Every year I create a blog to put together a ‘best of’ version of my travels. This year, I traveled a ton throughout North Carolina and southern Virginia, exploring new trails and rivers, and following storms wherever they took me. Below are galleries and video of my favorite moments and captures of 2018 separated into 3 categories: Storms; Milky Way; and Landscapes & Wildlife
Storms
A storm packed a punch in Greensboro and put out these bolts. Image stack from late August 2018
Lightning above Winston Salem, North Carolina. August 2018
Thunderstorms above a cow pasture in Rocky Knob Recreation Area, south of Floyd, VA, 5/12/18
Rising storm, rain shaft, and rainbow over a soy bean field during sunset. This was viewed near Rocky Mount in a small farming town called Whitakers in North Carolina.
Lighting around a pair of trees in Greensboro, North Carolina
After 12 inches of snow in Greensboro, North Carolina, on December 9, 2018
Hurricane Florence Eyewall, in Wilmington NC
Snow blowing across Lake Higgins, captured following inches of snow. Lake Higgins is between Summerfield and Greensboro in NC.
Three horses stand in front of approaching storms, near Climax, NC
Growing storms approach kiteboarders on the Pamlico Sound just before sunset. Captured off of on the sound-side of the Outer Banks in Waves, NC. This was during the week of the international Triple-S kiteboarding competition, and lots of kiteboarders in the sound and ocean everyday.
Severe storm in Greensboro North Carolina above Lake Brandt
Lightning strikes behind a tree in Greensboro, North Carolina
Farm in Summerfield NC following 8 inches of snow.
Multiple inches of snow on Pilot Mountain, viewed from Little Pinnacle Overlook in North Carolina
A severe warned storm approaches a soccer field in Greensboro, NC on 7/22/18. The shelf cloud was one of the best I have seen in North Carolina 27 image panorama
Milky Way
The Milky Way rising over the dunes of the Outer Banks and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Milky Way rises above Elk River Falls in western North Carolina
Milky Way in northern NC
Milky Way above trees and silhouette of Moore’s Knob from the lodge at Singletree Gun and Plow in Danbury, NC
Milky Way above Moore’s Knob and a dogwood in bloom, lit by the lights from the lodge at Singletree Gun and Plow
Milky Way shines between clouds along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
Milky Way and rushing water along the Mayo River in North Carolina. The low humidity caused the stars this night to really shine!
Milky Way and stars above the blueberry bushes on top of a peak in northwestern North Carolina, city lights on either side of the thin ridge.
A green tailed meteor, the Milky Way, and a thin layer of cirrus clouds, captured at the Rock Castle Gorge overlook south of Floyd, Virginia
Milky Way above the trees on a rolling field in Floyd, VA, captured alongside of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Snowy peaks beneath the Milky Way, just before sunrise in Sugar Grove, NC.
The Milky Way over a curvy bank along the Pamlico Sound in North Carolina
Landscapes and Wildlife
Wild horses soaked in afternoon light, trotting in front of the waves of the Outer Banks. Captured in Corolla, NC. These Colonial Spanish Mustangs roam over 7,500 acres of land, and seem to enjoy long walks on the beach. The horses and other wildlife can also be spotted along the Currituck Banks Maritime Forest Trail at the beginning of the beach (no off-roading required).
Morning rays along the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Virginia. The wildflowers and clouds in the valleys soaked by light made for an extra special moment.
Sun rakes across autumn colored trees at Elk River Falls in western North Carolina
Mabry Mill and the stars above, captured at midnight. Mabry Mill started operation as a grist mill in 1905, and today serves as a scenic highlight of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd, Virginia. I light painted the scene with a headlamp and light panel during a 30 second exposure.
Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC
Fog along the Blue Ridge Mountains, captured from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC
Vertical panoramic shot of Elk River Falls as a storm moves in. Captured in North Carolina
Wild horses soaked in afternoon light, trotting in front of the waves of the Outer Banks. Captured in Corolla, NC.
Sunrise overlooking the cloudy valleys and peaks of northwestern NC. The clouds in the east broke for just a few minutes to illuminate the scene.
Gorgeous sunset and soft light in Floyd, Virginia, captured at the Rocky Knob Recreation Area off of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Thick fog at Glen Marie Falls, one of the waterfalls found along the Glen Burney trail. Captured in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The mossy trail and large trees were amazing to view, and most of the trail paralleled New Years Creek and the countless cascades.
Camping at a river platform in eastern North Carolina, one of many camping platforms located along the Roanoke River near the coast. These platforms are secluded and many are only accessible by kayak.
Vibrant sunset above a hill I Greensboro, North Carolina
Boulders and cascades at Elk River Falls, captured in North Carolina
Cypress trees and seagulls in flight along the Chowan River near Edenton in North Carolina
Foggy Glen Burney Falls, one of many waterfalls and cascades found along the Glen Burney trail in Blowing Rock NC
Rhododendrons, Grandfather Mountain, and a growing storm in the distance
Sunset above a vineyard in North Carolina
Sunset and a fortunate moment on Lake Gaston, in Halifax County NC. I couldn’t have asked the geese to time their fly-by better over the gorgeous wake surfing boat
Exploring NC 
Looks like a year filled with great NC adventures. Thanks for visiting & including our Roanoke River camping platforms. Hope you’ll come back to see us in 2019!
It definitely was an exciting year. I will be back to the Roanoke platforms for sure! That was easily one of my favorite adventures this year
We’ll keep the “light” on for ya! 😊
wow , wonderful share!
Thanks a lot! 🙂