The connection between Beaufort County and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, especially the island of Ocracoke, is just as strong today as it was two centuries ago. Many residents here are no strangers to the trip farther East and can navigate ferry schedules like the backs of their hands. Tap any given person on the shoulder and, no doubt, he or she will have a “ferry trip to Ocracoke” story to share.

Stories these days are more likely shared visually than through words, via social media and the ability to send photos through texts and emails. In this digital age — in which cell phones have better capabilities to capture images than the digital cameras of yore— everyone’s an amateur photographer, with photos to spare.

NCDOT is tapping into this by holding a “Late Summer Photo Contest.” Anyone and everyone to share their stories, highlighting the “vital connection between life in eastern North Carolina and the North Carolina Ferry System.”

“We look forward to seeing how our passengers capture the essence of North Carolina ferry travel,” said Ferry Division Communication Officer Tim Hass. “We carry thousands of residents, visitors, commuters and school kids across coastal waters every year, and we expect there will be an unlimited number of photographs that capture the unique experience of riding the North Carolina Ferry System.”

Categories include “Ferries of the Coast,” which calls for photos featuring a North Carolina ferry as the main subject; “Onboard Adventures,” meaning photos taken while onboard a North Carolina ferry; and “Seafaring Selfies,” which are self portraits or group self portraits taken onboard a North Carolina ferry.

The contest started on Aug. 5 and will run through Oct. 10. So for all those who rode the ferry this summer, start looking through the digital photo albums. For those who plan to take a trip in the near future, take a few shots along the way.

Have a little late summer fun and show just how vital the connection is between this area and the Outer Banks. Share your ferry stories by submitting photos to http://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/photocontest/.