Buchan Ness Lighthouse Photo

Photographer’s Note

The area around the headland of Buchan Ness was for many centuries the point from which trading and whaling voyages departed across open ocean, bound for Archangel, Greenland and Spitsbergen amongst other destinations.

Over time, many vessels had been run aground in poor weather and in 1819 petitions were sent to the Northern Lighthouse Board to erect a lighthouse in the vicinity. As Engineer to the board, Robert Stevenson decided upon the present location; the granite-built construction being completed in 1825 and the light established in 1827.

The red band was painted in 1907 to help passing ships determine their location and for many years a foghorn (locally known as the Boddam Coo or also as the Boddam Bear, prior to reequipping in 1978) was installed, this being officially turned off in 2000.

The lighthouse is 118 ft (36 m) high, flashing a white light every 5 seconds which with the current lamp is visible for 28 nautical miles (52 km).

ManuMay, tomji, asajernigan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ManuMay (10906) 2008-08-20 2:12

Hello Peter!

Great capture, good composition and colours, contrasts are good too.

Good cadrage and framing, really a good work.
Have a nice day.
Best Regards.
Manuel.

tomji (112) 2008-08-20 2:16

Very interesting use of light.
TFS,
Tom G.

grantlp (2104) 2008-08-20 2:20

Hi Peter,
Technically this image is excellent....and composition is very good too. I probabaly would have included a little more of the sky so that a little more sky was above the tip of the lightouse. I like the look of the warm light caught on the foreground rocks. Very well done.
Cheers Grant

pyall (37) 2008-08-20 2:29

Great picture, nice colors. I would have tried to capture a bigger wave and more/or more foam. But maybe the sea was too quiet that day.

asajernigan (14170) 2008-08-20 5:34

Peter,
Excellent shot with fine lighting and color. Your composition is fine including the water and rocks in the foreground with the off center placement of the lighthouse. I would have liked to see a little more of the sky above the lighthouse giving the scene a little more head room.
TFS,
Asa

chawax (6015) 2008-08-24 7:24

Hi Peter,
Great shot ! The point of view is very good and makes the lighthouse impressive. I love the rocks and the sea in the foreground. The colours and the light are very nice too and the sharpness is good. TFS.
Regards,
Olivier