Block Island’s North Light

North Light, New Shoreham, Rhode Island USA

The sand was hot. I had removed my shoes and socks for the long walk out to the lighthouse, but began to reconsider. Arriving by ferry to Block Island in the morning, I chose to walk out of Old Harbor and rent a bicycle to get around. There are taxis on the island, but I wanted to revisit places and absorb the island’s charm again. Earlier in the day I visited the Southeast Lighthouse. Now my ride brought me to the parking lot and beach near the North Light. It was summer and the midday sun was beating down. A stiff breeze was blowing in off the Atlantic.

The distance to the lighthouse is not far, but walking in loose sand is a good workout nonetheless. My first image would easily be my favorite. I think the North Light is perhaps one of the prettiest I have photographed. I collected a bottle of water inside, and circled the building for a second image before leaving.

I imagined the lighthouse keeping a lonely watch here at this remote location at night, the fourth lighthouse to have done so for more than 150 years. Darkness would have to come through art, as I would be catching the last boat out at sunset. The beacon, should it be lit, would not reach me as I sailed away. The first image in the blog post is without manipulation. The second is all imagination.