JonCameronPhoto

Castle Hill Light

Rugged, rocky coastline along the Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island

Rugged, rocky coastline along the Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island
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Feb, 2017

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Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in Newport, Rhode Island aka the "City by the Sea." Castle Hill Light sits at the mouth of the Narragansett Bay at the Southern end of Aquidneck Island and has been guiding mariners safely through this passageway since 1890. I am a self-taught photographer and have photographed this particular lighthouse dozens of times - however, I really like how the lighthouse's bright red glow punctuates the the moody storm clouds over the Claiborne-Pell Bridge in the background and the turbulent, long exposed waters along the jagged foreground.

Time

I had originally planned to photograph this scene at sunset, hoping for some vibrant colors in the clouds behind Castle Hill Light to the Northwest. As the sun dropped, the clouds built - I almost called it quits as rain began to fall making the slippery rocks underfoot even more difficult to navigate - but the clouds and lighting were too good to pass up! I took this photo at 5pm in late January of 2017 - after a few frames, I packed up my gear and made my way back to my car in the rain.

Lighting

A spectacular cloud shelf rolled in behind the light to give a beautiful blue backdrop. The ambient light conditions were perfect for a long exposure - four seconds for this shot. I was able to capture not only the infinite shades of blue in the water and sky, but expose the bright red light in my composition as well.

Equipment

This was shot on a Canon 1DX MkII with a 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. I used a Manfrotto carbon 55-series tripod to steady my shot.

Inspiration

As a former Sailor in the Navy, I often spent weeks or even months at sea - far over the horizon with no land in sight. As much as I enjoyed being out in the ocean, coming home after a long voyage was always a welcome change. Oftentimes, lighthouses were the first navigational aids we could see as we approached land. Rain or shine, day or night...they marked our safe return. Also, I just really like seascapes and lighthouses can be perfect subjects! In this photo, my goal was to convey in a single image not only the sight, but the feel and the sound of the scene. The salty air, the waves crashing on the rocks below, the storm brewing overhead...

Editing

Yes. While photographing in a rainstorm next to crashing waves, I got quite a bit of sea spray and rain drops on my lens. I utilized Lightroom to remove those spots in the image, and slightly removed shadows in the foreground rocks.

In my camera bag

I pack everything - I like to be prepared for any image-creating situation that may arise...even if that means lugging around extra weight I didn't end up using. Inside my Lowepro Bag, I have my camera body - a Canon 1DX-MkII which has handled any weather situation I have put it through! For wildlife, I generally photograph with my 300mm f/2.8 lens (sometimes utilizing a 2x extender to get really "close") or my 70-200mm f/2.8. My all-around lens (the one I photographed this lighthouse with) is a 24-70mm f/2.8, and I also carry a wide 16-35mm f/2.8 and macro 100mm f/2.8 if the subject requires those. I am a Canon guy through and through and have acquired this gear list over many years. For a tripod, I am using a Really Right Stuff TVC-34 and BH-55 ball head.

Feedback

For photographing ocean or seascape scenes, my best advice is to get there early and/or stay there late. My all-time favorite light is just before sunrise or just after sunset - these times allow you to really experiment with exposure lengths while not having to necessarily worry as much about over-exposing your image or having bad glare on the water if not using a filter. I really enjoy long exposure of moving water - like the crashing waves in my image. They have an ethereal cloud-like character that I was able to capture due to the low light situation I was in. As for lighthouses specifically - they almost always are on, day or night. Count how frequently - and for how long - the light is on or off so you can time your shot to capture that added element of the scene.

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JonCameronPhoto

JonCameronPhoto

Castle Hill Light

Rugged, rocky coastline along the Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow JonCameronPhoto

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