfect spring day. Originally intended for last week, this blog was set aside to share in the excitement and beauty of the first of the 4 remaining shuttle launches.

Best regards …….
~dK~

In case you were asleep, STS-131 launched this morning from Kennedy Space Center in a pre-dawn liftoff at 6:21 AM EST just minutes after the International Space Station (visible to the eye in the sky) passed overhead. It was a site to behold.

My girlfriend and I were invited guests to the NASA shuttle launch. We had the pleasure, along with thousands of others including moon walker, Neil Armstrong, of witnessing the majestic beauty of the shuttle leave the launch pad this morning.

 It is a picture worth a thousand words.

 I leave the image to you with one of my favorite quotes:
ONCE YOU HAVE TASTED FLIGHT, YOU WILL FOREVER WALK THE EARTH WITH YOUR EYES TURNED SKYWARD, FOR THERE YOU HAVE BEEN AND THERE – YOU WILL ALWAYS LONG TO RETURN
…………………….. Leonardo da Vinci

If you are up early enough tomorrow (6:24 EST) and looking to the SW you may just get a glimpse of the shuttle attempting to catch up to the space station.

Many thanks to Sandra, Patsy and Tammy for the wonderful NASA hospitality.

 Best regards …….
~dK~