Sunset finds us at the Eastern Point Light, between Gloucester and Rockport. The tide is coming in, and fishermen are dodging the waves that crash over the breakwater. It s fun to play with filters and lenses as the light changes. I like using my 24mm wide-angle lens for scenics, filling my foreground with a rock or building, delighting in the deep depth of field. Using the Cokin P series filter holders reduces the chances of vignetting, with stacked filters.
Lighthouses can develop a list to starboard with time.
Don t let your tripod legs sink into the sand while you re waiting for the right light. It s the natural horizon you want to keep level, so resist the temptation to depend on the vertical lines of a building. Perspective is a tricky witch. I use a small plastic bubble level, inserted into the hot shoe of the camera, but I still check the whole image. If you re doing a dawn shot on a cold morning, keep checking that your tripod legs haven t slipped with the changing temperature.