Photographing Sunset Kiteboarding at Kite Point in Buxton, NC
On a warm September evening, the wind and conditions aligned perfectly for an epic kiteboarding session on the sound side of the Outer Banks. There is a unique opportunity in Cape Hatteras National Seashore to capture when the sky catches fire just as the kite surfers hit the water. We loaded up the truck and set out for Kite Point, located right outside of Buxton, to watch the session unfold against a brilliant, sunset sky.
If you're a photographer looking to capture action sports against a classic coastal sunset, Kite Point is one of the premier locations on the island. Because the shoreline faces west over the Pamlico Sound, you can position yourself right at the water's edge to capture the riders slicing clean across the reflection of the golden hour sun.
Forrest spent about an hour out on the water, taking in the vast, colorful sky, while I tracked the movement from the shore, documenting the interplay of wind, sail, and spray through my camera lens.
If you want to pull off to watch or photograph the kiteboarders, Kite Point is just a wide soundside pull-off on Highway 12 right between Avon and Buxton. There’s plenty of easy parking in a lot not far from the water's edge. I find it’s best to get out there about an hour or an hour and a half before sunset so you have time to watch where the wind lines are developing and meter your exposure before the light drops completely.
When you're tracking fast action over water at sunset, your camera's automatic meter is going to get fooled by the bright background reflection and severely underexpose your subject. I like to use manual mode and expose directly for the vibrant highlights in the sky. Letting the kiteboarder fall into a clean silhouette against the water preserves those deep sunset tones without blowing out the sky.
