Sea Island’s Cloister Hotel is a 5-star resort that sits on the southwest side of Sea Island. The hotel has sweeping views of the marshland and Black Banks river that separates Sea Island from St. Simons Island. The resort has ball rooms, a chapel, tennis courts, a spa and pool, solarium, garden, library, and two exquisite restaurants, The River Bar and The Georgian. The interior hall, named the Colonial Lounge is a 4 story room that impresses any visitor.

My wife and I arrived during the afternoon of December 19th, 2010, the first day of my photography shooting trip to Sea Island. My parents were renting a condo on the Black Banks river, so I grabbed my camera and set out to catch the sun setting over St. Simons Island across the marshland and river.

I walked down the river to the back of the Cloister Hotel and caught some amazing sunset and twilight shots. The Cloister has a large patio that overlooks the river and the dock, where Sea Island keeps several fishing and cruise boats. I was fortunate to catch some dramatic clouds as the sun went down and the sky turned gold then dark blue.

  • A popular activity, the Sunset Sail boat takes guests on a cruise around the island

  • The patio off the back of the Cloister Hotel

  • On the dock walkway looking back at the back side of the Cloister

  • One of several Sea Island boats that takes guests on fishing expeditions

  • Looking across the marshland and river you can see the long, man-made road that connects Sea Island to St. Simons Island and serves as the main entranceway for Sea Island. Car lights can be seen between the trees as folks migrate on and off the island.

  • The Cloister Hotel’s patio provides a nice place to catch the sunset each evening

  • The back of the Cloister Hotel at dusk