Tara's Lighthouse by Chipka
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Description
I called this deliciously historical construct Tara’s Lighthouse because I didn’t know the name of it. I’d actually seen it on numerous occasions in my past. It’s “the lighthouse” as I recognized it back in the days I spent an inordinate amount of time in Evanston, Illinois—as far away from Chicago’s South Side as I could get without leaving the Chicago area. One of my best friends (now in Oregon) lived in Evanston, and so in a sense, this was also LaTonya’s Lighthouse. LaTonya and Tara would get along well, and they both live in the Pacific Northwest, and so I’m sure they’d be more than willing to share a lighthouse in Evanston.
Officially, this is the Grosse Point lighthouse, built by the US Government back in 1873. There is a load of information available on the official website for the Grosse Point Lighthouse, and a few snazzy pictures, too. I happen to like my pictures better. I took them after all, but some of the historical shots of the place are rather decent.
Though “The Lighthouse” is quite familiar to me, I’ve scarcely visited it. I’d spent most of my time in the more cyberpunk-inspiring environments of “nightclub Chicagoland” and in various museums; it was not until diving into the realm of digital photography that The Lighthouse became a feature of my day to day life. Actually, it wasn’t until after having castles and apple orchards in my day-to-day life that the idea of a lighthouse as a commonplace object/location became viable. This picture is now a week old. I’d gone to visit The Lighthouse with Corey and Kate and Steve. We wandered around the house grounds as well as the lakefront, amazed that lakefront access was still free. In Evanston, one pays to go to the beach. All money goes to pay the lifeguards and the people who keep the beaches clean. It’s a pretty nifty setup. There were no lifeguards on duty; the beach was not “officially” open, and so access was free.
Since Tara has been posting quite a number of gorgeous lighthouse shots, I decided to send this one out there in honor of her. I didn’t get into the lighthouse yet, but that’ll happen soon. I’m interested in an excursion there, as early as possible so that I might get great pictures of the lake and the surrounding lush beauty of Evanston. Yeah, Evanston’s a college town, so I might be able to nab a few shots of cute students as well, and as we all know, there’s nothing wrong with images of cute students. And so in honor of lighthouses, here is a lighthouse. LaTonya’s lighthouse and Tara’s lighthouse.
For more information on this rather nice historical spot, you can pop on over to the lighthouse homepage at: www.grossepointlighthouse.net.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a fantastic week.
Comments (26)
DrCarl
your choice of view has balanced the beautiful pinks of the tree below with the cyan sky...the halo/sharpening effect is done too just the right amount offering us a a crisper cleaner image, enhancing the details so they are as strong as the colour palette... I do like this at first I did not like the gutter/corner of the building pushing into the right side of the image but after a longer look it adds a framing element that works. it is balanced out by the tree trunk on the left a lovely image mate carl
kgb224
Amazing capture and post work complemented writing. Well that is another object that I can photograph and that is lighthouses as there are so many along the coast line of South Africa. God Bless.
CoreyBlack
That was a fun day! And the weather was actually nice for a change, making it all the more perfect. This is a great shot! Both in composition, color,light and clarity, as well as a memento of a wonderful day. Great work!
RodS
Beautifully framed - what a gorgeous photo, Chip! And who better to dedicate it to than Tara! Excellent!
beachzz
I love the very different POV here; instead of the usual water around the lighthouse, it has those gorgeous pink flowers. It just gives the shot such a great look--and I know Tara will LOVE it!!
MrsRatbag
What a beautiful shot, Chip! The reddish roof and the pink flowers really do make this a feminine sort of lighthouse, too. But your postwork makes it almost velvety, my fingers want to run over the walls and feel that texture! It's absolutely gorgeous.
flavia49
wonderful colors and POV!
bmac62
First class Chip. I've come to realize that when lighthouses were primary navigation aids (now secondary to GPS, etc.) that trees were never allowed to grow like this in proximity to the towers. So, you couldn't have taken this smashing photo this way 50-60 years ago. Today these wonderful buildings live in a different environment then they did in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Know Tara will love the dedi...and the photo!
jac204
Great shot of the lighthouse. I look forward to seeing some more views from the lighthouse of the lake and Evanston. And if you happen to capture pictures of cute students, so much the better.
mgtcs
Another absolutely wonderful shot and writing Chip, superb one!
auntietk
Oh wow! This is SO cool. Thank you, my friend! I'm quite content to share this with LaTonya. You won't believe it, but we saw a lighthouse that's so much like this one it could be a twin ... and it's only about 100 miles from where LaTonya lives!! How cool is that? I haven't posted any images of that one yet, but you can be sure I will. If you want a sneak preview in the meantime, it's the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. You'll be blown away. I love this view with the flowering trees and the gorgeous sky. A fine image, and of course the dedication is first class! :D
CaressingTheDark
stunningly beautiful capture
fallen21
Beautiful shot.
durleybeachbum
A very beautiful photo..and I look forward to the cute students.
blinkings
Beautiful colours in the lighthouse, and that pink bush is wonderful. I love lighthouses and have photographed many, but I've never been to the top of one! :( There is a great doco going around on the Bell lighthouse.
Feliciti
a dreamy Place !! wonderful capture !!
gonedigital
Beautiful image. It looks like such a nice place to visit! Makes me want to climb up to the top and see the new. Well done my friend as always. =-)
KateBlack10
This is gorgeous Chip :) You really captured the essence of the lighthouse - I love the flowering tree in the front of the shot. Very nicely done
helanker
AWWW! This is a most lovely capture. I really love this Lighthouse and the blooming tree... and the story behind it. Superbly done :)
bobrgallegos
This is an awesome shot !!! Love the POV.
BessieB
A really stunning view, great colours and framing
sandra46
WONDERFUL FIND
danapommet
There are so many interesting lighthouses around the world Chip and this is a perfect POV for this one. You have added so much color to this one. Dana
Orinoor
Fantastic shot!
Sepiasiren
love the perspective as well as the splash of pink at the bottom of the tower--very nice
KatesFriend
That's a great perspective you chose Chip. It encompasses the lighthouse completely and gives one the impression that it is holding up the sky. Reflective of its former glory and importance in the later half of the 19th Century. The colours are splendid too. Nature seems to be trying to reclaim this place but, unlike many of its kin, this lighthouse still stands strong even if its roll is only symbolic now. Though it does also serve as a teacher these days. Don't tell the Tea Party, they'll have it down in a day-and-a-half if they knew about the elitist educating with "hard earned taxpayers' dollars".