Hope Town Lighthouse Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Hope Town Lighthouse taken from a boat approaching Hope Town. The weather was not cooperative and rained most of the day. The sun came through the heavy clouds for a few minutes and I was able to take a couple of shots with sunlight on the tower.
This light is the oldest kerosene powered light in the world and two others can be found in the Abacos at San Salvador and Great Inagua. An article in the Summer/Fall 1998 Abaco Life magazine explained in depth about the workings of this light. The four-ton apparatus sits in a tub of mercury which makes it extremely easy to turn. We had a chance to turn the light with a touch of our finger while at the top. The light is kept in motion by "the descending pull of seven hundred pounds of weights" which the keepers must hand crank every two hours. The two keepers, Edmund Walkes and Jeffrey Forbes, think that it's very important to keep this light preserved in its "authentic, kerosene-burning, hand-wound state". The two men work in 6 hour shifts at night, one pulling down the curtains that surround the Fresnel lens during the day and lighting the lamp, then keeping watch until 1:00 AM. The next man comes on duty then and keeps watch until dawn at which time he extinguishes the light and pulls the curtains around the lens once again. These curtains keep the sun from shining through the glass which would cause fires to light in the town.

sacimar, gunbud, luiscar, Budapestman, kiwi_explorer, feather, papagolf21, Cretense, lucasgalodoido, salvator, syd1946, gneufeld, robertosalguero, jhm has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sacimar (7381) 2007-07-05 11:01

Hi Asa,

interesting picture, I like the colour of the lighthouse. Good sharpness and perspective. It's a pity the sky was cloudy. Well done.

Regards

Sergio

Nicou (44719) 2007-07-05 11:40

Hello,

mangifique tour, ce rond rouge et blan sont superbe et le cadrage avec l'eau, mangifique.

Bravo et belle soirée

Nicou

gunbud (27819) 2007-07-05 19:28

Hi Asa,
Wonderful capture of this unique beauty in this difficult lighting. Love the lush greenery leading up to the pink house and the red and white scared tower.
Regards, Tom

luiscar (3282) 2007-07-07 7:52

Hello He Roasts, much hit the vertical format, with which is consegido a big framing of the tower.
The first good plane from the river.
a greeting
regards.

Budapestman (41790) 2007-07-07 11:01

Hi Asa,
Beautiful shot, I like the fascinating atmosphere and the fine colours. Composition is very impressive, good choice the vertical format. Splendid simage, Have a nice weekend
George

Signal-Womb (11693) 2007-07-07 14:23

Well Asa, I am a lighthouse man and this one is very striking and certainly different. Its always good to show the element of water or light in such shots. Very well done.

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2007-07-08 1:10

Hi Asa,
Interesting mechanism these old lighthouse use to operate ... especially the tub of mercury. Good use of vertical format to compliment the height of the lighthouse. Good contrast and natural colors. Well capturd and composed. Well done!
Cheers,
Renier

feather (49858) 2007-07-08 2:09

Your position in the boat allowed for an excellent POV. The vertical format is well chosen to accentuate the height of the lighthouse above the river/sea. The note is fascinating. I agree with the lighthouse keepers that it is important to keep the lighthouses preserved in its original condition.
Kath

jplebrun (16902) 2007-07-08 6:47

Bonjour Asa, ce phare ressort bien dans ce ciel, bien entouré de verdure c'est une belle composition. ;)
Salutations
Jean-Pierre

papagolf21 (56305) 2007-07-08 11:42

Bonsoir, Asa,
Le génie est le phare. Dieu est l'étoile.
[Victor Hugo]
Ce phare donne de la couleur au ciel. Jolie présentation avec une excellente note d'accompagnement.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Cretense (55946) 2007-07-09 13:35

Hi Asa!

I always like photos of lighthouses and this is a special one. simple but great composition and beautiful colours. The sky is rather "dull" but this is not your fault. Congratulations!

Hercules

lucasgalodoido (16601) 2007-07-09 13:46

Hi Asa!
Good imagem of this lighthouse, Funny the colors of it, must be some lost airplane not to collide of day! hehe
Congratulations and hug!

salvator (18797) 2007-07-10 0:43

Hi Asa,
Very nice composition and nice sharp details. The colors also very nice. Best regards. Salvator.

syd1946 (17889) 2007-07-11 3:15

Hello Asa,
Well composed image in a vertigal frame!You can enjoy the colorful lighthouse contrasting very well the grenn inviroment.Congrats for the note,help very much to enjoy the picture!

Best Wishes,
Thomas

gneufeld (15169) 2007-07-12 17:02

Hi Asa,
Nice shot of this unusual lighthouse. The day was obviously dull and cloudy so limited the nicer striking colors and contrasts that usually come with a brighter day. Good pov and coomposition. Thanks for sharing. Gerald

robertosalguero (110) 2007-07-12 21:51

I like the softly saturated colours in the image. The lighthouse is definitely well placed to grab much attention on the frame. Lighthouses are beautiful in my opinion and I am very fond of scene where structures like this one are present. Well seen scene and well compose image. Thanks Asa :-)

Roberto

jhm (82421) 2007-07-13 4:35

Hello Asan,

The red white colour strips are a nice and give a colourful image.
Excellent three part picture, in foreground the river, middle the green vegetation and the tower as contrast image.
Thanks for sharing.

I wish you a nice weekend,
John

Lightray (18) 2007-07-19 10:59

Hi Asa,
Very sweet picture,
I love the little petite light house
well done
jemima

jimmyjimmy (482) 2009-08-07 21:48