Light Keeper's House, Details

Some of the interesting architectural details of the Fire Island Light Keeper's House. According to the historical association, Connecticut River blue split stone from the original 74 foot tall lighthouse built in 1826 and later demolished because it wasn't tall enough to be effective, was used for the terrace of the new lighthouse commissioned in 1857. Those stones would be in the foreground of this photo of the main entrance to the museum and gift shop. I'm also reminded of those brain teaser exercises: how many geometric shapes are visible in this photograph?

Another shot of the entryway from the side, showing the blue split stone on the terrace and decorative motifs carried over from the front view.

Love the green door that completes the green treatment of the window sashes. Or is it the other way around? Add the red brick on the door stoop that recalls the red roof.

Fire Island Lighthouse & Quarters

The Fire Island Lighthouse and keeper's quarters, now the lighthouse museum and gift shop. When traveling, schedules and circumstances always dictate what types of photographs you will be able to make. The day my wife and I were able to visit the lighthouses at Montauk Point and Fire Island, the weather was iffy at best-there was nearly always the threat of rain. We were also there in mid-afternoon, so the heavy skies were actually a blessing, lending drama to a scene that is less photogenic on a sunny summer day when photographed between 10am and 3 pm when the sun is more overhead and the lighting less dramatic for most land and seascapes because the shadows are less pronounced. So, if there is a lesson, it's to be in the moment, always, and of you're intent on making memorable photos, keep your eyes open, be willing to let go of any unrealistic expectations and keep looking. Something will turn up that will delight and surprise you.

Fire Island Lighthouse-Up Close

Must say I've never been quite so close to a lighthouse before. Good sense of the texture of its surface. Like the previous post, I'm also intrigued by the purely graphic aspect of the image.

Lighthouse Window

The window in the Fire Island Lighthouse, also showing the taper in the tower itself. Interesting to me is the choice of colors in the banding of the individual lighthouses: Montauk's is brown & white, and here, it's black and white.

Fire Island Light Station

This lighthouse, located on Fire Island along the southeast Atlantic coastline of New York's Long island, stands 168' tall and was placed in service in 1858. It replaced a smaller 74' tall lighthouse that was built in 1826 but which proved ineffective due to its height. This view shows the boardwalk constructed by the NPS to help preserve the delicate coastal eco-system  that is challenged by the number of visitors to the site and shoreline.

The Atlantic Ocean

From a staircase window in the Montauk Point Lighthouse looking cold and forbidding. Where's the hot cocoa? Next post, we'll visit the Fire Island Light Station.

Montauk Pt. Lighthouse

Another view of the lighthouse at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, with a patch of blue sky in early June. There's a pretty stiff wind as you can tell from the Stars & Bars. And it was cold- for June, anyway.

Fresnel Lens, Detail

Looking into the central lens of a fresnel lens at the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum, you can see the prismatic effect of the glass rings surrounding the central lens.

Fresnel Lens, Montauk Pt. Lighthouse Museum

The Fresnel lens was invented in 1822 by French physicist Augustine Fresnel as a way to convert the scattered light rays from a light source into a single, powerful, beam of light via a series of glass prisms arranged in concentric rings around it that redirected the scattered rays through a central lens that itself was shaped to further magnify the light passing through it. Tests indicated that a single flame lost 97% of its illumination without any re-direction. With reflectors, it still lost 83%, but with the new invention, only 17% was lost, thus making it perfect for seacoast applications. Depending on its size, the Fresnel lens can cast beams as far as twenty miles.

Early light sources were oil burning lamps that created a great deal of soot, thus requiring frequent cleaning in all types of weather and conditions, a daunting task for the lighthouse keepers charged with their upkeep. You also didn't want to break anything, either.

The Fresnel lens has had a great impact on photography as it is utilized for its ability to shape light on commercial sets for still and motion picture photographers worldwide.

Montauk Point Lighthouse

The Montauk Point Lighthouse on a cool and windy day in early June. Located at the easternmost point of Long Island, NY, the lighthouse is the fourth oldest operating in the U.S. and was the first in New York state, commissioned by President George Washington and the Second Congress of the U.S. in 1792. Given the history of the site, we're lucky to still have it!