This little “spark plug” caisson style lighthouse is the only one in the U.S. you can walk to. It reminds me of many of Rhode Island’s lighthouses, that are often located in the water near channels, and require a kayak or boat to reach.
I had been traveling to Maine to photograph some of the coastal lighthouses beyond my territory of southern New England. The Spring Point Ledge Light would be my last stop.
The light is managed by the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust. The non profit has been the lighthouses’ caretaker since 1998. It was a overcast day, and lovely soft light, perfect for photographing people. While that even soft light makes environmental portraits a breeze, I prefer “broken light” for the landscape. Give me some sun, some shadows, something to define the landscape and give it depth.
I decided I could not leave this image as it was originally shot. I envisioned a dark evening, the full moon poking through the cloud cover. The moon’s pale light illuminates the white caisson, the beacon lit above it’s crown.
“The rocky ledge runs far into the sea, And on its outer point, some miles away, The Lighthouse lifts its massive masonry, A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
An Unmapped Route: A Hiker's Blog 