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Corolla, The Last Of The Fab Four


Corolla, The Last Of The Fab Four
Photo Information
Copyright: Tom O'Donnell (gunbud) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4454 W: 4 N: 3966] (18037)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-20
Categories: Architecture
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-07 21:07
Viewed: 579
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The last of the Fab Four (John) Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Currituck County's
Historic Corolla:
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
On December 1, 1875, the beacon of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse filled the remaining ''dark spot'' on the North Carolina coast between the Cape Henry light to the north and Bodie Island to the south. To distinguish Currituck Beach from other regional lighthouses its exterior remains unpainted and gives today's visitor a sense of the multitude of bricks used to form the structure. Automated in 1939, the night beacon still flashes at 20-second intervals to warn ships hugging the chain of barrier islands along the coast.
The Lighthouse Keepers' House, a Victorian ''stick style'' dwelling, was constructed from pre-cut and labeled materials which were shipped on a barge and assembled on site. In 1876, when the Keepers' House was completed, two keepers and their families shared the duplex in the isolated seaside setting. The keepers were removed in 1939 after the Lighthouse was automated and attendants were no longer needed to clean the lenses, trim the wicks, fueled the lamp, and wind the clockwork mechanism which rotated the beacon. The house and grounds were leased to Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc. in 1980 for purposes of historic preservation.

Today, the grounds and walkways of the Lighthouse compound are rejuvenated and the restoration of the double Keepers' House is nearly complete. The house is officially opened to the public annually, by appointment, during the first two weeks of November. Other historic structures located within the compound include louvered cisterns, a two-hole privy, storage building, and the single Keepers' House, which now functions as a Museum Shop

The site is open to the public daily from 10-6, from mid-March through Thanksgiving weekend. There is a nominal fee for climbing the tower.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is known as a first order lighthouse, which means it has the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes. The original source of light was a U. S. mineral oil lamp consisting of five concentric wicks; the largest was 4 inches in diameter.

Before the advent of electricity, a mechanical means was required to rotate the huge lenses that made the light appear to flash. A system of weights suspended from a line powered a clockwork mechanism beneath the lantern --much like the workings of a grandfather clock. The keeper cranked the weights up by hand every two and a half hours.

Like other lighthouses on North Carolina's Outer Banks, this one still serves as an aid to navigation. Today a 1000-watt bulb comes on automatically every evening at dusk and ceases at dawn. With a 20-second flash cycle (on for 3 seconds, off for 17 seconds), the light can be seen for 18 nautical miles. The distinctive sequence enables the lighthouse not only to warn mariners but also to help identify their
asajernigan, edytungkal, JPlumb, anducina, evanrizo, kiwi_explorer, Charo, plimrn, Davidwh, maximage, boonie, pboehringer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Tom,
Nice shot of this great lighthouse! The people in the foreground add a nice human quality to the shot. The vertical composition is perfect here and you framed the lighthouse nicely with the surrounding trees. The lighting and color are great with excellent sharpness and DOF. This seems to be a good day for lighthouses, I just posted a shot from Cape Florida where I was today.
TFS,
Asa

Hello Tom
It's well composed lighthouse picture. This seems unique that there are people taking a picture on the foreground. Well job and TFS

Cheers
daniel

Hi Tom, I like the format of this one best of the fab four, with the tall portrait format and the lighthouse rising out of the beautiful green brush, and I love the colour. A tighter crop (or dare I suggest clone) might have kept the brush on the right side out of the frame, or maybe you could have brought more in for a natural side frame, and waiting a few seconds might have let those people look a little more natural. Call it a personal hangup, I'm not into posed people pictures. As always, excellent notes.

Thanks, John

Hi Tom,
Nice silhoutte of the lighthouse against the backdrop of the clear blue sky.The surrounding is very refreshing with its green shades, looks like a perfect place to hang-out!!
Greetings from India,
Dhurjati

Excellent compo, vertical framing and intense colors. I like the special light.

TFS,

Andreea

Hi Tom, in a great moment, a clever shot.
Wonderful composed with very good light.
TFS
Evan

Hi Tom,
Very nice composition. Excellent colors and good depth. Good work.
Best regards,
Ahmet

Hi Tom,
Good choice using a vertical format ... it compliments the height of the lighthouse. Very good color contrast created by the greenery. Well composed ... excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

  • Great 
  • Charo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2574 W: 22 N: 4912] (18890)
  • [2007-06-08 13:20]

Hola Tom,
Estupenda toma que gracias a la gente tanto dentro del faro como fuera, nos hace hacernos una idea de su altura.
me encantan los faros, tienen algo de misterioso y especial.
Excelente composició,
Saludos cordiales
Charo

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 232 N: 5033] (15921)
  • [2007-06-08 15:26]

Hi Tom,
Clearly you were WAY ahead of us, here is the vertical framing!! The red tower contrasts nicely with the delicate detail of the lacey green leaves. The photog & subjects is nice plus. HLJ, Pat

Another beautiful lighthouse picture.
The sharpness, composition and POV are all excellent.
Superb light and colors too.
Congratulations. Uğur

Hi Tom,
Your selection of lighthouse images are great...nice idea!You have caught this one in lovely bright light that has brought out the colours and created nice shadows under the trees.The people in the foreground giving scale to the impressive landmark.TFS and take care.
Regards, David

Bonjour Tom,
Belle série sur ces phares tous différents.
Belles couleurs et note intéressante.
Amitiés.
max

Hello Tom,
Seems like you have an awesome collection of lighthouses on the East coast!
This is awesome, and the two persons up there give good scaling...
Fun to see the couple beng photographed in front of the lighthouse, and it is interesting to see they are still in use in the days og GSPs!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Tom
The 4th is the best in my opinion. The people in the foregropund involved in their picture taking while you photograph them is a nice touch.
I would have gotten rid of that little bit of green in the upper right of the capture - otherwise very well done.

Dan

Hi Tom Another very good shot in this series, the colours are strong & the shot has been well composed with the people enjoying this lighthouse also, great light & I like the long shadows, kind regards Wilson,

Tom, a perfect moment to get this one. The people in the foreground and those on the top give a perfect reference to the size of Mr. Last of the Fab 4. Having the photographer in the front conferes even some dynamics and an idea of your positioning in that area.

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