Nubble Lighthouse (formally known as Cape Neddick Light Station) is among the most heavily visited and photographed lighthouses on the southern coast of Maine. "The Nubble", as it is often called by locals, sits just off the mainland on small Nubble Island near York, Maine.

In the late 1870s, after numerous boat wreckages, a lighthouse was constructed along the rough shoreline here. It was placed in service in July 1879. Since then, the lighthouse has played an important role in guiding ships through the perilous waters. The light itself is visible for 13 nautical miles to help mariners around reefs and shoals.

For over a century, the Nubble was manned by 13 different lighthouse keepers and their families, who lived on the small island in close proximity and view of the mainland. In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated, spelling the end of the full-time keeper era.

Over the Holiday Season, Christmas lights are turned on the lighthouse structures, making them even more photogenic than usual, especially at dusk and dawn. When I saw a forecast that included fresh snow and good potential for a colorful sky, I quickly decided to spend the previous night close to the lighthouse so that I could be there at dawn the next morning.

It turned out to be the most colorful sunrise I have experienced at this location so far. Snow usually melts quickly on Nubble Island, so the combination of fresh snow, Holiday lights, and sky drama was a very special event. I wanted a higher perspective than possible from the ground to include the sky's reflection, so I took my drone at sunrise for this photo.