Lighthouse
Eagle Bluff- early morning
I have learned that front-lighting is generally not the most flattering light for a subject, as it tends to flatten out the shapes, and washes it out. In this example I liked the effect.
The sun peaked over the trees at about 8am, and casts their shadows upon the building and the grass. As the sun moved up in the sky, the shadows started to recede, and the whole scene became bathed in sunlight, with a noticable absence of any shadows.
I had about a half hour to get the idea on canvas. After that I had to rely on memory and my drawing. I really wanted to capture the shadow on the building because it gave the lighthouse a dramatic feeling, and made the other elements in the picture (people, water, trees, etc...) seem more interesting.
"Eagle Bluff Lighthouse", 8 x 10, oil on linen- HOLLAND 2007
