Vision Behind Lighthouses

is the subject of this blog, what the story is/was behind the image.

But before we launch into the vision behind lighthouses, a report on what weather can do and how quickly it can do it.

Our last night in Virginia nearly three weeks ago, we saw some very awesome flash floods. Scary, actually. In 15 minutes, the small steam beside the inn rose five or six feet. As we were returning from our last afternoon location, I saw a waterfall cascading down a hillside that was normally green pasture. Water raced across one of the parking areas at the inn, engulfing it.  While the other parking area was still dry, Arnie and I thought it prudent to park further up the hill on the other side.

It was a good thing. Cars lower down could not be moved, as the water running across the lot was too strong. Instead, they were nudged into the split-rail fence, water over their floor boards. I grabbed my camera as the group went upstairs to our imaging area and returned to the bridge over the small mill raceway, a now-raging river. As you can see, I had lost my chance to do a shot from the bridge, and even as I stood on the road a few feet away, in just a minute or two, I could feel the water rise from the parking lot run-off over my feet.

Last time, we talked about water and the vision behind making some photographs of it.  Since we have just returned from the coast of Maine, it makes sense to talk about lighthouses.  So often, we see photographs of lighthouses with the light off, set against a beautiful blue sky.  It’s not that those aren’t nice images, but what are lighthouses really all about?

In the days before navigation by stars, short-wave radio (yup, that’s how I learned to do three-point navigation in the fog or at night), Loran, and now GPS, they warned sailors, fishermen, and other boaters off the dangerous shoals, ledges, and rocks that dot our shorelines.  They were a beacon of safety, literally!

Even today, with modern technology, they are a comforting feature of our coastlines. The photograph above was made many years ago. To me, this scene, with the railing leading up to the lighthouse and off into the fog, was magical.  And yes, you do see that light on!  I remember sailing into Port Clyde in the fog a number of times over the years and seeing that light a comfortable distance off to starboard!

Arnie and I love lighthouses, and Arnie is just as taken by the ones on the coast of Maine as much as I.  Last year, he made a photograph of the Pemaquid Point Light in the late afternoon.  There is no question of why a lighthouse was built here and no question that there is nothing between

here and Spain.

This year, he wanted to do a really eerie night shot, something a bit surreal. He chose a spot that would give a feeling of the steep rise from the water up to the lighthouse, something a lobsterman might see while setting pots on the ledges below. We couldn’t, of course go by the water’s edge, as it is very treacherous, wit slippery rocks and waves that can catch one unaware. He had no wish to end up in the cold water or be drenched from behind, but he did want to find a location where a tidal pool reflected the light from the Fresnel lens. After walking around quite a bit, he found a safe vantage point that gave a feeling of the long sweep of rocks leading up to the light.

Going back to Marshall Point Light, I wanted this time to emphasize the narrow channel that leads into Port Clyde using the subtle reflections in the channel that kept it from being lost against the far shore. More importantly, though, I wanted to really celebrate an incredible sky that we saw that particular evening.

You’ll notice that none of the photos above has a crystal-clear sky, yet all catch one’s attention. Our workshop participants had a great time finding their own vantage points and their own interpretations of the scene.

New Summer Workshop Listing

A lot of people have been asking us for a summer workshop. What better place, we thought, than Summertime on the Maine Coast? The weather is warm during the day, and the nights cool off for good sleeping. Sometimes, there is moody fog in the morning that burns off to a sparkling day. We hope some of you will join us. Since we added this photo workshop so late in the season, we are offering an Early Bird special of payment two months in advance instead of the usual four.

While you’re at the website, check out our other offerings. If you are considering joining us, do as others have already done … make your room reservations. Rooms go quickly at all our locations, but particularly for Canyon de Chelly & Navajoland, where there are few hotels. Remember, you can always cancel later if necessary and not pay any penalty! If “our” inn or hotel is full, or if you prefer to stay elsewhere, we always have links to other choices.

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