deannefortnam

Portland Head Lighthouse - Sunset

This beautiful lighthouse is one of the most photogenic I've ever had the pleasure to shoot. Very lucky yesterday to get a great sunset that colored up...
Read more

This beautiful lighthouse is one of the most photogenic I've ever had the pleasure to shoot. Very lucky yesterday to get a great sunset that colored up the eastern sky.
Read less

Nov, 2016

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4197

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+622

Awards

Winner in Stunning Sunsets Photo Challenge

Winner in Maine Landscape Photo Challenge

Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 27 Photo Contest

Peer Award

+255

Absolute Masterpiece

+58

Superb Composition

+54

Top Choice

+34

Magnificent Capture

+11

All Star

Genius

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

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This beautiful lighthouse is in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Behind The Lens

Location

This beautiful lighthouse is situated on the shore of Cape Elizabeth, Maine in Fort Williams Park at the entrance to Portland Harbor. Portland Head Lighthouse is the oldest and probably the most scenic (and most photographed) lighthouse in Maine. The original whale oil lamps were first lit in January of 1791.

Time

I took this image at 5:30PM after sunset. I'd been waiting and hoping from some color in the eastern sky at sunset and was happy to see a bit of color appear around 5:00. The official sunset that day was around 4:30 and the park officially closes at sunset but there were still a few other people around and it didn't seem to be a problem so I kept shooting.

Lighting

After waiting twenty minutes or so I debated about whether or not I should leave as the sun was down and gone. I didn't know if I'd already gotten the best color I was going to get but then I noticed this gorgeous magenta color starting to build in the northern sky. Over the course of five to ten minutes the color gradually painted the sky from the northern to the eastern sky illuminating the clouds behind the lighthouse. Soooo glad I waited I'd have missed the best light of the day if I hadn't!

Equipment

I'm shooting my landscapes with a full frame Canon 1Ds MK III with a Canon 24/105 f4 L IS lens. This was at 24mm f20 aperture priority and a combination of five shots from 1/6 sec to 2 sec exposures for HDR processing. Also was using a tripod with cable release.

Inspiration

I've seen lovely images of this lighthouse for most of my life, on calendars, prints etc. and wanted to capture it for myself. I really wanted to photograph it in some great evening light that I believe enhances this beautiful historic structure. I'd made the three hour trek up to Portland several times hoping for good light but on the other occasions the light just faded away with no color or any good cloud formations for the background. I was so pleased to see the clouds cooperating for some great leading lines to the lighthouse - then when that color appeared I was doing a happy dance!

Editing

Yes, this was an HDR shot from five exposures combined in Photomatix. Afterward, I import to Lightroom and lightened some of the darkest areas on the rocks, tweaked the contrast and added some vibrance exported then opened in Corel Photopaint, masked the sky then sharpened the rocks and lighthouse a bit. Last I added just a hint of some warm light rays coming from the light.

In my camera bag

I usually travel with my 1Ds MKIII and 7DII camera bodies. My "go to" landscape lens is my Canon 24/105 f/4. I also have a Canon 100/400 f/5.6, Canon 100mm macro lens and a Canon 600 f/4 IS II telephoto for my wildlife photography. Also in my bag are flash, ring flash, extention tubes, filters, cable release. Flashlight, headlamp because you never know if you'll be walking around after dark....

Feedback

If you are looking for a sunset or sunrise shot you need to get there in adequate daylight to scope out how you plan to frame the shot. I did a lot of that on my previous visits to the lighthouse. Get yourself set up with time to spare, shoot with a tripod and bracket your shots so you have plenty to work with when processing. Then wait, wait, wait. I almost left before that magenta showed up in the eastern sky. (So happy I didn't) It only lasted for a few minutes and was about forty-five minutes to an hour after the sun went below the horizon.

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deannefortnam

deannefortnam

Portland Head Lighthouse - Sunset

This beautiful lighthouse is one of the most photogenic I've ever had the pleasure to shoot. Very lucky yesterday to get a great sunset that colored up...
Read more

Views

Likes

Awards

Emotions

Top Ranks

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

See more amazing photos, follow deannefortnam

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Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

deannefortnam

Portland Head Lighthouse - Sunset

This beautiful lighthouse is one of the most photogenic I've ever had the pleasure to shoot. Very lucky yesterday to get a great sunset that colored up... Read more

Views

Likes

Awards

Emotions

Top Ranks

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

Same photographer See allBehind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

See more amazing photos, follow deannefortnam

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

This beautiful lighthouse is one of the most photogenic I've ever had the pleasure to shoot. Very lucky yesterday to get a great sunset that colored up...
Read more

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

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