Cumberland Island National Seashore, located near St. Marys, Georgia, is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. The island is known for its feral horses, possibly left over from the Spaniards during the 1700s.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status over the years and has been defended through the continuous efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

Heading out from my backcountry campsite to a small airplane landing strip, this area is frequented by the wild horses (technically feral) of the island. I was able to observe this group of horses grazing in golden hour light highlighting the area’s beauty as well as their complicated existence.

This photo was from my first visit to Cumberland Island National Seashore, located on the border of Georgia and Florida with access via a Ferry from St. Marys, Georgia. I would revisit this same island four years later, affording me the opportunity to finally explore all 18 miles of it.

The beach here is pristine, a stark comparison to the islands directly north and south of it which have been developed for residential and tourist activities. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the constant efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons permitted to live on the island, and who I had the pleasure of meeting randomly on my second visit.

This photo was taken in the early morning on an overcast day following my sunrise shoot, and the feel of this specific patch of sprawling dunes system felt like something out of a painting.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

I had visited the wild protected beaches of both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean in the same calendar year when I took this photo, and I cannot divide my love for both. The sunrise peaked through the clouds this particular morning, while I photographed on an empty beach. It is a peaceful memory I recall often.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. With this comes an undeveloped beach that provides a stunning juxtaposition to the developed lands north and south of it.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

Through multiple visits to Cumberland, I have always found the sands particularly beautiful, creating myriads of abstract patterns. Each time I visit, I spend time with these Rorschach tests.

St. Marys is a quaint little town in southern Georgia. The town provides ferry access to Cumberland Island National Seashore, which offers 18 miles of undeveloped wilderness.

St. Marys became a point of conflict during the War of 1812, with the British raiding the town in 1815. It established itself as a port town, with shipping and trade. The town’s economy declined following the abolish of slavery and reestablished itself as tourist community in the mid-20th century.

This photograph was taken while returning from Cumberland Island on the daily ferry. The sun lined up perfectly along this strip of clouds making the bay and the surrounding boats shimmer gold.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

While wandering back to my campsite coming from the deserted airstrip strewn with feral horses, I found this scarlet sunset right across from my campsite, the clouds accentuated by the pointing fingers of the tall Loblolly Pines prevalent on the island.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness near St. Marys, Georgia. The area is unique, showing the true beauty of untouched land on the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been staunchly defended through the efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This sunrise required a particularly early wakeup call. The sun seemed to stick to the horizon evoking the imagery of the 1950’s nuclear tests. This gull flew at the right moment, accentuating this curious image.

Cumberland Island National Seashore, located near St. Marys, Georgia, is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. The island is known for its feral horses, possibly left over from the Spaniards during the 1700s.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status over the years and has been defended through the continuous efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

I arrived at Plum Orchard Mansion for a tour of the defunct Carnegie mansion dedicated in 1898. The area is frequented by the wild horses (technically feral) of the island. I was lucky enough to capture this black stallion bathed in light, highlighting its beauty if not also its complicated existence.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the constant efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This was my first trip on the island, and luckily I was the sole person on this wild beach on an early December morning. The sun rays fanned out on the horizon in a way I had never seen before, but it was this sand bank that made the shot, producing a fascinating abstraction of the landscape.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This was the view at my backcountry campsite at the north end of the island where the bay sat still as birds and the rare dolphin would pass by. This was the beautiful end to a long 10 mile hike.