Photographic Tour of Erie Pennsylvania Lighthouses

                                                              Presque Isle Lighthouse

Three Historic Lighthouses

Erie Pennsylvania boasts three historic lighthouses.  On a recent trip my husband and I stopped in Erie and I was able to photograph all three lighthouses.  The photo above shows Presque Isle lighthouse which was built in 1873.  It is open to tours but we arrived just as it was closing so I only got photos of the exterior.

Erie Land Lighthouse

The first lighthouse built on the Great Lakes was in Erie.  Here is some information and photos on the Erie Land lighthouse.

Erie Land Light

North Pier Light

The third lighthouse in Erie is the North Pier Light.  It is located on Presque Isle but can also be seen from the Erie Land light.  Here are photos taken of it from both locations.\

                                          North Pier Light

Stop by Review This at https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2018/08/reviewing-lighthouses-in-erie.html  to read more information on these lighthouses.

Erie Pennsylvania Lighthouses Poster
by lighthouseenthusiast

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.

Click Here to Order from Amazon

Marblehead Lighthouse

Photographing a Historic Lighthouse

Marblehead Lighthoues is located in Marblehead Ohio on the banks of Lake Erie.  This lighthouse is the oldest active lighthouse on the Great Lakes.  It was first lit in 1822.  It is a beautiful white conical lighthouse with a red dome and parapet.  The lighthouse is located in Marblehead State Park.  During the summer months the public may climb the 50 foot tower and stop by the Keepers House which has been refurbished and converted to a museum.  

On a recent visit we stayed across from the lighthouse at The Lighthouse Resort so we had easy access to the lighthouse grounds during our stay.  I was able to go over to the lighthouse during the open hours and then I returned early in the evening and again at sunrise the next morning.

The photo to the right was taken in the evening and you will note the shadows from the setting sun against the lighthouse walls.  There are several big boulders leading up to the lighthouse and then flatter rocks as it nears the banks of Lake Erie

I returned the next morning about an hour before sunrise.  In this next photo you will note the green light shining from the lighthouse in the early morning hour.

Here is the photo I was waiting to get.  Sunrise over Lake Erie.

If you would like to read more about my adventures at Marblehead Lighthouse stop by my Squidoo page at Visit Marblehead Lighthouse

Point Iroquois Light Station

On a September 2013 trip to Upper Michigan, we made a stop at the historic lighthouse at Point Iroquois.  This light station is located on the beautiful shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We had visited Sault Ste Marie in the morning and found that this lighthouse was only 20 miles to the west.

The grounds of Point Iroquois were lovely.  There was a great walking path that took you around the lighthouse and out along the shores of Lake Superior.  In addition to being able to climb the 72 steps to the top of the tower the grounds held a museum that gave you insight into the families that called Point Iroquois Light Station home.

Point Iroquois Light Station was built in 1870 to guide freighters along the treacherous shores of Lake Superior between Whitefish Bay and the St. Mary's River.  In 1902 the originally building was added on to provide more living space.  The complex had room to accommodate the head lighthouse keeper along with two assistants and their families.  This group formed their own community complete with a schoolhouse and teacher for their children. 

I really enjoyed my time strolling around the lighthouse grounds.  Here is a photo I took as I walked along the path near the lake.

It shows the complex with the addition housing areas.

Stop by my Squidoo page to hear about more of the lighthouses we visited on this trip Michigan Upper Peninsula Lighthouses

I am also writing for the blog Review This .  I hope you will stop by for a visit to my Photo Bug writings.

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

Presque Isle Lighthouses

Located on Presque Isle near Alpena in Upper Michigan you will find two beautiful historic lighthouses. In September of 2013 my husband and I took a drive along the Lake Huron coast and visited these lighthouses. We were traveling along Grand Lake Rd and we found a sign that took us off the main road and onto Presque Isle. When we got to the end of the road we turned right and found the Old Presque lighthouse.

  This lighthouse was first put into use in 1840. It is one of the oldest lighthouses still standing on the Great Lakes. The thirty foot tower is opening for the public to climb from May through October. From the tower you can get a view of Lake Huron and the coastline. The lighthouse is an interesting looking structure and definitely has an old feel to it.  Some people claim it is haunted.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

After photographing Old Presque Isle lighthouse we went back up the road about a mile and we came to New Presque Isle lighthouse. New is a rather relative term for this lighthouse which was built in 1870.


The grounds to the lighthouse also include a keeper's house that is not attached to the tower. It was built in 1905 and has been restored into a very interesting museum. There is also a building that now houses a gift shop.

When we arrived at this lighthouse I thought it really looked familiar. The top of the structure and the railings were painted a green color much the same as the Seul Choix lighthouse that I had seen on Lake Michigan. Upon further research, I found they were constructed by the same architect during the same time period. Here is a photo I took of the New Presque Isle lighthouse.  

For more information on my travels to Michigan lighthouses stop by my Squidoo pages at Michigan Upper Peninsula Lighthouses and Lake Huron Lighthouses

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

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

This historic lighthouse is found in Mackinaw City just before you cross the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The lighthouse has been in operation since 1889, guiding ships through the waters of the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. When we visited in September of 2013, it was a cloudy and misty day. You can see in the photo above I was able to capture just a portion of the 5 mile Mackinac Bridge in the background. The rest of the bridge disappeared into the misty fog. In researching a bit about the lighthouse, I found that it served to guide ships for over 65 years through the dangerous waters. In 1957 it was decommissioned. It was no longer needed because the lights on the newly constructed bridge served to guide the ships. Today visitors can tour the lighthouse and visit the exhibits to get a feel for the importance this lighthouse played in the history of the shipping industry. I have photographed many lighthouses and this one has a very distinctive look and feel to it. I love the brick work on the tower. Here is a photo I took from the water side.

Read more about my adventures in photographing lighthouses. Lighthouse Photography

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Postcard by lighthouseenthusiast
Browse Mackinac lighthouse Postcards

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
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