Perched atop a rocky cliff, standing tall on a channel island, or marking a harbor entrance at the end of breakwater, lighthouses have been essential navigation guides for sailors for millennia and an artistic beacon for photographers since the invention of the camera. The appeal of lighthouses isn't limited to photographers. Stories about the keepers of yesteryear, battling the elements and lonely isolation to do their duty, tales of dramatic ship wrecks, and the unique nature of each lighthouse's markings and flash patterns all add to the mystique and fascination.
The world's oldest existing lighthouse is the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that marks the entrance of La Coruña harbor in Spain. The lighthouse, which was erected in the first century, is still operational today. The tallest lighthouse stands in the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and is a staggering 436 feet tall. While the US cannot claim the oldest or tallest lighthouse, it does have approx. 700 along its ocean and lake shorelines - more than any other country. For photographers, lighthouses offer an opportunity to combine a strong architectural element with a seascape - a great start - but add a sunset or sunrise, some coastal fog or dramatic waves and you have all the ingredients of an epic image.
The state of Maine has 65 lighthouses along its rugged and picturesque coastline - each with a story to tell and great photographic potential. We've selected a few of our favorites to get you started but our best advice is to grab a lobster roll or two, some blueberries and a few cans of Moxie (it's a Maine thing) and find your own memories on a perfect coastal road trip.
Portland Head Light
One of the most easily recognized and photographed lighthouses in the country, the Portland Head Light sits just south of the city of Portland at the entrance of the primary shipping channel into Portland Harbor, which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. Completed in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Like almost all lighthouses these days the light station is automated, and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard. The former keepers house is now a great museum and worth a visit. There are a few classic angles for photographs and while many of the obvious shots may seem cliche, there's nothing wrong with that. It is a great setting, so take the pictures you want and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! The view in the image above is an easy option, accessible from the parking lot and with a nice perspective on the lighthouse and the craggy rocks. Walking around past the lighthouse also provides a different angle and the potential for some nice wave action if the sea is cooperating. Don't forget to go vertical and to vary exposures - short to capture those crashing waves, or a little longer to smooth the water and create interesting cloud streaks. Also use your filters if you have them - a polarizer can be useful and of course the neutral density filter of your choice to darken the sky and even out the light.
Spring Point Ledge Light
A short distance north of Portland Head Light, Spring Point Ledge Light is a so-called "sparkplug" lighthouse (love that name!) that marks a dangerous obstruction on the west side of the main shipping channel into Portland Harbor. You won't find the busy crowds of Portland Head here - usually some dog walkers, a few tourists are all you'll find competing for parking at the small, but ample, lot. This is truly a favorite location to shoot. The breakwater provides texture and interest and the passing boats - both commercial and recreational - provide additional elements for your composition. The sandy beach on the north side of the breakwater provides a nice option as well as the long perspective shot you see above which makes the most of the breakwater as a feature of the image.
Portland Breakwater Light
Portland Breakwater Lighthouse was built in 1875 and is one of Maine's most elegant lighthouses. It stands at the end of a small breakwater at the entrance to Portland Harbor and was made of cast iron plates and modeled on an ancient Greek monument. Also called "Bug Light" due to it's small size, it offers the photographer many options but the most appealing take advantage of the curving breakwater as a leading line to the lighthouse itself. You may need to wait a few minutes for folks to move out of shot as the lighthouse sits in Bug Light Park, a popular location for events and with a small boat slip nearby, the park is usually bustling.
Pemaquid Light
The lighthouses around Portland are closely grouped together, but driving up the coast, the landscape expands and the inlets and peninsulas that mark the mid-Maine coast mean you need to drive a little farther to get to the lighthouses. Pemaquid light would seem to reinforce this point as the name “Pemaquid” is an Abenaki Indian term meaning “situated far out."
Of all Maine's iconic lighthouses, Pemaquid can certainly a candidate for top honors. Commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1827, the lighthouse is located at the entrance to Muscongus Bay and Johns Bay, in the town of Bristol and has a storied history to explore as well as great photography opportunities. The lighthouse enjoys a commanding position on Pemaquid Point, a piece of land known for its dramatic, striped rock formations shaped by the sea. The area has a colorful history dating back to the 1600s when English immigrants established a settlement. Pemaquid Point is also the site of many shipwrecks all of which you can learn about in the great museum that now occupies the keeper's house. But don't spend too much time inside though, the magic of the location happens outside and particularly on the rocks the stretch down to the ocean. Be sure to clamber down and take in the view looking back up to the lighthouse - the striated rocks make for great leading lines and the pools of water left by the receding tide mean capturing the reflected lighthouse in a tide pool is an option; a wide angle lens will be helpful and allow more options for composition. Be careful of the sneaker waves and slippery rocks however - this is a beautiful but sometimes treacherous location. Up close, the lighthouse bell is a great foreground element for views of the water - particularly as the light comes up or goes down just before or after sunrise or sunset. Birdlife is plentiful in the area so it's good to carry a longer lens to capture some great wildlife images.
Even with all the great photographs to capture, don't forget to just take a moment to sit and soak it all in. This is the Maine coast at its most glorious!
Marshall Point Light
Continuing north, Marshall Point Lighthouse is next on our list. It is situated on a rocky ledge at the tip of St. George Peninsula where it overlooks both Muscongus and Penobscot Bays. The station’s history begins in 1831, but the location became truly famous as the terminus of the cross-country run by Forest Gump in the movie of the same name. Run Forest... run! With a museum and small picnic table, this is another great location to relax and take in the views. But if you have your camera with you, the walkway out to the light will be calling you to shoot. With rocks and wildflowers to left and right, take your time to work the scene and move to different locations. Watch also for boats moving through the scene that will provide further interest. Known as a great sunset location, be prepared to have plenty of tripod company particularly in the summer months.
Bass Harbor Head Light
Head up the coast farther to Acadia National Park for views of the famous Bass Harbor Head Light. Constructed in 1876, the Bass Harbor Head Light is one of the most famous landmarks in Acadia National Park and is a strong contender for the most photographed of the 65 Lighthouses in Maine. The lighthouse is located at the southernmost tip of Mount Desert Island just south of the town of Bass Harbor. Due to the extreme popularity of this iconic lighthouse, parking and crowds can be an issue during the height of tourist season so come early and take care as you make your way down to the rocks to capture your spectacular sunset. You can read more about Bass Harbor Head Light in our Must Shoot - Acadia National Park post.
This is just a sample of the many great lighthouses to be found in Maine. We hope it inspires you to pack your camera and take a road trip along some of America's most stunning coastline.