Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, originally uploaded by Philip Case Cohen.

One of my favorite landmarks in the Seacoast – Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse stands tall at the edge of Fort Constitution in New Castle.

I’m always one for getting up early to catch the sunrise – and I’m usually happier with the fruits of my labor.  This particular morning, the sun and sky decided they didn’t want to put on much of a show, so it’s a lovely muted scene of the iconic Maine lighthouse.  When we first arrived, it was cloudy and the sun was on its way up – so I figured we’d have a stunning show of color in the sky, but it was not meant to be.  I’m pleased despite this, and happy I got to enjoy a part of the day I usually waste.  Starting the day by watching a lighthouse and first light creep over the horizon is a good idea any day.

Photography is all about conveying a sense of place, emotion, storytelling, etc.  I love this shot as it almost immediately suggests some mystique and a story.  Curious to hear your reactions to the image – taken in the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.

New England has some iconic lighthouses that dot its coastline.  We’re lucky here in New Hampshire to be close to many of them, including Nubble Lighthouse pictured here.  One of my favorite things to do when I have guests in town is to bring them up to Nubble Light to see the power of the ocean and watch the waves beat up on the island lighthouse and get a good taste of the New England experience. This particular afternoon was pretty dreary, but it didn’t stop us from making the trek and standing out to watch for a good long while.

A New England icon, Nubble Lighthouse stands tall on the rocky outcrop in the Atlantic Ocean.  For 25 cents, you can get a close-up glimpse…

As sunsets earlier and earlier each day, it becomes more important to strategize when heading out for a shoot.  I was running out of time way too quickly after going out for a run with the Mrs., but still couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get some of the incredible late day light.  My first thought was to head to Great Island Common for a close-up of Whaleback Lighthouse and Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.  With the 100mm-400mm lens, it would be a treat to have the option to shoot a bit closer.  I decided to use a long exposure to really bring out the richness of the coastal air and the movement in the Atlantic Ocean.  I’m very pleased with the shot – a serene capture of a beautiful seacoast landmark.

Another image from a quick visit to Fort Foster this past weekend.  Unlike yesterday’s post “Time”, this final image consists of 9 separate shots all combined to get the best lighting from each of the 9 different exposures. I love a nice misty feeling waterfront, yet the cool colors of the sunset and evening sky – that combined to produce a nice calm black & white image.  Whaleback Light is featured in the distance along with the Kittery Life Saving Station that is long defunct.

I’d also like to wish my beloved Canon 5d Mark II a happy birthday!  It recently turned 2 years old this past week, and has seen some great things in its very short lifespan…although, unfortunately cameras age more like dogs than humans – with new technology all the time, it will likely be an old man in a couple more years.