Symbol of Strength

Heavy mesoband snow and wind batter Barnegat Lighthouse as winter storm Juno skirts the New Jersey coast in this low key black and white photograph of a resolute and unmoving Old Barney at night.
Symbol of Strength — 14mm | f/2.8 | ISO 5000 | EXP 1/30

To better set the stage take a watch—and listen—to the snow bands and high winds that slammed into Barnegat Lighthouse Monday night. Please excuse my shaky hands.

Taken a the top of the 10 o’clock hour, I tucked in low and close along the concrete seawall that runs all the way out into the inlet. With the wind at my back and cover to my right flank, I was able to affix camera to tripod and rifle off a few shots before the combination of intense snowfall and wind compromised the clarity of my lens. Wanting to capture snow flakes and the lighthouse beams in the shot I had to dial my aperture wide open and crank the ISO to 5000. This afforded me a 1⁄30 exposure—fast enough to freeze the scene.

Distracted by storm and snowfall I arrived home and ignored the contents of my memory card. It’s only today, Wednesday, that I’ve gotten to really see this shot for all its worth. Black and white processing was the obvious choice from the get go, with the white of the lighthouse lending strong contrast against the backdrop of a roaring night sky. The Lighthouse itself bears the brunt, revealing an icy spine running vertically down the whole of the structure just to the right of center—its unwavering position a testament to the steady, yet unrelenting direction of the fierce wind howling out of the north-northeast.

When you’re out there exposed to the elements as nothing more than a vulnerable sack of human, you really appreciate both the intensity of weather and the fortitude of man. Here stands a singular column, standing sentry, strong as ever.

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Comments

6 responses to “Symbol of Strength”

  1. Marian Carr Avatar

    Great phot. You have captured that desolate spot in all its mystery. Fr a former Atlantic city resident

  2. Rose Westling Avatar
    Rose Westling

    What a great shot. Will you be selling prints by any chance?

  3. Greg Molyneux Avatar
    Greg Molyneux

    Thanks, Marian.

  4. Greg Molyneux Avatar
    Greg Molyneux

    Thank you, Rose. Happy you like the shot.

    Considering numerous people have reached out to me regarding the print, I’m going to do my best to get an arrangement set up in the coming days to allow that to happen. I will keep you posted.

  5. Greg Molyneux Avatar
    Greg Molyneux

    Hi, Rose. I finally have this print up and ready for purchase (along with a few others). You can find them here: http://gregmolyneuxphotography.smugmug.com/Portfolio/i-tZmg8Cc

  6. […] Watch we’re sitting under currently, the pangs of last year’s bust at the hands of Juno gnaw away at my insides. I just want the snow to get here, stay here, and with any, luck bring […]

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