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Portland Head Of The Harbor Lighthouse


Portland Head Of The Harbor Lighthouse
Photo Information
Copyright: Tom ODonnell (budgun) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 319 W: 2 N: 382] (2091)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-20
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Olympus E-300 EVolt, 52mm Circular Polarizer
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-05-07 19:50
Viewed: 457
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The jagged rock coast of Maine is a haven for lighthouse enthusiasts, with 60 glorious sentinels dotting the beautiful shoreline. But none is more visited nor more photographed and painted than Portland Head Light, sitting regally in Casco Bay at Cape Elizabeth, the historic town south of the city of Portland and about an hour north of Boston.

Portland Head Light was first petitioned in 1786, when the District of Maine was still a part of Massachusetts. The merchants of Portland requested the lighthouse and construction was begun the following year. Lack of funding caused the building to be curtailed until George Washington became President and the Federal Government took over construction and operation of all lighthouses.

In 1789, construction of Portland Head Light was resumed when Congress appropriated $1,500 for its completion. Still, the lighthouse was built with rubble stone and brick, and the 80-foot tower outfitted with a second order Fresnel lens. With its single story keeper’s house, the first sentinel to be built on the Maine coast and the first tower to be completed by the US Government was officially placed in service in January 1791.

Keepers regarded Portland Head Light as one of the most favorable assignments in all the system. It was neither isolated nor lonely, for almost from it’s beginning, tourists and artists visited the lighthouse. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who was born in Portland, spent many hours sitting on the rocks beneath the tower and was inspired by Portland Head in 1849 to write the beautiful tome

The Lighthouse
The rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
And on its outer point, some miles away,
The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.

Many years later, famed American painter Edward Hopper further immortalized the lighthouse on canvas. Over the last two centuries, many writers and artists have been inspired by the majesty of Portland Head, and today, some 400,000 visitors make a pilgrimage to the sentinel every year.
From lighthouses.com
kross1, Hendrika, pablominto, kiwi_explorer, Jong, dareco, Royaldevon, Dot has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • kross1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 569 W: 11 N: 1087] (4376)
  • [2008-05-07 20:48]

Hi Tom,
Another awesome picture! The composition and colors are great. I've never been to Maine but if it looks half a nice as this picture I'll have to go. Great shot.
Regards,
Kevin

Hi Tom,

Casco Bay - indeed you have found another good POV. Somehow a picture like this reminds me of summer, but there is still some snow visible.
Love the sky and the crop here.

TFS
Els

What a beautiful place. Vivid colors. Great composition. Well framed. I love it. Thanks for the interesting note.

Lorena

Helo Tom
The lighthouse is beautiful and lovely angle you have choise for this shoot...
Greg have send oe smiliar on TE and is'n that not same lighthouses??
Very well done
Cheers,Braca
PS Is your home close to the Atlantic????

Very nice Landscape. Well composed, with good colors.

I do notice a small halo around the lighthouse that appears to be from processing the sky that is a little distracting.

TFS,
David

  • Great 
  • lavan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 695 W: 2 N: 126] (3446)
  • [2008-05-08 0:25]

nice composition
good saturation level
nice one

regards
lavansj

Hello Tom,
This is a beautiful site, and photographed the way lighthouses should be photographed: The sea has to be included, and it is perfect with a ship to emphasise the maritime spirit!
Excellent composition with super details & colours, and the view has a fine sense of depth...
A perfect lighthouse image!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

Hi Tom,
Good elevated shot to captured this lovely sea view. Descriptive notes is well written and interesting. Image and color quality is also good. Well composed and presented. Tfs
Cheers,
Renier

  • Great 
  • Jong Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 428 W: 0 N: 273] (3168)
  • [2008-05-08 3:00]

awesome view, that light house really beautiful with that pov. great colours contrast of the light house against the blue sky and blue sea. tfs, Tom

Hi Tom,
Fantastic and beautiful photo,good colors,composition...
Best regards,
Ralf

Hi Tom..this is a nicely composed shot. Nice details and sharpness...One suggestion is to use the curves control to make the white color pop out a bit more...

Roger

later

  • Great 
  • ttreen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1405 W: 130 N: 3811] (15804)
  • [2008-05-08 7:21]

Hi Tom
This light looks really nice.. the addition of the snow looks chilly.. I really like the taker off in the distance... Showing us the reason for the light :)


Tricia

Hello Tom,

I have seen a few shots of this beauty spot but am always thrilled by its pleasing composition and colours.
You have composed this very well with the main buildings nicely off-centre and they are beautifully balanced by the vessel out to sea.
The light is wonderful and really accentuates the curve of the lighthouse.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1711 W: 16 N: 838] (15090)
  • [2008-05-09 0:35]

Perfect color and sharpness once again! Also excellent pov. TFS

  • Great 
  • Dot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1379 W: 31 N: 2999] (12062)
  • [2008-05-09 6:41]

Hi Tom
This shot is really awesome, caught with great precision.
The colours are fantastic, the only thing that is distracting is the halo that is around the lighthouse,chimmneys,and boat.
Looks like you might have used the dodge tool to lighten.
Dot

Beautiful place and excellent composition.

Hi Tom,
Beautiful shot, the lighthouse and its purpose all in one shot, that Tanker in the distance, nicely done TFS
Donna:o)

merhaba dear tom
wonderful lovely lighthouse.wonderful light and colours.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

Such a sharp image, such an intense light.
The eye is happy to look at it, and so am I.
Again, bravo.

(from a LH enthusiast)
Cheers, Donato

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