Sunrise at Portland Head

Arguably the signature lighthouse of Maine, the Portland Head Light is actually located outside of Portland on Cape Elizabeth. The light was initially commissioned by George Washington in 1787. The light stands 80 feet above the land and 101 feet above the water. Edward Rowe Snow wrote about the light: “Portland Head and its light seem to symbolize the state of Maine—rocky coast, breaking waves, sparkling water and clear, pure salt air.”

The lighthouse is surrounded by a huge park and when I visited it the day before to scout, it was swarming with people. I was sure that I would not be alone the next morning when I went to shoot the light at sunrise. Much to my surprise, the only other person there was a cameraman from the local television station who must have been telecasting a live shot of the light. As a result, I had the run of the park and shot the light from all angles. This is the first one that I have posted and it is the most familiar composition. The sunrise was beautiful and it was very serene except for the fog horn which blasts every 15 seconds 24 by 7. Look forward to posting other compositions of this wonderful light in the next few weeks.

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21 Comments

  1. amazing photo, I love the HDR effect here, great work
    Chantal recently posted..Spain FeriaMy Profile

  2. What a shot!
    This is amazing, Len. Everything you could want in a sunrise is featured here. Love the colors and overall comp. Great light.
    Jimi Jones recently posted..C496My Profile

  3. Perfect compostion has been blessed with an amazing sunrise. One of your best images yet Len!
    Marc Collins recently posted..Vancouver SkyscrapersMy Profile

  4. This is it man. Your best for sure. Stunning colors, amazing lighting, all around breathtaking. Well done my friend.
    Dave DiCello recently posted..Quietly restingMy Profile

  5. I could stare at this all day!
    Chris Nitz recently posted..Marching BandMy Profile

  6. Excellent composition, beautiful light. Leaving the sun just out of shot is a clever ploy – leaves one wanting more, but you don’t need it. Just shows that a good sunrise doesn’t need the sun to be in the picture!
    LensScaper recently posted..Descending the Midi AreteMy Profile

  7. Outstanding shot Len! The warmth is incredible and I really like the framing.
    Curt Fleenor recently posted..DriftwoodMy Profile

  8. Wow this is just brilliant. The light & colors are fabulous and the composition is spot on. Really love this Len.
    Edith Levy recently posted..Rocky RaccoonMy Profile

  9. I love that lighthouse. I got to spend a lot of time there a few years back. Beautiful shot.
    Chris Frailey recently posted..Sky FireMy Profile

  10. great morning light and great comp too Len!
    Jim Nix recently posted..Blue sky, red earthMy Profile

  11. I thought you said the weather wasn’t great for your trip to Maine. :) This is beautiful, Len. What an amazing sunrise.

    • It was Steven. This was actually taken in August when my son and I were on our lighthouse scouting tour.

  12. Wonderful scene! I love the morning light shining on the foreground rocks.
    Rick Louie recently posted..Wildlife WednesdayMy Profile

  13. Frame this man! Very nice.
    A.Barlow recently posted..CrashMy Profile

  14. That’s a great shot. We were there last spring and got many ordinary shots, but I didn’t attempt an HDR. Well done.
    Kris Koeller recently posted..Daily Photo: Camel Trek Across the Moroccan SaharaMy Profile

  15. Good LORD, sir, this is absolutely amazing! Great composition here, love the light from the sunrise making a peek-a-boo appearance here, and the way you processed this is absolutely sympathetic to the scene at hand… I’d give this one a 10 out of 10!
    Toad Hollow Photography recently posted..Cowichan Station Rural Traditional SchoolMy Profile

  16. great snap, truly awesome…
    mayur recently posted..The Street Cat…My Profile

  17. Stunning capture Len… excellent!
    Simon Morris recently posted..Fountain of light…My Profile

  18. Beautiful, peaceful image. Nicely processed.
    A Creative Adventure/denise ippolito recently posted..Delicious Orchards…My Profile

  19. Very nice shot, Len. There are some pretty wicked colors in this one. Great details too… Very nice.
    Jan Winther recently posted..Fall colors at High FallsMy Profile

  20. Nice one Len.
    Jim Reid recently posted..Tawny OwlMy Profile

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  1. 88 Photography-Junkie Links From The Last 7 Days | TheWorld365 | Nuno & Debora Photography - [...] Sunrise at Portland Head – originally commissioned by George Washington himself in 1787, this iconic lighthouse poses a striking ...
  2. 88 Photography-Junkie Links From The Last 7 Days | TheWorld365 | Nuno & Debora Photography - [...] very dramatic black-and-white image that will leave you asking more with this than was answered. Sunrise ...
  3. The Other Side | LensEye View Photography - [...] Arguably the signature lighthouse of Maine, it is often seen from the vantage point of this earlier post. The ...

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