Hurricane Ian & The Saltwater Retreat: Capturing the Epic Outer Banks Swell
I love telling the stories of the Saltwater Retreat, because they are often the perfect example of how the best experiences often happen when you embrace the unexpected. The retreat started with grey, gloomy weather from Hurricane Ian, which then turned into a lesson in making the most of a situation and finding inspiration in the powerful, moody landscape of the Outer Banks.
The first few days of our retreat in October 2022, were dominated by the lingering effects of Hurricane Ian as it passed through North Carolina. Instead of the sunny skies and calm seas we might have hoped for, we were greeted by days of a deep, dramatic grey, a relentless wind, and an ocean churning with a force that was both beautiful and a little intimidating. While our hopes for classic sunrise and sunsets were dashed, we found an even more valuable opportunity—time to hunker down and get to the heart of our craft.
During the worst of the weather, we spent our time indoors, diving deep into the technical side of photography. We pulled out our cameras and focused on mastering manual settings and getting to know our tools better. We learned how to find the perfect exposure in flat, low light, and practiced getting sharp focus on our subjects. The atmosphere was one of pure learning and creative collaboration.
With practice images on our memory cards, we moved on to the digital darkroom. We used those quiet, indoor hours to refine our editing skills in Lightroom. We covered everything from basic exposure and color correction to advanced techniques like color grading to enhance the dramatic, moody tones of our images. It was a wonderful opportunity to focus on our skills without the pressure of chasing the "perfect" shot on the beach. We were able to work on each other's images, offering feedback and learning new workflows that we'll carry with us long after the retreat ended.
Saltwater Retreat attendees practicing creating sharp photos
As the weather cleared, we headed outside to capture the moody skies and post storm atmosphere. We captured the layers of texture in the churning waves and the way the distant horizon was a soft line between the bruised sky and the powerful ocean.
Then, something magical happened. The skies began to clear, but the ocean remained a force of nature. The passing hurricane had created an incredible swell, bringing massive, powerful waves and clean conditions. It was a sight to see, and it completely changed our photographic focus.
The formerly empty beaches were now alive with surfers, all excited to take on the epic conditions. We spent hours capturing the surfers as they paddled out and caught the waves of their lives.
Surfers chase swell from Hurricane Ian
We experimented with long exposures, turning the water and surfers into blur as they raced a long the shore.
Sunrise the next day still hung heavy with clouds, but dawn brought waves that were even more clean and beautiful than the evening before. Surfers filled the shoreline, each fighting for their place in the lineup to catch this epic swell.
Surfers fill the shores and the waters at the Avon Fishing Pier for the swell from Hurricane Ian
Sunlight breaks through on the epic swell brought to the Outer Banks by Hurricane Ian
As we photographed the surfers from the top of the Avon Pier, we also spent time mingling with the crew fishing from the pier. Fall is a prime fishing season on the Outer Banks, as both warm-water and cold-water species are present. These anglers were likely hoping to land Red Drum, the local favorite.
Red Drum fishing is at it’s finest during fall at the Avon Fishing Pier
Clouds returned in the evening, but left us with a fiery sky and the promise of a clear day tomorrow. We leaned into the old saying Red sky at night, sailor's delight and went to bed hoping for a beautiful day ahead.
Sunrise dawned with the perfect balance of clouds and color, though short lived.
With the hope of sunshine in our minds, we packed up for a day trip north. As we drove north on Highway 12, the clouds were replaced by brilliant blue skies and the brilliant Outer Banks sunshine we all adore. With the return of sunny weather, we spent the day at the iconic Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station. At the far north end of Hatteras Island, the vast sand dunes seemed to come alive in the sunshine.
As we passed through the seaside goldenrod, we were lucky enough to witness a truly magical sight—a migration of Monarch butterflies! It felt like a colorful celebration of life returning to normal after days of being darkened by the storm.
We spent our final evening watching a brilliant orange sunset over the Pamlico Sound at Canadian Hole. With a near full moon hanging in the blue sky to the east, it was a perfect ending to an week filled with unexpected beauty.
This retreat wasn't just about taking beautiful photos; it was about learning to see and appreciate a different kind of beauty—a beauty that is raw, powerful, and authentic. The storm brought pushed us to be more creative. It's a memory that will stay with all of us, reminding us that with a little flexibility and a lot of heart, you can turn any challenge into an opportunity.
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