Portland Head
PORTLAND HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Image by Matt Reynolds @ mattreynoldsphotography.com
This iconic landmark is, in my opinion, the most picturesque lighthouse in the United States. I would consider this a must-visit if you are a photographer in the Portland, Maine area. Even though only 5 miles from Portland, the surrounding 90 acres and rugged coastline that make up Fort Williams Park make it feel very far removed. Built-in 1791 this is Maine’s oldest lighthouse and still an active navigation aid for vessels in the Gulf of Maine.
There are no bad angles here and with numerous trails to explore, photogenic rocks and the unpredictable open ocean a photographer could come here almost every day without ever getting bored. Of course, you will not be alone especially midday and for the best light opportunities have to be watchful of the park’s closing hours. I prefer this location for sunrise for multiple reasons but photographically you can take wonderful pictures here at sunset or throughout most of the daylight hours.
Photos and location summary by Matt Reynolds.
Trail Difficulty - EASY TO MODERATE
This location has many photo opportunities with the difficulty of reaching them ranging from easy to moderate depending on which you choose.
Directly from the parking lot, you can capture the typical postcard scene of the lighthouse, or you can choose to find your composition out on the rocks on either side. There are groomed dirt trails on both sides of the lighthouse which lead around to the areas of rocks. I advise walking around the visible fencing rather than over it! All of the rocky areas have unpredictable waves and slick rocks so this can be dangerous and would be done at your own risk.
Besides the lighthouse, the surrounding park has numerous walking trails so don’t be afraid to explore and find other photographic opportunities without the main lighthouse in the frame. The park was a former WWI and WWII military fort and there is even a beach area, playground, soccer field, and children’s garden so plenty to do and see for any non-photographers that may be in your party.
The town of Cape Elizabeth owns the park and maintains the trails, a non-profit organization, Friends of Williams Park, supports the park’s ecology and accessibility for visitors. Please respect the parks' natural resources when visiting so it can be maintained for future generations to enjoy as well.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
Sea Level - Elevation
View In Google earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Portland Head Lighthouse parking area
The lighthouse can be found at the end of Fort Williams Park. There is no admission fee to the park, but there is a charge for parking ($4 for two hours and $2 for each additional hour). You will not struggle to find a parking spot here as the lot is massive and extends to multiple sections. There are 10 parking spots directly in front of the lighthouse - so if arriving early for sunrise, this should be the most convenient place to park.
SPECIAL NOTE: there is a gate at the entrance to the park on the road.
Photography Tips
I mentioned above the seasonal aspects, camera settings, choice of lens, etc.…
There truly are numerous locations where you can photograph this lighthouse. The traditional view is from the parking lot, just west and slightly south of the lighthouse. This area has a fence in front.
Location #1 - is the most dramatic cliff view from the north on the rocks looking toward the lighthouse, this area is reached via the walking trails that head north past the lighthouse. Once reaching this point, venture down to the cliff edge out onto the rocks as far as the tidal conditions allow. There are other points further north from this area as well as you continue along the trail from both high and water level vantage points.
Location #2 is from the far end of the rocks south of the lighthouse. This is reached by following the footpath along the fence-line next to the lighthouse continuing south (near to the adjacent private property) until you reach that last section of rocks.
Of course, the more obvious location on the south side is closer to the lighthouse on the high rocks. To reach this, you would follow the fencing south until it ends and walk back close to the fence to a point on the rocks near the lighthouse - find a composition you like. Being mindful of your step and the tidal conditions. The south side has big drop-offs between rocks so it is easy to walk into a dead-end while walking on the rocks.
It does help to have a general familiarity with the location before coming for the first time in the dark (before sunrise). If possible, visiting the day before would give you an advantage. If this is not possible, decide in advance on a north or south location and arrive early enough before sunrise to scout out a good composition.
Know the Tide
From a photography (and safety), tidal differences can be significant. For location #1, I usually prefer lower tides to enable a photo from the rocks below the cliffs. For location #2 can look best at high tides.
Click here for the tide chart for the Portland Head Lighthouse.
Click here to view the Portland Head Lighthouse webcam (for current conditions).
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 16mm
Exposure – 20 sec @ f 13.0
ISO – 100
Date – June 14th
Time – 6:50 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This is a prime sunrise location as the sun rises over the water all year round and the crowds are much smaller in the early morning.
SPECIAL NOTE: as mentioned, there is a gate at the park entrance. On that gate and on the park’s website it lists the hours as from sunrise to sunset. However, I have been to the park 30 minutes before sunrise on several occasions and the gate has been opened each time. Though I could not obtain an official answer, my belief is the gate is opened one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset every day. If the gate is closed, it is a .7 mile walk to reach the lighthouse and I am not sure where you could park outside the park. Also, I am not sure of any penalties for crossing the gate on foot if closed so it is not recommended.
Despite the sun setting over the land, if you have a nice sky this can also be a good location for sunset. Keep in mind, the park does enforce the closure of the park in the evening so get in your car shortly after sunset or you run the risk of being locked in. For this reason, I don’t believe this location would work for evening blue hour or star photography.
Overall this location is photogenic at all times and one I would still stop at even if your schedule only permits a quick stop in the middle of the day. Honestly, I could watch the waves crash against the rocks at this location for hours.
Best Time of Year
You can photograph Portland Head Lighthouse any time of the year and will experience all different views as the seasons' change. The direction of the sun rises over the water all months of the year.
The early summer months bring yellow wildflowers, the late summer months the beach roses are in full bloom and in the wintertime (when covered in ice and snow) the rocks and lighthouse take on a completely different look. For sunrise shots, I prefer the spring or early fall (because of the direction of the rising sun). However, it is an excellent option all year and foggy conditions for sunrise can be an extra bonus.
The summer will bring more visitors and more photographers to the park.
Lens(es) Needed
This Portland Head Lighthouse is primarily a wide-angle location.
The rocks and the wild Atlantic Ocean are the main foreground elements to seek out. If the conditions allow, you can get close to some nice directional foreground rocks being touched by the ocean. With a wide-angle lens, the rocks are more prominent and the lighthouse is large enough to not suffer from being a distant subject. IMPORTANT: if the waves are rough, for safety reasons should not venture to the shoreline and should stay on top of the larger rocks or even behind the fencing.
If the waves are very rough, you can photograph the waves and lighthouse with a normal or even longer focal length to bring the crashing waves closer to you and have the lighthouse appear even larger in the frame.
In the summer months look for the varying wildflowers as potential foreground elements. The beach roses in the later summer periods bloom right next to the rocks.
For waterscapes, I find the timing to capture the receding wave is your best chance of capturing water on the rocks. Normally I prefer to capture the movement of water as it recedes (with shutter speeds between 1/10th – 1-second). However, for this location, I find longer exposures work best. A remote shutter is very helpful and this is a good place to experiment with different shutter speeds.
Location #1 below was taken @ 16mm on a 16-35mm lens on a full-frame camera facing south. I used f13 to keep the rock close to me in focus and 20-sec shutter speed to smooth out the water and surf over the rocks. This image was taken 20 minutes before sunrise. Less than one minute after taking this photo an incoming wave knocked over my tripod and camera. Fortunately, I caught the camera before it crashed and decided it was time to reposition myself for the actual sunrise as the tide was coming in.
Location #2 below was taken @ 16mm on a 16-35mm lens on a full-frame camera facing north. This image was taken on the opposite side of the lighthouse just at sunrise from the safety of the higher rocks - using f16 @ 4-second exposure.
Location #3 below was taken on an iPhone from the parking lot to show some of the beach roses, this was taken just after sunrise.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
Advertising, commercial photography and filming in the park do require a permit, the town handles that and charges a different rate for in state vs. out of state companies.
From my research (as of the writing of the summary in Feb 2020) drones are permitted and are subject to the same permit regulations for commercial work. Drone regulations are subject to change.
Please respect the fencing and stay on the trails or obvious existing footpaths. At the end of the fence on both sides, you can walk onto the rocks and explore without needing to jump over any fencing.
Direction of the Shot
The images above were shot at around 150° for location #1 and around 20° - 30° for location #2 and #3.
Equipment Needed
You will need a STEADY TRIPOD and neutral density ND filters which will allow exposures up to 20 seconds. Also, spikes or rock claw attachments for the feet of your tripod and a remote shutter would also be very helpful.
Proper footwear for walking on potentially slick rocks over the ocean.
Bug spray in the summer months is also recommended, not necessary for the rest of the year.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Sunrise is not crowded, but I have never been the only person at this location.
Sunset is more crowded, especially in the summer, but you will not have trouble finding a composition due to the size of the park and the various composition opportunities. Even midday in the summer months, few visitors walk past the paved areas. Keep in mind this is a major tourist attraction so there will be more tourists than photographers here.
In the winter or on a cold day there will be few other people. Weekends will be more popular than during the week.
Weather
Weather can be very pleasant to cool in Fall and Spring. Hot in Summer but generally perfect sunset weather. Winter can be extremely cold and bring snow and ice. The ocean water even in the summer is very cold in Maine. Take extra care in dress and safety precautions if going in the winter.
Cell Service
You can expect good coverage both in the parking area and at the lighthouse.
Lodging & Camping
The lighthouse is close to downtown Portland and lodging of all kinds is abundant.
Nearby Restaurants
Portland has a nice downtown with a strong foodie and beer brewing culture so there is no shortage of great places to enjoy a nice meal or refreshment while in the area.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Eventide Oyster Company
(207) 774-8538
86 Middle St, Portland
Shipyard Brewing Company
(207) 761-0807
86 Newbury St, Portland
Street & Co.
(207) 775-0887
33 Wharf St, Portland
Area Guides and Workshops
None