Nubble Light at Night

Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick in Maine is one of the most photographed lighthouse in the area. I have seen so many great photos of this gorgeous location that I felt not qualified to photograph it for years; the reason was simply that I didn’t see anything in the location and structure that I hadn’t see before and I felt that I couldn’t add anything to its portfolio of images that exists everywhere.

This all changed on a June day in 2013, when something clicked in my head and I came up with a vision that I hadn’t seen before (see my post on Editing Mood to see what was different). Since then I have photographed it a number of times, but still only when I see something that is not just another pretty image, such as this…

The keeper and crew do a wonderful job each holiday season to light up the entire complex on the island upon which Nubble Light sits; it is gorgeous and a sight to behold.

I set up well before sunset for this shoot to find a location that was closer to the water level and framed some of the foreground rocks and water to capture enough of the reflection. Using a longer exposure of 45 seconds smoothed the water and allowed enough of the buildings to show up in the image while keeping the sky just dark enough. It’s not fully dark yet, which makes for a bit of magic in the juxtaposition between sea, rocks and sky vs the lighthouse complex.

Author: jansenphoto

A Fresh Perspective Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment. Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael. My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals. Universal Connections My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation. This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections. Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client. And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography! View all posts by jansenphoto