Beacons

Throughout 1999 and 2000, east coast lighthouses were our favorite photographic subject. They're on or near water, which we love. They're old and historically significant. They can be visually stunning. Before mobile internet and GPS, they could be incredibly challenging to FIND. Here are a few more of our favorites. The perfect little white light above is Turkey Point Light, in Elk Neck State Park, MD - shot by [Maris] in 1999.

Not all lighthouses are hard to find. Seven-foot Knoll Light has been conveniently relocated from its original home on a shoal at the mouth of the Patapsco River to Pier 5 in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Another [Maris] shot from 1999.

Basically a big house with a cupola on top, Sea Girt Light in Sea Girt, NJ is open for weekend tours. 1999 photo.

Our quests for various lighthouses and other historic stuff often take us to the dodgy end of town. This was the case in Atlantic City, NJ where we found Absecon Light, far from the glittering lights of the boardwalk and casinos, in 1999.

My first night shot of a lighthouse. This is Hereford Inlet Light in North Wildwood, NJ - also in 1999.

This dilapidated shell of former splendor in the "stick-gothic" style was once Mispillion River Light, on the Delaware Bay at the Mispillion River. Restoration work was about to begin when, in 2002, the structure was destroyed in a lightning strike and fire. Bits of it were salvaged and rebuilt, almost from scratch, in Lewes, DE.

Warwick Lighthouse - Warwick, RI - 2000. This is one of very few successful shots from this trip, due to a bizarre camera malfunction which I do not wish to discuss.

Twin Lights of Navesink! This hulking structure overlooks Highlands, NJ and (a good half-mile away) the Atlantic. 1999 photo.

Finally, although the negative seems to have deteriorated a bit over the years, here is one of my favorite compositions. It's Delaware Breakwater Light, shot from Cape Henlopen, DE in 1999.

Thanks for looking. Plenty more to come...