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EMC Photography

Stopping the World from Turning, Just for a Second

  1. National Parks & Forests

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Outer Banks, North Carolina
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  • Head Down & Sniffing Around

    Head Down & Sniffing Around

    One of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    While small and powerful, they are full-grown horses that are often called or referred to as Banker ponies as their range included most of the Outer Banks. Physically, the Ocracoke ponies are different from other horses - they have a different number of vertebrae and ribs as well as a distinct shape, posture, color, size, and weight that sets them apart from other horses. (NPS)

    2446banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorehorses

  • Taking a Stroll & Graze

    Taking a Stroll & Graze

    Two of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    The ponies have played a major role in the island’s history, serving residents as beasts of burden at work and play, in beach rides and races. When the early colonists settled Ocracoke, they used the ponies to help make life easier on the island by pulling carts to haul freight and fish. The U.S. Lifesaving Service used them for beach patrols and to haul equipment to shipwreck sites. The US Coast Guard kept a small band of Banker ponies to patrol the beaches in World War II. (NPS)

    2457banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorehorses

  • Just Resting The Hooves

    Just Resting The Hooves

    One of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    The ponies have played a major role in the island’s history, serving residents as beasts of burden at work and play, in beach rides and races. As time progressed, the families that lived on the island claimed the ponies, holding pony penning in the summer. Riders would start early in the morning at the north end of the island and drive the ponies into the village where holding pens had been constructed. Once in the pens they would sort out the ponies and brand the new ones. Some ponies would be broken for riding or sold, and the rest were turned loose to roam free again. (NPS)

    2472banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorehorses

  • The Painted One

    The Painted One

    A "paint" breed horse on the Ocracoke Island is one of 14 ponies penned and living on the island under the care of the National Park Service.

    2477ocracoke islandnational park servicehorses

  • A Stroll Through the Field

    A Stroll Through the Field

    One of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    the late 1950s, Ocracoke Boy Scouts cared for the horses and had the only mounted troop in the nation. (NPS)

    2487banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • The Horse with the White Mane

    The Horse with the White Mane

    One of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    By law, these once free-roaming animals were permanently penned in 1959 to prevent over-grazing and to safeguard them from traffic after the highway was built in 1957. The remaining herd has been cared for by the National Park Service since the early 1960s. (NPS)

    2492banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • Ocracoke's Favorite Residents

    Ocracoke's Favorite Residents

    Two of 14 ponies penned and living on Ocracoke Island under the care of the National Park Service.

    2497banker poniesocracoke islandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • Paying No Attention

    Paying No Attention

    A "paint" breed horse on the Ocracoke Island are two of the 14 ponies penned and living on the island under the care of the National Park Service.

    2502banker poniesOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • Showing Their Best Sides

    Showing Their Best Sides

    A "paint" breed and other horse on the Ocracoke Island are two of the 14 ponies penned and living on the island under the care of the National Park Service.

    2517banker poniesOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • The Sweet Grass Graze

    The Sweet Grass Graze

    One of the 14 horses on Ocracoke Island grazing in the National Park Service pen.

    2522banker poniesOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • Grazing on Ocracoke

    Grazing on Ocracoke

    One of the 14 horses on Ocracoke Island grazing in the National Park Service pen.

    2562banker poniesOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • What Should I Graze On Today?

    What Should I Graze On Today?

    One of the 14 horses on Ocracoke Island grazing in the National Park Service pen.

    2567banker poniesOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicehorses

  • Ocracoke Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters

    Ocracoke Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters

    In 1822, for a charge of $50, the federal government purchased two acres at the south end of Ocracoke Island as the site for a new lighthouse. Constructed by Massachusetts builder Noah Porter and finished in 1823, the tower still stands today. Total cost, including the one story, one bedroom keeper’s house, was $11,359, far below the $20,000 budgeted. (NPS)

    As duties at the lighthouse increased, an assistant keeper position was established. To house the additional keeper and his family, a second story was built onto the original quarters in 1897 and another section was added in 1929. The double keepers' quarters still stands on the site today, along with a generator house, once the oil supply shed. (NPS)

    2582Ocracoke IslandOcracoke Island LighthouseCape Hatteras national seashorelighthousenational park service

  • The Island Tower

    The Island Tower

    The lighthouse stands about 75 feet tall. Its diameter narrows from 25 feet at the base to 12 feet at its peak. The walls are solid brick - 5 feet thick at the bottom tapering to 2 feet at the top. An octagonal lantern crowns the tower and houses the light beacon. (NPS)

    2591Ocracoke Islandocracoke island lighthouseCape Hatteras national seashorelighthousenational park service

  • Sprial to the Top

    Sprial to the Top

    The spiral staircase leading to the top of the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse.

    2592Ocracoke Islandocracoke island lighthouseCape Hatteras national seashorelighthousenational park service

  • The Peak of the Island

    The Peak of the Island

    During hurricanes, the light station served as a place of refuge for some local residents. Situated on higher ground, the complex often remained above flood waters. Villagers, sometimes arriving by boats which navigated inundated roadways, waited out the storm in the keepers’ home. The Ocracoke Light is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation. With its aid, yesterday’s sailing vessels safely navigated the channels. Today, fishing and pleasure boats pass within its view. (NPS)

    2602Ocracoke Islandocracoke island lighthouseCape Hatteras national seashorelighthousenational park service

  • The White & The Light

    The White & The Light

    The exterior’s solid white coloration serves as its identifying mark to mariners by day. The original whitewash “recipe” called for blending lime, salt, spanish whiting, rice, glue, and boiling water. The mixture was applied while still hot. (NPS)

    2665Ocracoke Islandocracoke island lighthouseCape Hatteras national seashorelighthousenational park service

  • Ocracoke Island's Black Pelican

    Ocracoke Island's Black Pelican

    A black pelican soaring above the Ocracoke Island marina.

    black pelicanOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras national seashorewildlife

  • Untitled photo

  • The Great Egret of Ocracoke Island

    The Great Egret of Ocracoke Island

    A Great Egret flying above the marshes south of Hatteras Inlet on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    great egretOcracoke IslandCape Hatteras National Seashorewildlife

  • Sunset on the Pamlico

    Sunset on the Pamlico

    The sunset on the Pamlico Sound, off of Ocracoke Island on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    2809Pamlico soundsunsetCape Hatteras national seashorenational park service

  • The Gaggle Flying Out to the Pamlico

    The Gaggle Flying Out to the Pamlico

    A gaggle of Canadian geese flying out over and towards the Pamlico Sound, on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    canada geesecape Hatteras national seashorenational park service. wildlifePamlico sound

  • He Was Running...

    He Was Running...

    A Ruddy Turnstones running along the beach on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. They get their name from their habit of turning over stones 'turn-stone' in rocky shorelines and on their breeding grounds. They probe into the sand or pick through beach debris in a fashion more typical to other sandpipers. (Nature Southwest 2015)

    ruddy turnstonescape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Take Your Right Foot Out...

    Take Your Right Foot Out...

    A Ruddy Turnstones high stepping through the loose sand on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    ruddy turnstonescape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Feeling Guarded

    Feeling Guarded

    A Ruddy Turnstones looking for food as it forages through the sand along with numerous Sanderlings in the area along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    ruddy turnstonessanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • The Wings of the Willet

    The Wings of the Willet

    A Willet flying over the cresting waves on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, at (Outer Banks) Nags Head, North Carolina.

    willetcape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • The Waves Beneath My Wings

    The Waves Beneath My Wings

    A Willet flying above the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Nags Head, NC.

    willetcape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Comin At Ya

    Comin At Ya

    A Willet flying above the beach along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Nags Head, NC.

    willetcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • The Sea Foam Chase

    The Sea Foam Chase

    A Sanderling running as fast as he can to escape the invading waves and sea foam of the Atlantic Ocean as the water chases him up the beach on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Hatteras Island.

    sanderlingcape Hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • Sanderling on the Beach

    Sanderling on the Beach

    A Sanderling running up and down the beach on Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, searching for its lunch as the waves roll in and out.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • The Sanderling Run

    The Sanderling Run

    A Sanderling running up and down the beach as the waves crash in and out on Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, looking for their lunch consisting of small crab buried beneath the sand.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • Walking on Water

    Walking on Water

    A Sanderling getting caught in a shallow wave thrust coming up the beach along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Hatteras Island.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Off To The Races

    Off To The Races

    Is he racing the wave, or his reflection in the wet sand below him. This sanderling was running with the waves thrusting up and down the beach on Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • A Wide Stride

    A Wide Stride

    A Sanderling running in the shallow water of a waves thrust up the beach along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, on Hatteras Island.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • Wave Chasing

    Wave Chasing

    A sanderling on the beach of Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, chasing the waves as they fall back into the Atlantic Ocean, hunting for crab underneath the sand.

    Sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Crab Hunting

    Crab Hunting

    A Sanderling slowing his run just long enough to look for small crab beneath the sand and water on the beach of Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • The Sanderling & His Shadow

    The Sanderling & His Shadow

    A Sanderling walking along the freshly smoothed sand by on the beach of Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras Island, and leaving footprints as it contemplates its shadow before him.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • Footprints

    Footprints

    A sanderling leaving foot prints as it traverses the beach on Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife.

  • The Waters Edge

    The Waters Edge

    A Sanderling holds steady as the surf approaches him, narrowly missing its feet as it steadfastly holds its position.

    cape hatteras national seashorenational parks servicewildlifesanderling

  • Crab Success

    Crab Success

    A Sanderling rushing up the beach to secure its catch of a small crab from beneath the sand and water. Here you can see the crab in its beak as it tries to free the meat from the out shell/skin.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

  • This One Is Mine...Go Away!

    This One Is Mine...Go Away!

    A sanderling eating its crab on the beach of Hatteras Island, along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, working the meat out of the shell, as its reflection shines off the sand and water of the beach.

    sanderlingcape hatteras national seashorenational park servicewildlife

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