First of all, to my regular readers I hope you like the new layout of my blog. I have changed the theme because this is a blog about photography and I wanted to show my images larger than the previous theme would. Please let me know what you think of the new theme.
This weeks image is of Burnham-on-Sea Low Lighthouse. It was taken on a really stormy day with the sun just breaking out from the clouds. Just after this photograph was taken heavy rain came sweeping in almost horizontally from the sea. Burnham Sands is totally exposed, there is no shelter except under the lighthouse but with the rain pattern the way it was I got absolutely soaked.
The Low lighthouse is one of three lighthouses in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England and the only one which is still active. It is a Grade II listed building.
Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, which are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay and the rest of the Bristol Channel where the tide can recede for over 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Burnham is close to the estuary of the River Parrett where it flows into the Bristol Channel, which has the second highest tidal range in the world of 15 metres (49 ft) second only to Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada. The constantly shifting sands have always been a significant risk to shipping in the area.
The low wooden pile lighthouse or Lighthouse on legs is 36 feet (11 m) high; the light being at 23 feet (7.0 m) was built by Joseph Nelson in 1832, in conjunction with the High Lighthouse to replace the original Round Tower Lighthouse, which itself had been built to replace the light kept burning in the tower of St Andrews Church to guide fishing boats into the harbour.
It stands on nine wooden piers, some with plate metal reinforcement. The structure is whitewashed with a vertical red stripe on the sea side.
The lights were inactive between 1969 and 1993 and were re-established when the High Lighthouse lights were permanently discontinued. They have a focal plane of 7 metres (23 ft) and provide a white flash every 7.5s plus a directional light (white, red, or green depending on direction) at a focal plane of 4m. It is operated by Sedgemoor District Council
When I receive the e-mail on a Friday notifying me of the weeks challenge I can nearly always pick a photograph from my extensive library and post it pretty quickly. But this week was different and really did present a challenge for me.
As a photographer, I very rarely choose to shoot straight into the sun. So I really had to browse my library to find a suitable image. Why don’t I shoot into the sun? Two reasons….
- I can easily damage my eyes looking straight into the sun if I spend too much time composing the photograph.
- My camera’s sensor is just like my eyes. It too can be damaged if it’s pointed at the sun for too long a time.
Here’s what others are saying about this weeks challenge.
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (mothergrogan.wordpress.com)
- Weekly photo challenge: Sun (jmsimpson.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (radicalamazement.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (dailypost.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (mtlawleyshire.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge – Sun (theretiringsort.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (rutheh.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sun (writingyourdestiny.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun – Le Soleil (frenchtwistedwoman.com)
- WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: Sun (woven-decor.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (thetaskmistress.me)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (stephenkellycreative.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sun (thewishfactor.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo challenge: { Sun } (lifebydmagdalene.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (dreamlakephotography.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (smallhousebiggarden.wordpress.com)
- Rays – Weekly Photo Challenge (Sun) (suvesabun.wordpress.com)
- wp weekly photo challenge: sun (clickclickshutterbug.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (postadaychallenge2011.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (andreadreamin.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (writingthegirl.wordpress.com)
- Weekly photo challenge: Sun Again! (alicethroughthemacrolens.wordpress.com)
Incredibly nice image!
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The more I look at it, the more I like it and yet originally I didn’t think it was of much use because of the big sun flare
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I love the new theme, great photo for the challenge.
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Thank You. At the time I thought it was a throwaway but I keep every photograph just in case. I’m glad I did.
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Really unusual – I love it!
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Thank You…
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Excellent shot! 🙂
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THank you. I do try ….
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Love the lens flare effect…
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I’ll be honest I added it in Photoshop…..
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Great capture. Enjoyed reading the write-up. And yes, I like the new theme layout. I thought it was different than before. 🙂
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Yes I really like the new them. I think it showcases the images more than the old
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Beautiful! Your photo looks like a painting. Excellent entry.
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It sort of is a painting. I use a lot of Dodge and Burn in my processing of photographs
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I like it! Fits the bill!
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Yes I think so too…thank you for your comment
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Forgive me Mike but I am drooling, something about it looks so beautifully magical. So pleased you didn’t throw it away and it goes so well with your new theme!
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Thanks Patti. I very rarely throw away anything I photograph. Even if it’s blurred….you never know when it might come in useful.
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LOVE the new theme Mike !!! And i am with Claudia…it looks like a painting…it would make a great painting.
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Thanks Jo. The new theme does showcase my photographs more.
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Oh! Beautiful! (& I like the layout as well)
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I think it’s much better…
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& yes, with you on the damage thing. So while mine areb’t sunset, they’re near enough for there tp be less rightness. I’ve done way too much of that over this year.
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Last week I was waiting for a sunset/silhouette image. I kept looking at the subject of the silhouette against the sun and it was hurting my eyes.
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Super photo – it has a timeless quality, I’m not sure why
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Neither do I and thank you for your comment
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The hard part was to not choose a “snoozer”! A shot like everyone else’s.
Yours is heads above the rest of us.
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Thank you. I always think with sunrise/sunset images you need to have something else in the frame. That’s why I like the photograph of your friend and her daughter
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Clever Mike ,Great preparation for this shot Masterpiece 🙂
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Thanks Jake
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Oh, I definitely struggled with this one… A beautiful HDRish photo.
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HDR was the only way to bring out the darker areas….
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I like the rays shining down around the lighthouse. Such an ethereal quality. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you…that old lighthouse has done me well for photographs.
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The true test as to whether or not I like a picture is if I wonder how it will look hanging in my house. This is beautiful Mike.
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Thank you….I have never considered selling any of my photographs, maybe I should
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I think you should consider it. You do beautiful work.
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Mike your photos are brilliant!
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Why thank you…
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Simply gorgeous, Mike. 🙂
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I’m glad you liked it
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unreal!
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Really!
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This is beautiful! It looks like a painting!
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Thank you. I do like to use Dodge and Burn which brings out the Highlights and Shadows more
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WOW! I like this shot. I love lighthouses and this one was made special with your shot.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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I always think lighthouses make great subjects especially as most of them stand isolated so you can frame them how you like
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Gorgeous capture of the sun! Your new theme is wonderful. Great entry Mr. Hardisty!
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I like the theme too and the more I see it the more I like it
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beautiful. like it
http://amarnaik.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/weekly-photo-challenge-sun/
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Thank you…..
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Stunning photo
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I’m glad you like it
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Excellent work. Great post.
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Thank you for your comment, this old lighthouse was one of my favourites to photograph
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