Focus on Brunswick County

Coastal Carolina Camera Club connects photographers and community through the power of images, storytelling and service.

On any given morning along the Shallotte River Walk, at the Calabash waterfront or on a quiet stretch of Sunset Beach, you might spot a small group of photographers standing still, cameras in hand, waiting for the light to do something magical. Chances are, they are members of the Coastal Carolina Camera Club collectively capturing beauty on a field trip around Brunswick County.

Founded in 2006 by Victor Pizzolato, the club brings together photographers from across Brunswick County who want to improve their skills, share what they know and use photography to connect with their community.

The club’s monthly meetings include informative programs on photographic techniques and editing software and presentations and critiques from guest speakers working in a wide range of genres. Members also participate in photography contests judged by the Photographic Society of America, and several members have earned prestigious awards and publication credits.

By Michelle Tinger, November Sunrise Calabash Waterfront

Longtime member John Farr recently won the Photographic Society of America’s Gold Medal Award.

“Competitions and critiques are a great way to learn and grow as a photographer,” says wildlife photographer Michelle Tinger, an active member since 2009.

Field trips are also a highlight of the club.

But for many members, the club is not just about improving technical skills. Many members come for the friendship, collaboration and chance to see the world a little differently. They come from all over the county, and experience levels range from beginners to professionals. That mix is intentional, says Ellen Sheehan, the club’s publicity chair.

By Ellen Sheehan, Backyard Committe Meeting

“Photography is something that binds us together,” she says, adding that professional and experienced photographers assist new members while also developing their own skills. “I enjoy helping newer photographers develop their technical skills and artistic vision. We share freely with each other because we recognize the benefits of a collaborative environment.”

Field trips are a highlight of the club’s activities. While some photographers travel to far-flung places in search of beautiful images, many members find compelling photos right in their own backyards.

“Often, wading birds, breathtaking scenery, beautiful sunsets, alligators and songbirds are only a few steps away,” Tinger says.

By Harold Sisken, Ferris Wheel taken at Brunswick County Fair

Some club members work closely with local organizations, including the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization. Photographers are trained on proper procedures for photographing at nest sites, and prospective photographers must first become full volunteers before they are allowed to take photos, a process that helps them build relationships with the team and learn about the subject matter before ever lifting a camera. That emphasis on respect, patience and storytelling carries into many members’ works.

While many club photographers focus on landscapes and wildlife, member Peter Riekstins prefers street photography, capturing people in their everyday environments at concerts, restaurants, on fishing piers or walking along the beach. Most of his photos are candid, but he says respect for his subjects always comes first.

“There is a misconception that documentary or street photography is just about getting that winning shot, without consideration for the people involved,” Riekstins says. “Yet, photography is a valuable form of visual storytelling that can bring communities together and help them heal when tragic events happen.”

By Tim Sheehan, The Milkyway over Brunswick County Ocean Isle Beach

After the tragic shooting in Southport in 2025, Riekstins chose not to immediately document the aftermath. Instead, he waited until the time felt right.

“I photographed people out in the community trying to be brave and smile, but the camera revealed a depth of pain and loss that felt too raw,” he says.

Riekstins did not post any photos until about six weeks after the attack because he was afraid the images would feel intrusive. But when he did share them, the photos resonated deeply with Southport residents.

“The photos allowed people to be themselves and show how they really felt,” he says.

Sheehan, who worked with the Houston Astros MiLB Organization, experienced something similar years ago while living in Houston during Hurricane Harvey. She walked into a church to offer her assistance with hurricane relief, looked around and realized that a photographer should be documenting all the community togetherness and support she was witnessing. She asked a volunteer in charge if they wanted a photographer.

By Michelle Tinger, Off To Work Calabash Waterfront

“We were praying for someone to come and photograph this,” the volunteer told her.

Sheehan says she had also prayed for guidance about how she might use photography to help the community.

“I believe that my little prayer was answered in a big way,” she says.

Her first photograph that day was of a Monarch butterfly flying through a parking lot.

“It demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity,” she says.

The club recently launched a Photographers for Charity program, giving members opportunities to use their skills to support local causes. Their first project was covering the Special Olympics Spring Games in Winnabow, an experience many members say was as meaningful as any photography award.

By John Medeiros, Sweetgrass Baskets 1 NC Rice Festival Brunswick County

Coastal Carolina Camera Club is proof that compelling photography is not always about the composition, technical perfection or the gear used to capture the image. Sometimes it is about the moment, the story or what the images mean to the audience.

PICTURE THIS
Coastal Carolina Camera Club meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July) at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall of Shallotte Presbyterian Church, 5070 Main Street in Shallotte. Guests are always welcome, and membership is open to photographers of all skill levels.

In addition to monthly meetings, the club hosts informal breakfast gatherings twice a month at Sunny Side Up Diner in Calabash, where members talk photography, share tips and enjoy time together.