I love lighthouses. There is just something that draws me in as they stand solemly; keeping watch over passing ships during storms, on the darkest, coldest nights, and the brightest days. In some ways, time is slowly passing them by. In a time of Global Positioning Satellites and digital communications, they are gradually becoming obsolete. Most passing ships have little need for their service, which was once so crucial. It is estimated that more than a thousand ships wrecked off the coast or in the sounds that make up the outer banks of North Carolina before the five lighthouses were built. Today, sailors can watch a video monitor to determine precisely where they are and what areas to avoid without need of the lighthouse beacons.
When I went out to take this photo, I was on the beach well before daylight. The night was black with no moon, few stars were visible, the ocean was pounding the beach as the tide came in. As I stood there lost in the smell of the ocean, the sounds of the sea, and the salty breeze, I realized that there was something strangely reassuring to me as the light made its turn. I then thought about the old sea captains, steering through the shallows where so many ships ran aground and later broke apart in the crashing surf. I imagine that even today, the older sailors have that same sense of reassuring comfort in seeing the light sweep past.
The Hatteras lighthouse was built in 1870 where it stood until 1999. It was then raised and moved one-half mile inland due to fear that continuing changes in the shoreline would cause the lighthouse to become unstable and fall. There are 257 steps and 10 landings from the ground level to the top. In the old days, the light was powered by whale oil and later by kerosene. The light keeper had to walk the stairs each day carrying a five gallon can of fuel for the light. Having walked to the top myself, I have a great deal of respect for the old lightkeepers who faithfully made the walk every day in all possible weather to keep the old light burning, providing safe passage to the ships entering the sound.
This shot was taken during golden hour, just as the sun moved above the horizon, spilling soft golden-orange light onto the lighthouse, the beach sand, and sea oats on the dune. I photographed the lighthouse from several angles and during different lighting conditions, and to me, this one was the most appealing shot. I loved the golden light of course but also liked the feeling the sea oats provided in the scene.
About this photograph:
Shot from the beach right after sunrise around 6:50 A.M.
Camera: Nikon D810 DSLR
Lens: 24-120 F4 Nikor lens at 120mm.
Shot on Sirui tripod from the beach behind the lighthouse.
Aperture: F8
Shutter Speed 1/60th of a second following a 3 second exposure delay.
ISO was 64, the lowest native setting on my D810.