Photos from the Pensacola Lighthouse
Thursday, May 07, 2009
My dad came into town to visit me and we were looking for something to do other than watch movies or try new restaurants (although we did find some great ones.) With my dad being a big fan of lighthouses and myself always looking for a cool new location for photos we decided to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse on the Naval base. As a bonus, we also got to visit Fort Barrancas, although it was closed when we got to it.
Upon entering the lighthouse we had to wait for the previous tour group to get down from the top since there's only so many allowed up there at a time. We wondered around looking at hundred year old artifacts found on site from the lighthouse keepers. There was a great little area in the basement with some old equipment from the 50's, like scales and microscopes, to study the artifacts closer. It was mostly just old bullet casings and coins, but I was more interested in the classic equipment used to study them.
It was finally time for my dad and I to take the trip up to the top of the lighthouse, and we were the only two in our "group". 191 feet up on a 177 step rot-iron spiral staircase that you can clearly see through all the way to the bottom! It was very nerve racking climbing this staircase, but it was worth it. Upon reaching the top we were greeted by a friendly tour guide and a gigantic lamp towering over us.
The guide told us the lamp contains two 1000 watt bulbs (one is a backup) and the worlds largest fresnel lenses. At night the list is visible for up to 27 miles at sea, it would be even further if it wasn't for the curvature of the earth! Stepping ut on the balcony provided an amazing view of the Pensacola Bay and everything around it - I was able to get some great panoramic photos here.
The guide was asking about my camera, and we struck up a little conversation about photography. I guess he liked us because he decided since we were the last group and a fellow photographer he took down the "no trespassing" sign and allowed us to go up one more level to be face to face with the giant fresnel lenses. A truly unique experience that everyone doesn't get to do, and I got some pretty interesting photos because of it.
After the lighthouse, we stopped briefly at the fort and then at the cemetery - graves as far as you can see is a very sobering sight. You can view the Entire photo set on Flickr.
Comments
Great pics man, you really do have a gift for photography. I really like the “Keep Off The Slopes” sign.
Stunning photos! What camera did you use ?
Both the lighthouse and the fort look like a good place for a father and son trip, though unfortunately mine would only go if there was beer involved ...
Great shots. I like the “Keep off the slopes” too, and the light house equipment shots. Looking forward to see your future photos.
I love the photos. They are wondrous, and I am glad that I stumbled across them. The composition and color are very artistically chosen. Best wishes on your photographic career (or avocation).
best wishes,
Dr. Samuel Lam
Amazing photos, especially those from a close range. I’m really amazed. I’ve seen a lot of pictures and those are surely one of the best.
Great photos. I think the lens is one of the more unusal parts of any light house. The glass and how it reflects the light so far is very interesting. I did not know that light house had the largets lens.
It is a museum all the pictures are very nice, which fascinated me is the Fort Barrancas Panorama beautiful photo!