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ProPeak Photography

Images of the World in Which We Live

All Portfolio > Lighthouses > New England Lights

New England Lights

Images of lighthouses from New England - Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine

End of the Day

Castle Hill Light stands, with Beavertail Light in the distance, guiding ships to the entrance of Narragansett Bay.

Begin the Night Watch

Castle Hill Light guides mariners making their way through the East Passage of Narragansett Bay between Aquidneck Island and Conanicut Island.

Gritty Stance

Built into the rocky cliffs at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, Castle Hill Light has been guiding mariners home for nearly 130 years.

Night Watch Set

Flashing red every thirty seconds.

Not Bad for a Dollar

Alexander Agassiz, naturalist, oceanographer, and zoologist of Harvard University, sold the land on which Castle Hill lighthouse stands to the US government for $1. Operating since 1890 and automated in 1957, this light still conveys mariners safely through the East Passage into Narragansett Bay between Conanicut Island and Aquidneck Island.

Narragansett Guardian

Revisited an old favorite. Castle Hill Lighthouse does not disappoint, and is completely underrated in the New England lighthouse inventory.

Newport Sunset 2018

Revisited an old favorite. Castle Hill Lighthouse does not disappoint, and is completely underrated in the New England lighthouse inventory.

Unfazed by the Encroaching Sea

Newport, Rhode Island gained a reputation as a playground for the rich and is home to some of the most impressive mansions from America's gilded age, but the area has always been home to a working maritime industry, as well, with a rich nautical history. Castle Hill Light is small at only 34', and far from opulent, but it performs its duty with the steadfast resolve of a New England waterman, regardless of the conditions.

Remotely located at the end of Ocean Drive, this granite guardian is an active navigation aid for all vessels entering the East Passage of Narragansett Bay between Conanicut Island (seen in the background) and Aquidneck Island.

Red Light District

There's something wonderful about lighthouse images. They are beacons for mariners, and have become symbols of hope.

They're also distinctly difficult to catch without obstruction when the weather is nice at the sunset hour. Notice the two young women simply sitting in the doorway, seemingly oblivious to the numerous photographers with tripods pointed in their direction.

Not sure what causes someone to sit under a lighthouse, to simply chat, and snap selfies with only a metal door as their background.

Castle Hill Sunset 2018

Revisited an old favorite. Castle Hill Lighthouse does not disappoint, and is completely underrated in the New England lighthouse inventory.

Last Light in Newport 2018

Revisited an old favorite. Castle Hill Lighthouse does not disappoint, and is completely underrated in the New England lighthouse inventory.

First Light - Portland Head

Portland Head minutes before sunrise is spectacular.

First Fire is Lit

The intensity of the fiery sun as it peers above the horizon brings welcome warmth on a brisk Spring morning.

The day first begins on the continental United States in Maine, not too far up the coast, but there are very few places where it is more spectacular and moving than here, at Maine's oldest lighthouse, Portland Head.

Near the End of the Shift

The lights on both Portland Head and Ram Island Ledge will soon extinguish for the day, as the dawn begins to light Casco Bay.

As it has since 1791, Portland Head Lighthouse warns mariners away from these notoriously rocky shores of Maine toward safer passages and anchorages.

Used (with permission) as a holiday greeting card for supporters of Ben's Lighthouse, an organization which honors 6-year old Benjamin Wheeler, a victim of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, with a mission to provide programs and opportunities that help kids and teens develop empathy, self-awareness and social connection.

A Chill in the Air

Before the sun can fully cut through the clouds, the early Spring morning at Portland Head Light is quite brisk with the added delight of the ocean breeze. The benefit is a quiet morning with few people to obstruct your views, or distract from a magnificent sunrise.

Portland Head Sunrise - Final

About 30 minutes after first light, an iconic American sunrise is completed just in time for the local fishermen to head out to work.

Golden Hour Portland Head

I returned to Portland Head Lighthouse on the way south and captured this 30-second long exposure during Golden Hour using a LEE Big Stopper filter in a Cokin EVO mount. I think the collaboration produced a fine result.

Hendricks Head Light

Restored to its original appearance, Hendricks Head Light is located on the point of Southport Island, Maine, on the east side of the mouth of the Sheepscot River. Built in 1829, the keeper's house succumbed to fire in 1875 and was rebuilt. The station was discontinued in 1933 and sold to private owners; but reestablished and automated in 1951. In 1991, it was again sold and remains privately owned, today.

Fickle Mud Season Weather

Spring in New England is anything but predictable. On this, the 4th of May, the weather was overcast, calm and heavy with humidity, with high temperatures barely cresting above 50° F. It was still mud-season, New England's fifth season of the year.

The following day, was windy, but clear, crisp, and highs in the 70s. Completely different photographic opportunities between the two days.

Here, I tried to capture an image of a lesser known (privately owned) lighthouse in Maine. Hendricks Head Light is in pristine condition, owing to the private ownership, but difficult to see from the land side. Though this shot is mid-afternoon in early May, you could easily mistake it for late afternoon in autumn.

On the Rocks

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol, Maine, marks the entrance to Muscongus Bay. This structure, built in 1835, sits atop these magnificent Silurian Period rock formations, creating a dramatic setting at any time of day.

Pemaquid Point

One of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was also chosen to be the representative image on the back of the Maine quarter in the U.S. state quarter series.

I Might As Well Just Turn Back, Keep Right on Goin'

It's popularity boosted significantly by the film, Forrest Gump, Marshall Point Light has been a mainstay in Tenants Harbor, Maine for over 160 years.

Even on a rainy, cloudy day, it doesn't disappoint.

First Light - Marshall Point

Before sunrise at Marshall Point Light, I was able to create this ethereal image with its muted colors. I'm not at all thrilled photographically with the recent switch to LED lights in this and other lighthouses; however, the technology does make the light more visible to mariners.

Marshall Point Monochrome

Blue hour at Marshall Point Light in Port Clyde, Maine, with color removed.

The current lighthouse was built in 1858, and following a lightning strike to the original, the current keeper's house was built in 1895.

High Drama Sunrise

Marshall Point Lighthouse is located at the entrance to Port Clyde, Maine. This image was captured toward the end of Golden Hour during sunrise, as the sun began to pierce its way through the clouds.

Rockland Breakwater and Breakwater Light

Over 700,000 tons of granite was used to build this breakwater in the late 19th century. It took nearly two decades (1881-1899), and cost $750,000 to complete, but enabled Rockland Harbor to withstand storms and continue use as a commercial port and working harbor.

The enormous granite blocks were precision cut to fit and placed end-to-end for 7/8 mile in water up to 70' deep. In 1902, the Breakwater Lighthouse was added, and remains in use today. It is the iconic image of the city of Rockland, Maine.

A popular attraction in the summer months, it is common to see people walking the length of the breakwater during much of the year, as seen by the man and his dog enjoying a stroll, here, on a blustery mid-Spring day.

Bass Harbor Tourist View - Landscape

Most people who venture to Bass Harbor Lighthouse follow the trail down to this point mid-day to look at the impressive lighthouse built on the southwest cliffs of Mount Desert Island, Maine.

If you follow my posts, you'll note that this location is considerably more captivating at sunset. If you travel to Acadia National Park, set aside an evening to visit this location, and catch the United States' first sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.

The Moment of Sunset

This is Bass Harbor Head Light Station at sunset on Cinco de Mayo, 2018.

After this weekend, good luck getting people-free shots from this vantage, as the tourist season kicks into high-gear. On this evening there were a mere two dozen souls who gathered. Fortunately, I got here first and took up this position.

Acadia Sunset

Bass Harbor Head Light Station, as this lighthouse is named in the US National Register of Historic Places, marks the entry to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay. A lighthouse has stood here since 1858. The fourth order Fresnel lens, still in use, was installed in 1902. This is one of the iconic photography locations in Acadia National Park.

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