Description

Battery Point Lighthouse, California
Certain man-made structures can really bring out the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. When I came upon this classic, authentic lighthouse, I knew I had to find a way to visually connect it to the local, rocky landscape. As I circled the perimeter of the grounds, I found myself drawing further and further away from my architectural subject matter, until I had backed it prominently against the cliff’s boulders, which had been covered slightly with vibrant patches of purple foliage. Only a wide-angle lens would do this image justice, allowing the foreground to totally pop with clarity and color. Using a long exposure, I was able to depict the movement of the cloudy, ominous sky that hung over the lighthouse – hinting at the incoming rains. As evening rolled in, I waited patiently for the right moment. Then, it was suddenly there. As the soft light dissipated beyond the hill, I looked through my viewfinder and saw an image that looked incredibly like a masterful painting. I snapped the shutter and immortalized this harmonious combination of man’s ingenuity and nature’s endless palette.