I’m Not a Graceful Loser

You probably recognize this lighthouse by now, it’s the Portland Lighthouse and I’ve already had at it twice this month. I was not happy with my most recent results and wanted to erase it from the books. When I saw the weather forecast for Saturday evening, I contacted the ranger at the lighthouse who I’ve befriended to get his opinion on the weather forecast. I got on the phone, changed our airline tickets and went for it. I’m so glad that we did.

This is the general photograph I’ve been looking to make at the Portland Lighthouse, a solid B&W. This is soooo much better than my other two efforts, in this regard, I’m happy I persisted. Na, it’s not perfect and I can do better but at least I can leave ME knowing I improved on this opportunity.

Here’s the color version of the above image. One issue I have with it are the clouds. The wind was blowing something fierce. The clouds were moving so fast that they blurred in the 1/2sec exposure and because of that, the color is just funky at the top of the frame. In fact the wind was changing the clouds so fast I made a still image video clip.

The light and the clouds changed so much in fact, that we hoofed it over to the other side of the lighthouse. I wasn’t sure I’d like this side because it wouldn’t directly see the light from the sunset. Luckily enough, light bounced in to give it a slight glow. We were told this is the most photographed lighthouse in the world. Don’t know if that is true but I do know I don’t have the image I want from this gorgeous locale so I will keep going back until I get it.

What I didn’t like about the other two images in the other blog postings (not the ones above)? The first one has a very boring sky, it’s cloudless and so lifeless to me. It doesn’t tell the story of the lighthouse. The second image I don’t like the quality of the file, caused by the total lack of quality of the light. This final image for the month has the clouds and a much better quality of light so I am getting closer. Good thing, because when it comes to my photography, I’m not a graceful loser!

Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film