Unique Lighthouse Photography

Photographing Little Sable Lighthouse-My Quest for a Unique Photo

I love photographing lighthouses and in the past eight years I have visited over 100 lighthouses. Digital cameras make it so easy to take lots of photos and at first I just took photos of the lighthouses from various angles. As I learned more about photography and started to use various cameras and equipment I started to look for unique shots.

I love to take sunrise and sunset photos and with my DSLR camera and a good tripod, I have learned to take some interesting shots. I know taking early morning and early evening photos gives me the best light, but sometimes when traveling visiting a lighthouse during those times is just not convenient.

On our trip to Michigan in July of 2012 we were visiting 10 lighthouses in a weeks time so I was visiting some lighthouses during daytime and sunny times. My challenge was to find a way to take an interesting and unique photo of the lighthouses during that time period.

On this page I will introduce you to the photos I took of Little Sable Point lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan. Little Sable was erected in 1874 and is a classic tower shaped lighthouse.

all photos are by mbgphoto

My First Photos of Little Sable - light in your photos

Little Sable Lighthouse

When we arrived at Little Sable it was about 9:30 in the morning and the sun was already fairly high in the sky. It was a clear day without a cloud in the sky, so I knew I would need to find just the right angle for the photos or the sky would really look washed out.

From the parking lot you could see the lighthouse through the dunes and brush that grew in the dunes. This first shot that I took shows the lighthouse framed by some bushes. I always like to frame the photos. I think it gives the photo a good balance look so I was glad to see some trees and brush with which I could work. The resulting photo is above. I think it is a good photo, but not quite the unique shot I was looking to create.

The photo below uses the winding path to draw your eye up to the lighthouse. This is another technique I like to use. I also like putting something in the foreground (the fence) to give it depth. Again, I feel it is a good photo, but doesn't quite have that unique quality.

Path to Little Sable

Path to Little Sable

Cannon SX40 HS Camera - my newest camera

This is the camera that I used for all the photos on this page. I got the camera a couple of weeks before our trip and I was eager to try it out. I was very pleased with my results. The camera takes clear, crisp photos and has a wonderful zoom lens. It has a variety of automatic and manual settings and is very lightweight. It is a perfect camera to use when traveling.

Click Here to View Canon SX cameras on Amazon

Little Sable From the Beach - using light to enhance photos

I next walk up and down the beach looking for a view of the lighthouse that might lend to a unique photo. I liked the way the mid morning sun was casting shadows on the lighthouse and the dunes. I saw that it was right behind the lighthouse but at this point that didn't strike me as a good shot so I moved to this shot of the lighthouse and the dunes.

I like this shot better than the ones from the parking lot, but it was still not quite what I wanted.

Sun Behind Top of Lighthouse - original version- using light to get an unique photo

As I walked back in front of the lighthouse on the beach I noticed that the sun was now right behind the top of the lighthouse. I thought this might make a nice photo, so I stood in the shadow of the lighthouse and lined up my shot. I focused on the lantern of the lighthouse to get the desired effect and then lower my camera to get the whole lighthouse in view.

This is the resulting photo!

Little Sable Point Lighthouse - cropped version

When I got back to our hotel room and loaded my photos into my Photoshop Lightroom program, I decided to try to crop the shadow out of the photo for a different effect.

Here is the cropped version.

Unique Lighthouse Photo - high contrast version

I next decided to do a bit of manipulation of the photo in Lightroom. For this view I worked on getting the new trendy, high contrast look. This look doesn't look good on all photos but I like the way it looks on Little Sable. I think it gives it an eerie, haunted look!

What photo do you like best? - I'd love your opinion

I have mixed feelings about my unique photo and actually I like all three versions. I know some people are purists and feel that photos should not be manipulated and others feel that it is part of the artistic license. I enjoy seeing the photos both ways.

Which of the Sun behind the Lighthouse Photos do you like best?

•  The Original Version
•  The Cropped Version
•  The High Contrast Version

Grand Haven Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

Grand Haven Lighthouses-Lake Michigan

Enjoying a walk out to the Lights

I love to be able to see a lighthouse up close. The lights at Grand Haven provide this opportunity!

I was delighted to find two lights connected to the beach by a long stone pier and a raised catwalk to connect the two lights. My friends and I took the opportunity to walk out on the catwalk and see the lighthouses up close It was a chlly fall day on Lake Michigan, but the slight discomfort was well worth the pleasure of photographing the lighthouses from a variety of angles.

On this page I will show you the photographs that I was able to take and give you a little insight into the lighthouses at Grand Haven. Enjoy

Photographs by myself, mbgphoto

View from Beach

This photo was taken when we first arrived at the lighthouse. It was taken from the beach area as we approached the lighthouse. There are several small sand dunes near the pier where this photo was taken. I walked around the area to find the best view of the lights with the sand dunes and grasses in the foreground.

Long View of Pier and both Lights - Grand Haven South Pierhead and Inner Lighthouse

The Grand Haven Lights consist of two lights and an elevated catwalk that connects the two. The south pierhead light is a red conical steel plate tower that was constructed in 1905. The inner lighthouse is barn shaped and was originally built in 1875. It was moved to the end of the breakwater in 1905.

The two lights stand several hundred feet apart on the long pier.

Memorial Marker - To those whose lives were lost

This marker is seen just as you enter the Pier. It honors those who lost their lives off this pier.

Sign as you enter Pier

Warnings are posted at the entrance to the Pier. The weather can get quite rough on Lake Michigan, particularly in the winter so it is important to heed the warnings.

Closer Views of Grand Haven Lights - Bright Red Lights

Like many of the lighthouses on Lake Michigan, the Grand Haven lights are maintained by the Coast Guard.

Pier makes great place for a stroll - Visitors can walk out on Pier

My friends and I enjoyed a wonderful walk out on the pier. It was great to see the lighthouses up close.

Scenic shot of the Lighthouses - Through the Sand Dunes

Grand Haven Lights on a clear Fall Day

Grand Haven Lighthouses Greeting Card by lighthouseenthusiast
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Here is a great little replica of the lights at Grand Haven.

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McGulpin Point Lighthouse

My husband and I were in Mackinaw City visiting the popular Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse when I saw a sign for another lighthouse nearby.  We followed the signs a short distance out of the city and came upon a delightful lighthouse called McGulpin Point lighthouse.  This lighthouse is beautifully restored and has been furnished in the décor of the times.  The grounds are lovely and visitors are welcome to climb the tower and tour the house.   I first photographed the lighthouse from the parking area and then went inside to learn a bit of history about the light and then I climbed the tower for a view of the area.

  I discovered that this lighthouse was among the first in the area and helped to guide ships through the Straits of Mackinac.  The shipping had dramatically increased with the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and by the 1850's there was a real need for lighthouses in the area.  Congress approved the plans for McGulpin point lighthouse in 1854 and it was lit for the first time in 1869.  It was in service until 1906 when it was no longer needed because of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

After visiting the lighthouse and the gift shop, I decided to take a walk down the trail in back of the lighthouse.  I had seen the "Big Rock" advertised so I wanted to walk to the water to see what it was about.  The trail was only about 1/2 mile but it was on a rather steep incline at times.  It was a beautiful walk down through the woods and ended up on the shore of Lake Michigan.

When I got to the shore and found the rock, I was surprised.  It was literally just a big rock.  The rock is said to be 33.8 feet in horizontal circumference and weighs 54 tons.  Other than the size there was really nothing remarkable about it.  I took a look and enjoyed the view of the Mackinac Bridge in the background and then made my way back up the hilly trail.  I was able to capture this photo of McGulpin lighthouse on my way back up.

 

Stop by and visit my Squidoo pages on lighthouses at Lake Michigan Lighthouses

 

 

You might also be interested in hearing about my adventures in photography on Review This

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse

On our visit to the Mackinac Island area of Michigan we took a drive out of Mackinaw City to search for more lighthouses. We discovered the above lighthouse, Forty Mile Point lighthouse, along the shores of Lake Huron. It is located approximately forty miles southeast of Mackinaw City. In 1890 the lighthouse board requested this lighthouse to be built to fill in the gap between the lighthouses in Cheboygan and Presque Isle. There was 50 miles between them and that left a dark spot for ships to loose their way along the shorelines. The lighthouse at Forty Mile Point was completed in 1896. We found the lighthouse to be very similar to the one at Big Bay Point, a lighthouse we had visited and stayed in on a previous visit to Michigan. In researching the lighthouses I found they were both built in the same time period. The lighthouse at Forty Mile Point is now part of a park that is open to the public. I was able to walk around the grounds and climb the tower to the lighthouse. There were several interesting out buildings along with a small gift shop. Here is a view of the shoreline from just below the lighthouse.

Stop by my Squidoo pages to read more about my Michigan lighthouse adventures Michigan Lighthouses

Frankfort Michigan Lighthouse

I visited the light in Frankfort, Michigan in the summer of 2012. It was a bright sunny day and the white and black lighthouse was located at the end of a long concrete pier. I enjoyed the long walk out to the lighthouse, which I found to be a bit different than other lights I had seen. When I got up close it seemed to be almost two structures that were stuck together. In researching a bit about the light I found out that the original light was lit in 1873 at the end of a long wooden pier. This light didn't last and in 1932 the present light was moved to the northern breakwater and placed on top of a two story metal structure. Now I understood the different look to the lighthouse. Here is a closeup photo of the light.

I really enjoy seeing the lights in Michigan. There are such a nice variety of different types of lighthouses. Here is a page I wrote about some of my favorite Michigan lighthouses. Lake Michigan Lighthouses

Ludington, Michigan Lighthouse

Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse can be found along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan in the state of Michigan. It is located in Stearns Park and I was able to visit it on a clear day in July. The park was fairly busy and a lot of people were enjoying the stroll down the long pier to reach the 57 foot tall steel plated lighthouse. I enjoyed the walk and was able to photograph the lighthouse at various angles.

The lighthouse which is at the end of the breakwater in Pere Marquette harbor was first lit in 1924. It was automated in 1972 and is still operational today. Lake Michigan Lighthouses

Ludington Pierhead Light Ornament by lighthouseenthusiast
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Lighthouse in Michigan City Indiana

Michigan City Indiana has had three lighthouses over the years. The first was built in the 1830's and is no longer in existence. The lighthouse pictured here was built in 1858. It had one lighthouse keeper for 43 years from 1861 until 1904- Miss Harriet Colfax. This lighthouse now houses a museum on the lighthouses. The day we visited Michigan City the museum was closed so I had to be content with wandering around the perimeter of the house and taking photographs.

Not far from the old Michigan City lighthouse we found the east pierhead lighthouse. It can be accessed by walking down a 1500 foot elevated catwalk. The sun was beginning to set and I was able to shoot several different shots of the "East Pierhead Light".

Michigan City Indiana Lighthouse Refrigerator Magnet by lighthouseenthusiast
Create unique custom magnets at zazzle.com.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Point Betsie Lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Michigan just north of Frankfort, Michigan. It is located at the southern edge of the Manitou Passage.
When we visited the lighthouse, I was able to go inside and take a tour of the lighthouse and the grounds. The lighthouse had a house for the keeper on the main floor and the second floor had a small apartment for the assistant keeper. The assistant keeper's quarters is now available for rent and has two bedrooms, a kitchen and a comfy living room. I think it would be great fun to stay in a lighthouse!

This image of Point Betsie lighthouse was taken from the beach. The lighthouse was built in 1858 and has a beacon that shines 52 feet above the lake and has a range of about 15 miles. It helped ships to navigate the dangerous Manitou passage.

After touring the lighthouse, I walked down the beach a bit and was able to get this view of the lighthouse. It was a cloudy day and in fact starting raining just a short time after we left the lighthouse. This photo show the expressive clouds in the sky.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse is a beautiful lighthouse that is located at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan. The peninsula separates Lake Michigan from Grand Traverse Bay. The Grand Traverse lighthouse was built in 1858 and operated until 1972 when it was closed and an automatic light tower was constructed. In 1986 the lighthouse was made open to the public. In July of 2012 I was able to visit the lighthouse, take a tour of the lighthouse, and climb the tower. I found the inside of the lightouse to be very interesting. In many of the lighthouses that I have visited the keepers quarters are small and quite sparsely furnished. This was not the case at Grand Traverse. The house was rather large and was very nicely furnished for the period in which it was used. There was even a formal dining room complete with china,silver and crystal. The preserved museum in the lighthouse gives visitors a look at how the lighthouse keepers lived at the turn of the century.

The actual lantern room protrudes from the pitched roof of the building. I reached it by climbing to the second story and taking two short staircases that led up to the lantern room. The view of Grand Traverse Bay from the top was beautiful.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Ornament by lighthouseenthusiast
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Big Sable Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Big Sable Point was my favorite lighthouse on our latest Michigan lighthouse tour. Big Sable was built in 1867 and was originally named "Grande Pointe au Sable" which means "Big Point in the Sand". In order to see the lighthouse, I had to take a two mile trek up the beach. As I rounded a bend on about the last third of the walk I saw Big Sable sticking out among the sand dunes. What a beautiful sight! The lighthouse is open to visitors and I visited the inside of the lighthouse but this time I didn't climb the stairs to the top. I'll have to admit after that long trek up the beach my legs were a bit shaky and I couldn't quite seeing climbing the 112 foot tower. I was able to walk the grounds and took photos from all different angles. The walk was definately worth it, the views of this lighthouse were stunning.

Originally the lighthouse was brick and looked much like Little Sable Lighthouse. In 1900 it was found the the brick was badly damaged by the weather and the lighthouse was covered with a steel cladding. This black and white design is what you see today.

Big Sable Lightouse Stickers by lighthouseenthusiast
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Mission Point Lighthouse

Located at the top of the Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan, the Mission Point Lighthouse is a reminder of what life was like for lighthousekeepers at the turn of the century.

To reach the lighthouse you travel the M37 from Traverse City up the Old Mission Peninsula. The 18 mile drive is beautiful with vineyards and orchards lining both sides of the road. There are also many wineries where you can stop and taste some wine. The photo above shows the first view we had of the lighthouse after we left the parking lot. An interesting fact about Mission Point Light is tha is is located on the 45th parallel of latitude. That is halfway between the north pole and the equator. There is a sign at the lighthouse grounds showing other cities that also lie within the 45th parallel. It is interesting that many of them are also known for their wines. On the lighthouse grounds there is a log cabin that was built in 1856. You can step inside and get a hint of what life was like in northern Michigan in the 19th century. The photo below is the Hessler cabin.

At the lighthouse visitors can tour the building and if they are interested climb the tower for a view of Traverse Bay. This photo shows the bay from the lighthouse.

There is plenty of hiking to be done on the miles of unspoiled trails surrounding the lighthouse. The photo below is shot looking back at the lighthouse from the beach area

We really enjoyed our day visiting the Old Mission Lighthouse. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Old Mission Point Lighthouse Stickers by lighthouseenthusiast
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