Tips For Photographing Sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park

Tips For Photographing Sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park

Marquette, MI  –  June 27, 2016  –  I’m back from my long trip! I accomplished a pretty good new record for myself hitting 4 different states in 72 hours! Visiting Boston to see my sister for her bridal shower and bachelorette party, my sister and I made our way from Mass to Rhode Island, then to New Hampshire, finally settling in Maine. We spent a total of 2 and a half days in Maine stopping in Portland on the way up to Bar Harbor.

 

On our second day in Acadia National Park, I was determined to photograph Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse for sunset! The evening was setting up for a perfect night with the golden sun peaking through the clouds. We made it to Bass Harbor just as the sun was starting to go down and the colors filled the sky. Oranges, pinks, and purples painted the sky in between the thin lines of clouds.

 

When I found a place to set up, I met a number of other photographers there for the same exact reason! My favorite shot from the night included some creative foreground work, capturing the reflection of the lighthouse in a calm pool of water.

Before and After:

Wondering how to set up for a night similar to this? Here’s our camera settings and suggestions:

1. DSLR Camera – I used a Nikon D7000, however, any camera where you can control the shutter speed and ISO will do.
2. Tripod – You do not have to spend a lot of money on good gear to get a shot like this, however, a tripod is 100% necessary!
3. Wide Angle Lens – I suggest a wider angle lens for shots like this. We used a Tokina 11-16 F2.8, in my opinion, the best wide angle crop sensor lens out there.
   1. Note, if using a standard f4.5 kit lens, you will likely need a higher ISO than the settings suggested, or attempt a longer exposure time.
4. Camera Settings – Our shot was taken at:
   1. Focal Length – 11 mm (in 35mm: that’s 16mm)
   2. Shutter Speed – 1/30 seconds
   3. Aperture – F9
   4. ISO – 1250
5. Other Suggestions –
   1. ​Shoot in Raw – To get a final image like this, it is MUCH easier to manage when shooting in Raw format.
   2. Use a Remote Trigger – Whether it is wireless, wired to the camera, or even a 2 second delay timer, use one of these things to avoid camera shake during the exposure!
   3. Enjoy the moment!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Shooting