Awake The Light

Name: Awake The Light
Address: Palmetto Street, Kill Devil Hills, NC, 27948, US
Telephone: +17577730194

Awake The Light Photo Tours and Workshops provides instructional photography tours to magnificent de

06/01/2026

WILDLIFE BONANZA!
We hit the jackpot on the last day of our trip extension to South Dakota’s Custer State Park. This is the most incredible state-run park I have ever experienced. Beautiful scenery, high mountains and low rolling hills in the valleys, lots of wildlife, and quiet meandering roads. We saw a large herd of female bison and their young, a thriving prairie dog enclave with lots of young ones darting all around, pronghorn, tons of birds, and more. Here is a small sampling of what we saw on one morning between 6am and 9am.
TOP ROW, L to R – Barn Swallow, Bison mother and young resting
MIDDLE ROW, L to R – Pronghorn, Magpie with worm
BOTTOM ROW, L to R – young Bison nursing, young twin Prairie Dogs being watchful
I plan to return to this area in May 2027 and would love for you to join me to explore both the South Dakota Badlands and Custer State Park. Interested? Let me know and I will add you to the "interested list." No obligation at this time. This is an easy trip with minimal physical demands. I hope you can join me!

05/29/2026

FIRST LIGHT
Some of the best images happen before the world wakes up. While it is not always appealing to awake long before dawn, to get the best landscape images it is necessary to get up before the sun. This image resulted from having great clouds that showcased the deep pinks of early dawn, and soft subtle lighting that brought out the textures of the formations.
You can never second-guess Mother Nature. Some mornings the colors are unexciting, or the light is too muted to create a dimensional, colorful image. But if you don’t get up and try, you could miss some amazing shots.

05/28/2026

LAST DAY IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA BADLANDS
This image is emblematic of the amazing Badlands. Rugged yet accessible. Otherworldly yet comforting. Big skies, wide open spaces, yet enclosed in its own limited area. Nurturing life yet making it difficult with extremes of heat, cold, and winds.
It has been a thrill to be here with such a great group of photographers. We enjoyed every minute of our time here. We now move on to the post-trip extension to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the next few days
I am planning to return in May 2027, so if this uniquely photogenic area appeals to you, please indicate your interest via email from the Contact page on my website. No obligation, just indicate your interest. This is a photo trip not to be missed!

05/27/2026

This beautiful male bison was grazing peacefully in the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It was close to mid-day, not the usual time to do wildlife or nature photography. But you have to take your opportunities when you can, regardless of time of day. His body position was perfect, and he stood out nicely against the warm yellow-ish formations. And a reminder about keeping your distance when photographing wildlife. It is tempting to try to get closer, but it is important to remember that no matter how peaceful the animal appears, or how slowly it is moving, it is still a wild animal. Bison, if they feel threatened, can charge and go from zero to 35 miles per hour in a matter of just a few seconds.

05/26/2026

EARLY MORNING SUNRISE
Watching the day begin is always special. In the South Dakota Badlands, sunrise comes very early at this time of year. A little after 5am to be exact. The group was eager and excited, and we arrived on location about an hour and a half before sunrise. That give us time to set up and scope out a few vantage points. The early light lit up the distant formations and gave it a golden glow, leaving the foreground in subtle shadow. Everyone got unique and spectacular images. A great way to start the day!

05/25/2026

BADLANDS – A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW
This crooked farm road runs adjacent to the South Dakota Badlands National Park. It is all part of the feel of the area, and indicative of the hard-scrabble lives many of the residents of the Great Plains experienced.

05/24/2026

TENDER MOMENT IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA BADLANDS
Prairie Dogs are everywhere in this part of South Dakota. They are cute little creatures with a sophisticated social system. They move quickly, so I was very lucky to capture this tender moment of a mom and baby. This is a hugely cropped in image, since with all wildlife, getting too close disturbs their natural behavior. Approximately 80% to 90% of the original image has been cropped away. My trusty Canon RF 100-400mm lens did a great job of preserving detail in spite of the extensive crop. This reliable little workhorse of a lens is lightweight and inexpensive, and has proven itself with great sharpness and resolution in travels to demanding places like Africa, Yellowstone, and more.

05/23/2026

SWEEPING SCENE
After heavy all-night and morning rains, the South Dakota Badlands sky turned blue and the amazing colors came out to play. This place is absolutely amazing – the shapes, the textures, and the colors all combine to create a magical, otherworldly landscape. I am so blown away that I am already planning a similar trip for next May. If you are interested, let me know. Only 10 spaces will be available, so get on the list now if you would like to join me. No deposit due yet, just let me know if you are interested. Once the dates are set I will contact you with registration information.

05/21/2026

THE BADLANDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
My group will arrive soon, and I am scouting locations with good formations in good light. This was taken about an hour before sunset as a storm was clearing. The colors were subtle and muted in the low light, so I made some modifications in Lightroom to bring out the colors and to dramatize the soft but directional light. The Badlands are rugged, beautiful, and compelling. A bizarre and striking landscape.

05/20/2026

Did more scouting in South Dakota and came across a group of pronghorn (erroneously called antelope) peacefully strolling in a large field. This beauty came very close to the road and posed for this perfect profile. The weather has improved greatly and the unseasonal bitter cold has left the area and it now feels like spring again.

Address

Palmetto Street
Kill Devil Hills, NC
27948

Telephone

+17577730194

Website

http://www.awakethelight.com/

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