St Marks Lighthouse Florida Keys
Lighthouse on the end of a peninsula
Lighthouse on the end of a peninsula
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Jan, 2018Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
Creative Winter Award
Community Choice Award
Peer Choice Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
All Star
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was shot at St Marks Lighthouse in Florida it sits right on St Marks river and is the second-oldest light station in Florida. This was my first time seeing a lighthouse in person it was simply magnificent.Time
This lighthouse actually sits at the edge of the St Marks Wildlife Refuge so we had gotten up early that morning got breakfast and headed to the refuge. It was a cool crisp day in November it was slightly overcast but just perfect. We drove through the refuge and got our first look at the lighthouse about noon. An 88 foot tower rising up from the light keepers home just around the last bend it bursts into view.Lighting
As I mentioned this was my first visit to a lighthouse and I wanted to capture what I saw and the way it felt. Our visit was in November so it was chilly and a little overcast but it just seemed perfect for the scene I was looking at. There was a gazebo just before you reached the tower, this is where I took the shot from I wanted to capture that cool overcast dim light and give it a cool brisk feel but yet warm and inviting. Someplace you would want to visit.Equipment
Normally I take all my pictures with my amazing Nikon D3400 with a 50mm-300mm lens on a standard Tripod. This particular photo was actually taken with my Samsung Galaxy 8 believe it or not! I was standing in the Gazebo and looking at the lighthouse while my boyfriend pulled the car around so we could get my equipment out. I loved the look of the water and the lighthouse and couldn't wait to I snapped a shot with my phone. I have many more I have taken with my Nikon but this one is my first and favorite since it was my first look at a real live lighthouse.Inspiration
The lighthouse just looked so mysterious and perfectly situated on the little inlet where it sat. I loved just standing there looking at it, with the trees behind it and the water off in the distance and the winter clouds rolling in I knew I wanted to try and capture it as best I could. I still love looking at this photo I can almost hear the water when I look at it.Editing
I usually like to enhance either the brightness of a photo or at least enhance the color a bit but on this particular image I did not. This is untouched just as it came from the camera.In my camera bag
I love my camera bag!! I have only left home a handful of times without it and have regretted it each and every time. I carry my Nikon D3400 DLSR as well as my 18-55mm & 70-300mm lenses. 2 -128 GB SD cards, 2 battery's and a travel charger. 3-Piece Filter Kit for the 70-300mm and a remote. I have an upload cord and my Android phone has software that can accept images from the camera for upload on the fly. Lastly 2 cleaning rags for the lenses and my adjustable tripod with a 5 pound weight in case of wind.Feedback
It was a challenge to capture the lighthouse in such a way as to make it inviting and not give it a creepy feel. Shooting in overcast weather particularly when your subject such as the lighthouse is a dull color like white or beige you need to find a way to photograph it in a way that allows the viewer to see what you saw. I have found that shooting from slightly above your subject gives me a better lighting in addition you'll want to kick up your ISO a little to give it enough light to compliment the image and bring out whatever color maybe in the shot.
