I was here from 1929 - 1952 Photo

Photographer’s Note

Santo(Skippy007), Bill(Trekks) and I had a mini TE expedition and this was one of the destination - The Lighthouse at Griffith Island near the fishing town of Port Fairy located at the South Western District of Victoria. This was one of the last few shots before we left. The girl in red was trailing about a metre behind her parents just enough for me to leave her father's elbow out of the frame.

I like to quote the following story by Hugh Haldane who was the keeper of the lighthouse from 1929 to 1952, long before I was born.

"..I came from Melbourne with my wife, two daughters and 3 sons. I was also Harbour Master. The light was a visual signalling station. We used flags and day signals from the flagstaff to communicate with ships, and the light at night to signal the port's location. Each lighthouse flashing signal is unique. The tower also helped ship's masters confirm their position. The lighthouse was one of a series established at coastal ports in 1859. The tower is 41 feet (12.5m) above sea level and the light can be seen 9 NM 17 kms off shore. it was originally lit with oil, kerosene then gas. The original mechanism rotated, requiring the spring mechanism to be regularly supervised and the light checked.

Coastal navigation in the 1840's and 50's was hazardous, so the Victorian Government purchased this site on Rabbit Island ( it was a separate island then). McKenzie and McCowan built the tower and keepers quarters. There was a stone jetty for the boats and a breakwater between Rabbit and Griffith islands, which has steadily filled with sand ever since.

The Station was manned by 2 keepers. Their prime responsibility was to keep the lamp alight, clean, the apparatus oiled and working and the lighthouse and quarters painted, provisioned and fuelled. They showed signals to approaching vessels as required.

* Now solar powered supplemented by wind generator on short days

There were 2 cottages, the foundations you can still see. The improved reliability of the apparatus meant that an all night shift was only required in really bad weather, so one person could handle the work. In the early days, life here was isolated, despite being so close to the town. You got a year's firewood at a time, went into town for provisions once a month and only left the island with leave from the Harbour Master. Big seas could cut the island off and also make it difficult to get in and out of the lighthouse. Sometimes waves were at the bottom of the door. At least I had a telephone connected to the town.
You made your own interests. My boys were fisherman and they set about building 2 fishing boats, in the area behind the cottages. We launched them in the bay at the north. There was a garden for vegetables and flowers, and we kept a cow, fowls and pigs (though I didn't like them). I made a few changes: planted the Norfolk pines and painted the red tower white. Things were a lot quieter after World War 2. There were no coastal steamers so we decided to move to Port Lincoln when I retired, where the boys could fish for tuna."

shevchenko, serp2000, Dashab, phwall, jusninasirun, Kielia, trekks, macondo, Longroute, jhm has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

daddo (11275) 2009-10-13 19:22

Hi Alfred. I like this shot a lot: the balanced composition, the beautiful light and the lovely colours. You were somewhat lucky that her wardrobe matches the red highlights on the structure behind, making a nice connection.And I see that Bill got to see some sun-a rare treat on his short visit. Regards. Klaudio.

shevchenko (9846) 2009-10-13 19:55

Hi Alfred,
Glad to know three of you have a happy meeting at a warm spring day, impressive view with soft sunlight against cloudy sky, good frame to the light house and the walking child, good perspective too, good shoot.
Ally

serp2000 (9297) 2009-10-13 21:38

Hello, Alfred,
Excellent composition! Superb sharpness and nice colors. An interesting note! TFS!
Serghei

Dashab (785) 2009-10-13 23:02

Hello Alfred,
This is a beautifully composed picture, with a good choice of a vertical format, excellent colours and a wonderful light. You were fortunate that the girl wore red, matching the features on the lighthouse; this puts a special balance in the picture. I also like how the body of the lighthouse nearly blends in with the grey sky. Cheers, Dasha

phwall (5528) 2009-10-14 0:27

Hello Alfred,
A very well composed capture, the lighthouse is perfectly positioned to form a picturesque back drop to the main subject the little girl.
I like the way you've used the low wall and pathway to form a visual bridge between the two of them. The vertical format was an excellent choice.
Superb light, I love the way she is semi back lit, the light on her hair and down her side is very pretty.
A very nice moment, I'm so glad she wasn't looking at camera.
Regards
Peter

delpeoples (5722) 2009-10-14 5:49

Hi Alfred, the vertical frame has been used optimally here to emphasise your 2 subjects. The little girl is wonderful and so naturally composed, no posing for the camera. The image has great depth - and is very straight! I'm jealous - obviously no vinoes consumed on your Mini-Meeting :) TFS, Lisa.

jusninasirun (10146) 2009-10-14 6:07

Hi Alfred.

Beautiful balance between the girl (you have isolated her pretty well) and the lighthouse. The tall frame is a very good choice putting the wall in very good perspective.

Bill posted something on FB about being some place further down and I imagined to be close to the sea like this one.

Thanks for sharing and best regards.
Jusni

Kielia (8351) 2009-10-14 11:23

Hi Alfred,
this is one is outstanding with this cute little girl – composition wise - playing an important role! The beautiful colors and the light make this composition very attractive. I also like the moody sky very much. A great impression of this light house, accompanied by a very interesting and informative not. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

macondo (13055) 2009-10-15 4:30

Hi Alfred.
I thought I recognised this light house from the thumbnail - I've got a shot of it on TE, too. Nice perspective and really good exposure of the details considering the back-lighting you had here. Great timing to catch this little girl in the bottom right corner of the frame, balancing out the shot beautifully. Sharpness is excellent. There are a lot of good shots to be found on Griffith Island, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than this.
Regards,
Andrew

burraburra (825) 2009-10-15 23:09

Hi Alfred,
Very nice photographed which is balanced well with the lighthouse and young girl. Nicely framed :) Your note is very informative. I can't help but notice that the young girl is wearing clothing that was worn in the the late 1950s; not long after Mr Haldane left for Port Lincoln.
Regards,
Graham.

emka (21177) 2009-10-16 1:42

Hi Alfred,

haha, I have thought you are so old and stayed in this lighthouse. I wouldn't like to be the keeper of such a lonely place. But to visit it is quite different. Beautiful composition, lively due to the girl in red. I hope Santo and Bill are well. I miss them here on TE.

Warm regards

Malgorzata

chawax (5849) 2009-10-16 15:17

Hi Alfred,
Nice composition. The litlle girl catches our attention, then our look follows the pier to the lighthouse. Well done.
Regards,
Olivier

skippy007 (6935) 2009-10-16 20:55

Hello Alfred, Beautiful shot, I think the little girl with her red clothes, head down, really adds to it, I think it creates interest, adds colour & balance, you were quick to see & capture this moment, well done. A lovely image, enhanced by your well written & informative note.
It is difficult for me to imagine such isolation with the mainland now so near. Well done.
Regards
Santo

patdeph (17626) 2009-10-18 22:18

hello Alfred
this is a very beautiful photo,with nice colors and light,where the 2 main elements,the little girl and the lighthouse are superbly placed!Excellent,I like very much!
Cheers
Pascale

Longroute (9117) 2009-10-19 3:07

A masterful and lovely composition, so neat and clear.
This small lighthouse is so cosy and the small girl fits very well with it! A like also the very fine sideway light which enhanced the sharpness of all details.
A very good work,
Donato

jhm (82085) 2009-10-20 3:43

Hello Alfred,

The lighthouse is perfectly positioned to form a picturesque back drop to the main subject the little girl.
You create a very nice perspective and depth.
Soft for look at, a very nice sharpness and clarity.
Very well composition and real colours. TFS.

Best regards,
John.

mozzy27 (267) 2009-10-26 14:18

Hi Alfred
Very well composed shot with the perfect positioning of the lighthouse and nice touch with the little girl in the FG. A very pleasant and appealing overall shot
Thanks
Peter (mozzy)

sacimar (7307) 2009-10-29 8:02

Hi Alfred,

beautiful picture, I like the perspective with the girl in the front, nice details and good note, well done,

Best regards

Sergio