Shadow and glare can often help generate a nice silhouette shot. Here are some examples how I turned harsh sunlight into a photographic advantage at the beach.
Sandy wind and sea spray are often a threat to your camera. So, safely bringing your camera to the beach or a boat trip may be a challenge. But the harsh sunlight you encounter can become your biggest obstacle.
Whether working with a sunrise or sunset or even when the sun is high in the sky, practicing photography with significant glare is tricky.
That’s usually when I embrace the problem and turn it into an advantage. I use it to help me generate nifty silhouette shots.
You just need to reverse your thinking about getting enough light in front of your subjects… and simply look for the opposite.
Here are few examples of that creative strategy I snapped during this summer by the ocean.
You never know when you might encounter the perfect photo opportunity by a lighthouse. So why not be ready to record a little video clip as well? I’ve been fortunate to capture video b-roll of seven magnificent New England beacons across my travels, and here’s my little video tribute to them.
A few weeks after a wonderful experience capturing my drone footage of Goat Island Lighthouse in Cape Porpoise, Maine, I recognized my interest in this beautiful beacon wasn’t an isolated pursuit. In fact, this creative exercise was part of a larger visual exploration I’ve been organically pursuing for the past four years.
My travels have placed me near other New England lighthouses, and I’ve been drawn to them as well, recording b-roll video clips with the camera gear I carried at the time.
My Video Tribute to New England Lighthouses
I planned to use my DJI Flip drone for my Goat Island Lighthouse project, but my tiny DJI Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera has been an indispensable tool for more spontaneous lighthouse spotting opportunities (such as during harbor cruises with my family).
So, I decided to review my lighthouse b-roll I’ve ‘randomly’ collected across the years, and then I edited together a few of these clips under a music track I created using Google Flow Music.
Now, the pattern is suddenly much clearer to me: I love shooting videos of lighthouses!
Here’s my salute to seven of them…
From Connecticut and Rhode Island up to Maine
If you should be interested in checking out some of these lighthouses for yourself, here are their names and locations: (listed in the order first seen)
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, Portland, Maine
Goat Island Lighthouse, Cape Porpoise, Maine
Peck Ledge Lighthouse, Norwalk, Connecticut
Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Norwalk Connecticut
Portland Head Light, Portland, Maine
Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport, Rhode Island
Ram Island Ledge Light, Portland, Maine
A Guiding Light
The destination for any creative process is often unknown. But the path that leads me to capture the powerful beauty of lighthouses appears well lit.
Standing on the rocky shore of Goat Island near Cape Porpoise, Maine, I gained a whole new perspective as I flew my little camera drone around this magnificent tower. Here’s my footage. See for yourself.
Goat Island Lighthouse has stood at the edge of the southern Maine coastline for almost two centuries. It wasn’t built to be admired. It was built to be obeyed. Established in 1833 to guard the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor, ‘Goat Island Light’ is still an active beacon.
I’ve admired this brick tower for the past five summers during our vacations to the Cape Porpoise coast.
Though Goat Island Lighthouse continues to shine bright at night, the morning sun enhances its beauty and bold elegance.
A Lighthouse, a Kayak, and My Drone
I’ve taken many photos from afar. But this year, I decided it was time to try to capture its rugged strength up close and from the air.
With my preproduction planning complete, I set out in a kayak shortly after first light with my DJI camera drone and headed off to the rocky shore of Goat Island.
As soon as I arrived, I put my little DJI Flip drone in the air and got to work recording short clips. And I’m proud to present my completed video sequence of Goat Island Lighthouse.
My experience capturing these aerial moments was exhilarating. And I’m pleased that my footage benefits from a rousing score I conjured up via Google Flow Music (another remarkable AI-powered creative tool).
Five Summers of Admiring… One Morning of Finally Flying
Creative success is often a team sport. I’d like to thank Kennebunkport Conservation Trust for permission to fly my drone by the lighthouse. And special thanks go to my two friends for accompanying me on my little adventure.
I captured incredible views that few can normally see. I’m still beaming.
