First Hint of Maine

Posted by Betsy Barron (Chester Springs, PA, United States) on 6 August 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get my Maine pics up - I did a few, but now I will run a two week-long series.. Again, it was such an amazing experience and I cannot recommend it enough - I studied with Alison Shaw at the Maine Media Wkshps .

It was an intense 7 days - 16 members in the class, all very talented. You're pretty much kept busy every second in the day (and night) depending on how many sunrise/sunset shoots your instructor chooses to do. At one point midweek, I had been awake for 44 hours straight! Up at 2:45am to get on location for the sunrise, then breakfast, morning shooting in the harbor, then classroom time, lunch, critique, dinner, 8pm evening programs by amazing photographers, and WHEW after all that is done, it's time to go back to your room, go through and process the day's images, selecting and working on 5 for the following day's critique!

So you can see, it was exhausting, but in the most exhilarating way - I have a renewed sense of where I'm going with my photography and I have this course to thank. Sorry to those of you whom I did not get back to about the workshop but again, if you want any more info, please email me.

As for this image, everyone was standing in front of the lighthouse taking it's picture ala vertical style, and I decided to climb down the rocks and just shoot a glimpse.. what do you think?

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Comments (15)

Russ Devan from New Hanover, United States

Awake 44 hours straight? Are you kidding me? If that was me, someone probably would have left that workshop in an ambulance (likely me)! Either that, or I would be snoring in my viewfinder.

Subjects like lighthouses are soooooo cliched and over photographed that one must find a fresh and different perspective from which to capture them. I think you did that here. By including mostly the cliff in your composition, you show us the environment that existed around the lighthouse (very nice granite, by the way!). And because it is a lighthouse, you don't need to show the entire structure for us to get that it is a lighthouse. Although, I think I would have included just a bit more of it in the composition (but that's a personal preference). The clouds above are really beautiful and are exposed very well and add nicely to the shot. You kept this shot simple and clean. I think this is fresh and unique and definitely very Betsy. I really like this. Print it, frame it, hang it.

6 Aug 2008 5:43am

@Russ Devan: You so get me, RD! I was going to write lighthouses are cliche but felt guilty saying, so I'm glad you did it for me!! thank you for your kind compliments..

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

A hint is always more mysterious, makes you want to come around the rocks. 44 hrs! you have to suffer for your art.

6 Aug 2008 11:11am

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

I love photography, but 44 hours of no sleep? Heh. You are one dedicated lady. This lighthouse shot is one that makes me really want to see "all " of it; even now my mind's eye is visualizing what it might look like. Therefore, I must say your "hint" shot is a smashing success. Not a cliche at all, it makes the viewer want more.

6 Aug 2008 12:05pm

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

I think you're a genius, 'cause is this awesome, I love the glimpse you're giving us, never seen it like that, Bravo Betsy! and if it looks this wonderful on my old computer I can't wait to look at it again through my top of the line Laptop ;)

6 Aug 2008 12:48pm

Stefan from Thiersee, Austria

well composed, fine colors!

6 Aug 2008 2:23pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

This is a case of - less is more, and this is just enough. Great image.... !

6 Aug 2008 2:29pm

Russ Devan from New Hanover, United States

Addendum to my above comment: Almost everything has been photographed by now due to the saturation of digital cameras. It's up to all of us to find new and fresh ways to shoot these subjects (and you succeeded again with this image). Ok, so I take risky shots with lightning, but you do it crawling over steep cliffs next to the ocean (and climbing in trees, standing on decrepit attic floors in 300-year old farmhouses, 44 hours with no sleep, etc.). So, we're both a little nuts!

6 Aug 2008 4:22pm

Cia from Kvänum, Sweden

Lovely shot!

6 Aug 2008 5:09pm

the Dad from United States

I agree with Russ x2 more lighthouse would have been cool...and yes you are nuts. But who am I to judge on either account. Still a great shot.

6 Aug 2008 9:50pm

maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand

I agree with all above ,really love the color of the rock face and the clear sky , the hint of the lighthouse is the icing on the cake. clever girl!!!

6 Aug 2008 10:09pm