Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the most iconic lighthouses on the scenic Oregon Pacific Coast. Built in 1894 and still functioning, its beam is visible for 34km out to sea. Now part of Devil’s Elbow State Park, the lighthouse is readily accessible to visitors, as well as the adjoining Cape Creek Bridge and beach.

This particular photographic composition is frequently seen and has been on my “bucket list” for some time. Several overlooks along the Pacific Coast Highway provide a variety of angles and backdrops. In this case, I was hoping to take advantage of the light mid-July fog to capture the beam cutting into the night sky.

While conditions never aligned for the shot I intended, I was able to get several long-exposure images as the setting sun lit up the horizon through the marine layer.

For this particular image, I chose my 70-200mm telephoto to frame the lighthouse and headland upon which it stands more tightly. In addition, I opted for a long exposure (5 seconds) to smooth the water as it surged into the bay in the foreground.

I spent considerable time counting off the rotation of the beam in order to capture the lamp at its brightest point from my position. It was a bit of a challenge to time with the long exposure, but after several failed attempts, I started to get the hang of it! I plan to return to Haceta Head at some point to explore other vantage points that I am interested in, but for now, I am happy to have this image in my collection.