ForgottenBeauty

And there was One

This historic lighthouse sits abandoned on Dutch Island off the Rhode Island coast. I reached the island by kayaking out and hiking to the southernmost point in...
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This historic lighthouse sits abandoned on Dutch Island off the Rhode Island coast. I reached the island by kayaking out and hiking to the southernmost point in the island to line up this shot.
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NIKON D750

settings

Aperture f/11 ISO 100 Shutter 1/500 Focal Length 160/10

upload_date

May, 2016

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Behind The Lens

Location

This shot was taken at the tip of Dutch Island off the Rhode Island coast. I had to take a kayak to reach the island - I set in at a beach about a half mile from where this was taken and hiked along the hillside by the ocean to reach this location.

Time

This was taken around 10:45 in the morning - the sun was still at a low enough angle to create some very interesting shadows on the rocks.

Lighting

The lighting is all natural light, but the angle of the sun and the way the light catches on the rock formations are important to the composition of the image. The shadows thrown help to emphasize the texture of the rock, as well as to enhance the sense of the lighthouse as a three-dimensional object in the frame.

Equipment

This was shot using a Nikon D750 FX (full-frame) body with a Tokina 16-28mm F/2.8 lens attached. It was shot handheld without a tripod.

Inspiration

When I explore any location, I always look for interesting scenes and objects. I was immediately drawn to the lighthouse as soon as I landed and I made my way over to the tip of the island. When I got to the end of the island, I could see how the rocks and clouds all worked together to create a very strong composition - so I framed the lighthouse as my centerpiece and got a couple good shots from this angle.

Editing

Yes - I usually work in post to correct and enhance color and contrast. Specifically, I use tonal contrast to selectively enhance contrast on highlights and shadows, which does an excellent job of bringing out the subtle texture in skies (especially the clouds).

In my camera bag

I normally carry my primary camera body (the Nikon D750) along with two lenses - a 16-28mm F/2.8 Tokina wide zoom and a 50mm F/1.8 Nikkor lens. I often bring my flash as well for fill lighting as well as basic camera supplies (spare batteries, lens cloths). Also, since this was shot on an island, I pack all my gear in a sturdy dry sack and attach that to my kayak.

Feedback

Explore the area you're in thoroughly and keep your eyes open for interesting landmarks and creative angles. You never know when you might see something worth shooting. Also, try to picture how the environment might look through your lens as you explore and set up your shots - it helps to imagine the composition you want in three dimensional space as you position yourself and the camera. Be aware of the weather, the clouds, and the ambient lighting. Sometimes the weather will just line up in a way that makes for a very memorable shot, and you always want to be on the lookout for those opportunities.

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ForgottenBeauty

ForgottenBeauty

And there was One

This historic lighthouse sits abandoned on Dutch Island off the Rhode Island coast. I reached the island by kayaking out and hiking to the southernmost point in... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow ForgottenBeauty

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This historic lighthouse sits abandoned on Dutch Island off the Rhode Island coast. I reached the island by kayaking out and hiking to the southernmost point in...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.