While visiting some friends in Port Maitland, a small community on the North shore of Lake Erie in Ontario, I wanted to get some pictures of the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is located on the end of a long pier at the mouth of the Grand River. Countless people flock to the Grand River, and specifically the pier, for fishing.
In the early evening, as the sun began to set, the sun cast a warm glow on the pier which really made it pop out. I used the Lee Big Stopper to smooth out the water. There were two people on kayaks which I had to contend with (you can just see the blur of the kayak on the right of the image).
Port Maitland Lighthouse in Evening
Nikon D800 w/ 24-70 f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 100, 13sec at f/8
Lee Filters: Big Stopper, 0.6ND Hard Grad, 0.6 Real Blue 2 Hard Grad
Then at night, long after the fire fizzled out, I returned to take some night pictures of the pier. The conditions were less than ideal as there was quite a bit of light pollution coming off the pier itself. And from a technical stand point, I made a critical error by not opening up the shutter to allow all possible light to come in, which meant a high ISO and the resulting noise on the image. Also, I really didn’t stick to the 500 rule for avoiding seeing star trails (to get the maximum length of exposure, divide five hundred by the focal length). For the focal length I used of 24mm, I should have used an exposure length of 21 seconds instead of the 30 seconds I used. But still not a bad shot, all things considered. The orange glow perfectly situated around the Lighthouse is the light pollution of Dunkirk, New York.
Port Maitland Lighthouse at Night
Nikon D800 w/ 24-70 f/2.8 @ 29mm, ISO 4000, 30sec at f/11
The next morning, I got what I feel was the best shot. The clouds had rolled in, there was a calm feel to the water, and it was difficult to discern the point where the sky ends and the sea begins. This time, I focused the picture less on the pier and more on the lighthouse leaving ample room for the drama of the sky above and a little for the calmness of the water below. Once again, the Lee Big Stopper was used to smooth out the water. If you have used the Lee Big Stopper, you will know it gives a distinct bluish cast which can easily be corrected in post processing. But I actually liked the image as is. The bluish tint gives it a milky moonlit feel and makes it feel even more peaceful.
Port Maitland Lighthouse in Morning
Nikon D800 w/ 70-200 f/2.8 @ 110mm, ISO 100, 60sec at f/11
Lee Filters: Big Stopper
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Comments 5
thank you that s really nice of you to say. I hope you keep following and enjoying the music. ??
Port Maitland Pier and the Lighthouse is a spot where I have shared many fun days going fishing together my Dad and my brother and me. We were not using a camera to keep track of the fun times we were having together. Sometimes I was carrying cameras of inexpensive brands. Not Nikon, or any other brands that are popular cameras now in the year 2022 in month of March. Today is March 2, 2022. The Province of Ontario is where I live and restrictions for coronavirus novel COVID-19 Pandemic and especially for the omicron variant that can be making people very sick. Pneumonia can take one lung or both lungs. I have had two Pfizer shots for antiviral, and two Pfizer booster shots. Thank you for your photography and sharing details about the images. I do think the CANON one shot Cameras are a good brand of camera. I would enjoy having a NIKON camera with a underwater housing to take pictures in the freshwater Great Lakes to go scuba diving or to use a submersible diving research vehicle. When I was in Grade 12 in my graduating year I had dreamed to be doing work underwater as an oceanographer. But diving in freshwater mostly. I do not have enough money now to rent a travel trailer and a boat with trailer and a truck to tow it?
I like a JAYCO Travel Trailer. I am finished writing now.
I give an apology for all of the many words that I wrote in the comment that I did write? I will try to write comments that are about how much I like the pictures and the details in words that go along with the pictures. I really have fond memories about going fishing at Port Maitland Pier and Lighthouse. Those times were with my Dad and my youngest brother when my brother and I were young boys under the age of eight? I will be age 63 years old in May. Thank you for your beautiful pictures and the words along with them?
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your kind words. As a photographer, the ultimate goal is to capture an image to which someone can connect, and usually there’s a deep connection to the spot. So I’m glad at least one of my pictures had that effect on you. The memories you have of that spot is a photograph in your mind in and of itself. All the best to you and your wonderful memories!
Hello, I am looking forupdated information on when the pier was shortened or extended?