Portland Head Light Lighthouse
1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
This was the one lighthouse we wanted to nail during our stay in Portland ME. Portland Head Light Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. I think you can see why. If only I lived in the area I would photograph this lighthouse in all types of weather and lighting conditions. However, it’s a bit of trip for me to get here so I made the best of it. It’s located in Cape Elizabeth on the grounds of Fort Williams Park
Cheryl and I stopped by on September 18 later in the afternoon and it was so crowded that there wasn’t even one parking space. So we had to leave. We came back the next morning, bright and early. The entire park was empty. We were the only ones there so we were able to park right near the lighthouse and it was a short walk with our equipment over to the vantage point. As we were setting up folks began to arrive and, in fact, I caught a few in my lens if you look at the lighthouse closely.
Here’s a tip. I wanted desperately to see how the image would look if I blurred the water from a timed exposure. I set up my Lee Big Stopper, (10 stop neutral density filter), on the end of my Nikon 18-55 mm lens. At ISO 100 this would allow me to get a few seconds exposure and blur the water rendering that nice, silky look.
It was an exceptionally cold and windy morning for mid-September. We had wished we brought a hat or something to cover our ears. The chilly wind was just cutting through us. As much as I longed for this shot I didn’t want to dilly dally as the warmth of the car was calling us.
Well every single timed exposure had a light leak, (a red streak across the center of the image). I couldn’t see it when I reviewed my shots on the back of the camera. When I got back to the hotel and loaded them up on my laptop there it was. Every timed exposure ruined. Fortunately I took many shots without the Lee Big Stopper and they all came out perfect. What went wrong? Simple. I had forgotten to block the light from the eyepiece. I usually just put a piece of tape over this area to prevent light from coming in, but this morning I had forgotten to and I paid for it. However, I was very pleased with the results. So when doing timed exposures have some painters tape with you and cover the eye piece. Painters tape won’t leave residue on your camera and goes on/off easily.
If you’re into landscape photography or lighthouses and can get to Maine make this lighthouse a MUST visit. You won’t regret it. However, I suggest getting there are the crack of dawn so it won’t be so crowded with people that you can’t get either a parking space or a good shot.
Everything you want to know about Head Light Lighthouse and Fort Williams Park
Photographed with Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-55 mm lens. ISO 100
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