Butler Flats Light Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the light that made the Clark's Point Light, the one posted yesterday, obsolete.

Butler Flats Light was designed by F. Hopkinson Smith. Smith's place in lighthouse history is secure largely due to his planning of Race Rock Light in Fisher's Island Sound. Smith also built the foundation of the Statue of Liberty.

Built in shallow water with no solid rock for a foundation, Butler Flats Light was a challenge to construct. An iron cylinder 35 feet in diameter was put into place after five feet of mud was dredged. The cylinder was filled with stone and concrete, then the brick lighthouse was built on top. The tower was painted red for a time, but it was changed to white in 1899.

The "sparkplug" style light has four stories. The basement served as a storage area. Above that were office space, living quarters which were 18 feet in diameter, and a watchroom. Butler Flats Light originally had a fifth-order kerosene-fueled Fresnel lens, which has since been replaced.

From its first lighting until 1942, when the Coast Guard took over from the Lighthouse Service, Butler Flats Light had only two keepers, Captain Amos Baker Jr., and his son, Charles A. Baker.

A fog bell was sounded by an automatic striking mechanism when needed, producing a double blow every 15 seconds. Amy Baker (Amos’ wife) enjoyed saluting passing vessels with the fog bell. The famous Captain Joshua Slocum gave Amy a copy of a booklet about his sloop Spray with the inscription, "To the little girl who rang the bell each time I passed the light." Amy Baker later wrote of the fog bell:

“ To one not used to it, it would seem almost unbearable when going for any length of time, but I have often been told in the morning that it had been running during the night, when I knew nothing of it, sleeping soundly all the while. Vessels are saluted by this bell.”

Joshua Slocum was the first person to ever circumnavigate solo.

http://www.lighthouse.cc/butler/history.html

There is much more to this story at the pasted link.

dareco, gunbud, asajernigan, zmey, avene, bullybeef53, stego, Longroute has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

asajernigan (13929) 2008-05-20 18:08

Greg,
This is a great lighthouse with an interesting history. Your composition is fine. The lighting and colors are good with nice sharpness and detail. Maybe a little over saturation in the colors making the trees and buildings look a little non realistic.
TFS,
Asa

azleader (6) 2008-05-20 18:38

Butler Flats sounds like it should be a place in the Arizona desert. :)

Fine lighthouse and another beautiful addition to your lighthouse portfolio. I'd be tempted to offset it from the center, but then I'm an offset kinda guy. LOL!!!

Btw, great note. I always like to learn interesting things about the pictures I see. It is one of my favorite things about TE.

dareco (17024) 2008-05-20 19:49

I was very surprised to see that this wasn't taken in the fall as the trees are so colorful. I really enjoy the history that goes with this very beautiful lighthouse. Very nicely done! Have a good one!

gunbud (27585) 2008-05-21 5:24

Hi Greg,
Wonderful capture of this sparkplug lighthouse that is very well seen against the brilliant May colors of the newly budding trees. Excellent details and sharpness to this lovely little lighthouse. PBS had a great series on lighthouse that is available through Netflix. I'm just back from 10 days offshore on Vinalhave Island had a great time.
Regards, Tom
Tomorrow

zmey (7242) 2008-05-21 7:21

hello greg

you seem to have done a good job given the wind we had and the huge distance to the light. i like the story: very informative, my friend.

regards,
kristaps

ps. let's keep our fingers crossed for tonight. looks good for now. by the way, have you ever been to the montague bookmill?

[2] +

Budapestman (41086) 2008-05-21 8:34

Hi Greg,
Very impressive shot with spectacular composition, great perspective. I like the fine coast and the attractive colours. Picturesque spectacle, Very well done! Have a nice day
George

avene (10894) 2008-05-21 11:08

Greg,
I didn't know you had a paparazzo in you :D and if I remember correctly the conversation on the pier went something like:
"honey, that lighthouse is in the OCEAN, I cannot get it in the middle of dandelion field even if you say you REALLY want it... would you like a moon and some stars instead?"
"NOOO.... WANNA LIGHTHOUSEEEE! NOW!!"
:)
I think you've done very well in creating a story about this particular instalation - the photo illustrates eloquently the note about the construction of the light and the surrounding area. I keep thinking what it must be like to actually LIVE there. fascinating story about only too keepers too, excellent presentation.

with kind regards,
Kristine

p.s. beware of upcoming workshops... :)

bullybeef53 (3207) 2008-05-21 15:19

Greg ,
You have a very educational note. I wouldn't have the lighthouse in the center of the photo . But it works for you .

stego (22340) 2008-05-21 16:43

Hi Greg,
Your interesting collection of lighthouses is growing... It's not usual, at least for me, seeing a lighthouse in the middle of the water, normally they are built on the top of some rock. They are always much picturesque and here we have a very nice backdrop of that colourful forested coast. Interestingly, the colours remind Autumn, but of course they are of Spring.
It's surely a great photo, but I find 3 little things less well. You could do nothing or very little about the haze, but it is tilted and I don't understand why you put the lighthouse exactly on the center.
Regards, José.

pboehringer (770) 2008-05-21 17:27

Greg,
I'm really angry at you! Why not using the WS as the real post? It is much nicer and with your additional note to it I had to laugh hard. Comparing the WS with the main post, latter gets dull and boring. :-)
Peter

Waylim (10717) 2008-05-21 18:56

Greg,
What is it about a light house that make it so photogenic. Is it because of the purposed it served? Per half its location by the sea with gigantic view and the limitless sky. I love image of light houses and this one is a very nice one with nice colorful forest in the background and rich blue tone of the sky. Compositionally good, but per half not place the lighthouse too close to the center of the image. Just my observation. Thanks Greg.
Way

Cretense (54954) 2008-05-22 3:25

Hi Greg!

Excellent photo, the "central" composition was the ideal choice in this case! Great light managment, beautiful colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

amaryllis (17131) 2008-05-22 9:26

bonjour, ce phare a toute une histoire d'après ta note et belle composition avec la couleur du ciel de la mer et des arbres en arrière plan( mais je ne comprends pas "ws"où?
merci
juliette

Longroute (8915) 2009-04-28 9:24

I had missed this peculiar and interesting lighthouse. It's very photogenic! The light is just what makes it clear and alive and I like the composition in spite of it breaking the rule that wants the subject to the side... I'd like to spend some nights in that lighthouse...
Best greetings,
Donato