Pidgeon Point Lighthouse

DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
edited January 2, 2005 in Wildlife
Well, it wasn't the greatest of days. Almost got into an accident on Route 17. It's quite a thing to come around the curve and see the highway littered with cars every which way. Fortunately we were able to stop just in time. No one was hurt, all cars were drivable and the highway patrol was in a panic to get everyone off the highway. We did some damage to our front tire and rim and will have to have that checked out. Hopefully all it will require is to have the wheel rebalanced. So it wasn't in the best of moods that we proceeded to Santa Cruz -- raining and to the lighthouse, a slight break in a wet day. So I don't have too much to share...

An overview of the lighthouse from the north.

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The more "traditional" view...

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And some lovely fence texture. A sign was removed which showed the effects of protected fence versus unprotected fence. Lots of neat lichen on this fence...

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Comments

  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited December 30, 2004
    Wow. Sorry to hear about the near miss. Glad you're ok though!

    Looking up the path towards the light is a great shot. It hides the fence
    that surrounds the building.

    As a bit of history, the lighthouse used to be open to the public and you could
    climb up and look out. But some time back, a chunk of steel and brick came
    down unexpectedly. The decision to fence the structure off was made when
    it was discovered the light needs considerable repair work just to make it safe.
    The lighthouse ownership is being transitioned to the state at which time, a
    more active fundraising effort will be undertaken--I think the number is around
    $3 million.

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited December 30, 2004
    Nice shots Dee thumb.gif That's a cool old lighthouse. Sorry you had such a lousy day of weather :-( I took this whole week off, thinking I was going to get some decent shooting weather :puke1 This sux!! I thought we were supposed to be in sunny California :lol

    I'm sure the wet weather contributed to the "mess o'cars" on 17. That happens all to often. Especially when it's raining. Hey, it could have been worse. Like those big waves that hit in Asia :cry

    Anyhow, thanks for sharing these :D

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • dkappdkapp Registered Users Posts: 985 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2004
    I'm glad your ok Dee! I've noticed that people can't drive when it rains out here? I'd hate to see it snow.

    Nice work on the North side of the Lighthouse. I've tried from there a few times, and was never happy with the result.

    I also like your composition for the 2nd shot. Its a good way to hide that very ugly chain link fence.

    I like the fence shot a lot. I'm a huge fan of texture and color.

    It looks like you, Ian and I should coordinate & make a team effort on this one :D

    Thanks for sharing.
    Dave
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2004
    Thanks Everyone...
    This has been one horrid week for photography! Today Ed and I drove out to Walnut Creek for the antique gas pumps, midway through the shoot it started to rain. I have to offload and check my photos, I know at the end I got one drop on the filter. I'll be posting them soon.

    People out here do seem to love to speed, and you kinda gotta knock them on the side of the head a few times until they realize that all the gas and gunk that comes out of the exhaust doesn't mix well with water until the rains wash it away. They insist on following 3 feet off the bumper of the car in front of them, you can't see through these vans, mini vans and SUV and raised up high trucks on big fat tires, they kick up a lot of spray off the road and once one of them slows down to avoid a fallen branch or a patch of mud that's come off the hillside, it's inevitable that there's a crash and a chain reaction.


    It's pretty scary to see that laid out in front of you, and I'm just so thankful we were able to stop in time without hitting anyone.

    When we first came out here and still had snow tires we were shocked that they closed the road to Mount Hamilton, it only had barely a half inch of snow on it. But after seeing how people drive, I have to concur it's better to close the road than have to rescue hundreds of people who were going too fast around those curves and went over the non-guardrail edge.

    It was pretty blustery at the lighthouse and starting to drizzle so I didn't belabor the point. I did get a lot of pelican shots though, and that was fun.
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited December 30, 2004
    Here's a shot of the damaged piece of the lighthouse. If you look just above
    (and towards the right side) the rust belt, you'll see the missing chunk. That fell,
    striking the window just below dislodging a few bricks in the process.

    13452658-M.jpg


    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    Oh, part of the "trim" fell...
    ian408 wrote:
    Here's a shot of the damaged piece of the lighthouse. If you look just above
    (and towards the right side) the rust belt, you'll see the missing chunk. That fell,
    striking the window just below dislodging a few bricks in the process.

    13452658-M.jpg


    Ian

    My monitor's too dark, so I had to copy/drag and then lighten in photoshop to see what you meant.

    Thanks for posting this. I was wondering what fell.
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited December 31, 2004
    I've been kinda of lazy tonite. But here's the window just below the fallen
    steel.

    13461573-M.jpg

    So if you visit the lighthouse and are so inclined, visit the
    keeper's store for more info on the restoration.

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    I didn't even know there was a keeper's store
    ian408 wrote:
    I've been kinda of lazy tonite. But here's the window just below the fallen
    steel.

    13461573-M.jpg

    So if you visit the lighthouse and are so inclined, visit the
    keeper's store for more info on the restoration.

    Ian

    Usually we are on our way to somewhere else and the Lighthouse is a 5 to 20 minute stop... We also stop south of the lighthouse for some good shots of it.
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited January 2, 2005
    Saturday, Jan 1, 2005 -- Lighthouse still standing...
    I stopped for a different view of the Pidgeon Point Lighthouse today.

    Dave/Dee who's next :D

    Ian

    13552374-M.jpg
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • dkappdkapp Registered Users Posts: 985 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    ian408 wrote:
    I stopped for a different view of the Pidgeon Point Lighthouse today.

    Dave/Dee who's next :D

    Ian

    13552374-S.jpg

    Nice shot Ian. I got one from there last time, but I've not processed it yet.

    Well...if the rain holds out, it looks like I'll be there tomorrow. My gf wants to take a trip down & see the lighthouse. I will also take another bay area photographer there for his first time.

    I'm going to try and get more people in the rotation so we can find our next victim :D

    Dave
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    One of two good angles
    ian408 wrote:
    I stopped for a different view of the Pidgeon Point Lighthouse today.

    Dave/Dee who's next :D

    Ian

    13552374-M.jpg

    Yep! that's a break in the rain for sure! Nice view.

    This is not a new photo opp for me, I've been shooting it since 1986 :-)

    I once saw a beautiful shot taken at night in the fog, spectacular with the light sweeps.

    There are a couple of good places to shoot the lighthouse from this area.
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