Greg Molyneux Photography

New Jersey landscape and nature photography

  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • Shop

Symbol of Strength

January 28, 2015 by Greg Molyneux

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.

Interested in buying? Purchase

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 14mm barnegat lighthouse black and white low key night photography old barney selected works snow weather

« Great Expectations
Meet Mack, Beagle Bulldog Puppy Mix Master »

Trackbacks

  1. Perhaps this is Goodbye? – Greg Molyneux Photography says:
    January 21, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    […] 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 […]

Looking for something?

Search by Keyword

14mm 35mm 40mm 100mm barnegat bay black and white blue hour bokeh cedar run dock road cross processing echinacea flowers frozen golden hour great bay boulevard greg molyneux hdr high key insects landscape long beach island long exposure low key lyrically inspired macro marina monochrome motion blur new jersey out of focus pinelands power lines purple coneflower reflection salt marsh ship bottom snow soft focus square format stafford forge wildlife management area sunset sunset park sunset point surf city weather

You can find me here

FacebookInstagramTwitter Flickr E-mail

Copyright © Greg Molyneux 2014–2022

Photos from the archives

A late afternoon macro photograph of a newly blooming quick fire hydrangea. The fresh tender white buds are just set to pop with a soft focus settling around the two open flowers.
14mm sunset photo at Cedar Run Dock Road's lush green salt marsh. Left to right panning introduces motion blur to the photograph rendering a dreamy, painterly effect to the image.
Black and white photo of a Maine Coon cat.
A subtle HDR sunset photograph with soft yellows and a touch of pink marking the racing clouds. Taken at the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area.
Portrait orientation HDR photograph of NJ Pinelands pygmy pine trees at blue hour

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Portfolio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in