Sometimes even postcards require a bit of creativity and a sense of artistry. Thus I offer Goat Island Lighthouse, a 20′ structure that graces the entrance to the inner harbor of Newport, Rhode Island on the north end of the diminutive land mass where early residents of Newport once pastured their goats.
Although Newport was an important seaport town even in the 1700s, the light was not completed until 1823. On this day it was the awesome cumulus display building over the town and its watery domain that drew me to Newport Harbor and the small stone tower so replete with the city’s past.
A focal length of 450mm, approaching long telephotoland, gave me the magnification and compression I wanted to draw the tower up and give it a presence in relation to the piling masses of vapor in the atmosphere above. An aperture of f/22 provided depth-of-field from the camera-to-subject distance of 200-300 yards, and a shutter speed of 1/13th second at ISO 100 gave me an overall slightly-lighter-than-medium exposure.
As a younger photographer, I was taught to be wary of light such as this in the middle of an otherwise blue-sky day: flat and white. Yet there are other considerations that can sometimes be entertained which render light-to-be-avoided into light-to-be- incorporated: clouds from both sides now.
Howdy Don, you have made me see what I have saw hundreds of times but now in a new way. I have photographed that lighthouse many many times but usually at sunset with a dramatic orange sky. I have also heard those who say you can’t take great pictures in the mid day hours, you have proven them wrong. I’ve ignored that on occasion but probably not enough. You maximized the composition with packing as many clouds in it as possible, the side light sculptures the turret of Goat Island lighthouse, it all so perfect. P.S. you got 2 lighthouses in one shot, that’s Rose Island lighthouse just to the right.
Howdy Michael. It’s always good to have you join me. You were on my mind as I chose this image for my weekly offering, and I was certain that you have photographed this structure many times. I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful comments, and I am delighted that you pointed out for everyone the Rose Island Light in the background. We were going to go to the Fort Adams Bay Walk to photograph Rose Island, but the fort was closed for repairs and there was no access to the walkway: next time. I found your home state to be one of the most beautiful I have ever visited and I hope to return before long to enjoy more of it. Stay safe and be well.
What a find!! That was your award for just showing up! Thanks so much for capturing and sharing this. From up and down and still somehow, I am pretty sure Joni Mitchel would love this one too.
Hey Nancy T. You have been on my mind lately, so I know we’re going to talk soon. It seems like some places are just natural cloud factories, and the Rhode Island Coast is one of them. I would love to have a chance to share this wonderful location with you. I trust you have been well and are quite safe in West Tennessee. I know it would be wonderful to see it as Mike Di Stefano suggested at sunset, but it was okay that we were there when we were – at mid-morning. The light and the clouds were very helpful. Walk in Beauty and take very good care.
Don, such an interesting composition and lighting. I really like the weightiness of the clouds. More like great globs of rich cream than airy evanescence. And, the dead-center location of the lighthouse creates a strong, stable image. Interesting to me that you described this as an overall lighter than average exposure; I’d have said the opposite given the dark water, ample shadows, and darker areas in the clouds. It’s all relative, of course. Very pleasing image!
Hey Ray. Thanks, as always, for joining us and for your thoughtful observations. The cloud masses were, of course, way beyond my pay grade to control, but the weightiness was something I could influence a bit. If you place the camera low to the ground/surface and use a short or medium telephoto lens to compress the scene, you can create a very real sense of weight with elements in the background, or foreground if there is no background. Waterfalls and even relatively small rapids/cataracts can be effectively rendered in this way. In my exposure the overall tonal weight of the trees and water did not overshadow the tonal weight of the clouds/sky/ and man-made structures. The histogram was just slightly to the light side of medium in my final result, but remember, you can influence the tonality by your choice of settings. Have an excellent week, and
Walk in Beauty.
Thank you all, again, for being with me for this conversation. I very much appreciate your perceptive and thoughtful observations and comments. The quality of what you offer never ceases to amaze me and leave me marveling at the delightful creative journey we are sharing with each other. No matter where we travel across this land, there is great Beauty to see and to incorporate in our creative endeavors. Nature never ceases to charm us with her simplest of revelations, and if we are quick to observe her, we are continually blessed with joy.
Have a great weekend!