Race Point Lighthouse

Place: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Location: Race Point

Race Point Lighthouse was first lit on November 5, 1816, as an aid to ships negotiating the sandbars near Race Point, at the northern tip of Cape Cod. It was actually one of the earliest lighthouses to have a revolving light. The light was converted over to full electrical power in 1957 and subsequently became fully automated in 1972.

As the sun went down and the sky turned a deep blue color, a friend and I were making photographs of the lighthouse from on top of a distant sand dune using telephoto lenses. We were concerned about being able to find our way back to the car from among the dunes as it became dark and so, though I was hoping for an image with the light on, we packed up to leave before darkness fell.

My friend had just descended the dune and I was about to start down as well when.....the light came on. Having just been 'shooting', I knew exactly the picture I wanted to make. It was too late for my buddy, but I was able to very quickly unpack, set up the camera and tripod, and make this photo with just enough time for us to get back to our car as the last light dissappeared from the sky.