Puerto Rico

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Maunabo Lighthouse

Rincon Lighthouse

Photographing the

By Efraín M. Padró

A

s a professional nature and travel photographer, I always have a handful of themes when I'm on location photographing for myself. During a recent trip to Puerto Rico one of my themes was lighthouses. The Spanish built 16 lighthouses around this 100 x 35-mile island before the U.S. annexation in 1898. Because of my schedule I could not photograph them all, so I selected a handful of lighthouses based on their condition, location, and accessibility. I then traveled around the island to visit and photograph the selected lighthouses. There are road signs leading to most of the lighthouses I visited, so keep in mind that the Spanish word for lighthouse is "faro" (for you history buffs, the word comes from the island and lighthouse of "Pharos" in the harbor of ancient Alexandria). Here are some tips to help you bring back great images of the Puerto Rico lighthouses.

General Tips Early and late in the day are the best times to photograph lighthouses. Not only will the sunlight be more warm and pleasing, but if the lighthouse is operational the lantern will be

on. Try to avoid harsh, mid-day sun (I usually use this time to scout locations for later), as this will cause excessive contrast and unflattering images. I recommend a polarizing filter to slightly increase the contrast between the blue skies and many clouds you are likely to encounter during your visit. This filter is most effective when the camera position is perpendicular to the sun, and can be rotated to obtain a little more or less contrast. Be careful not to overdo it or the skies will look almost black. If you have them, make sure to pack your wide angle and moderate length lenses (roughly 30mm-60mm range), as you will be able to get close to all but one of the lighthouses described here. A telephoto lens (200mm or longer) might also come in handy for close-up shots of the lighthouses, but if you're trying to save some space and weight, the long lens is the one you could leave home.

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

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Fajardo Lighthouse

and restorations. The current structure's Moorish revival tower is architecturally inconsistent with the castle's massive walls and ramparts, but this incongruity will make your photographs that much more interesting. Mornings are best to photograph the lighthouse and castle walls, and accessibility to the surrounding area is unlimited. There is a US$3.00 fee to enter the castle, which is beautifully maintained and administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Once inside, the lighthouse also photographs well in the afternoon. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/saju/.

Arecibo

Arecibo Lighthouse

El Morro Located atop the battlements of the San Felipe del Morro Castle in Old San Juan (and part of the San Juan National Historic Site), this is the oldest lighthouse in Puerto Rico. The original light station was established in 1846, and since then has undergone many changes

This privately owned lighthouse, originally established in 1898, is part of the Arecibo Lighthouse & Historical Park. In addition to the recently restored lighthouse, the park includes replicas of an Indian village, Spanish galleons, a pirate ship, a mini-zoo, and a snack bar with picnic tables and tremendous views of the Atlantic. If you are traveling with kids, there is plenty for them to do while you photograph the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself, a neo-classic structure, sits above a rocky bluff that is continually being buffeted by ocean waves. An observation deck below the lighthouse includes some very photogenic yellow chairs that you might want to include in your composition (they look great against a blue sky). Keep a rag handy, though, since ocean spray frequently reaches the deck after the waves crash below it. You can also walk up a steep path to the lighthouse, and it is permitted to climb partway up its circular stairs and get a close up view of the main tower. The lighthouse is best photographed in the afternoon. There is an entrance fee (which varies with the time of the year) and a parking fee. For more information, call (787) 880-7540, email [email protected], or visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/arecibo.shtml. Lighthouse Digest

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“If You Go” For general information about visiting Puerto Rico (food, lodging, directions, etc.), visit www.gotopuertorico.com, the official site of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Another excellent site with general information is http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index/shtml. Most major car rental companies (Avis, Budget, and National, for example), as well as a handful of local providers, have facilities at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Parking can be a problem in Old San Juan, so consider taking a taxi when visiting the old town. The official currency in Puerto Rico is the U.S. Dollar, major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, and English is widely spoken. Temperatures are not oppressively hot during the winter months, so this is the best time to visit the island. However, hotel prices are at their

highest during this time. A good alternative is to visit during April and May, when temperatures are still not at their hottest and hotel prices are reasonable. A good choice for budget-minded photographers is the government sponsored "Paradores," a collection of country inns located near many popular destinations. Prices for a double, even during high season, are around US$100. www.gotoparadores.com. Security screening at the San Juan airport, as with all other U.S. airports, is handled by the Transportation Safety Authority (TSA), and the same rules apply: if you are shooting film, hand checks will be honored. Before returning, your checked bags will also need to be inspected (and tagged) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so give yourself a little extra time for this.

Rincón

Cabo Rojo

Administered by the Town of Rincón, a world-class surfing Mecca on Puerto Rico's Northwest corner, the lighthouse is the centerpiece of El Faro Park. The park is nicely landscaped and includes a gift shop, a snack bar with picnic tables, and an overlook with beautiful views of the ocean. During the winter months this is a popular place for whale-watching. The lighthouse was established in 1892, but the original tower was destroyed by a tsunami in 1918. The structure you see today was finished in 1922, and consists of a cylindrical tower with no keeper's quarters. The lighthouse photographs well in the morning or afternoon, but there is no access to its interior. You will not need a telephoto lens here, since you will be standing right next to the tower. There are palm trees and walkways that can be used as compositional elements to frame the lighthouse. You can also walk Northeast and away from the park for photographs showing the lighthouse in context (afternoon shot). There is plenty of free parking and there is no entry fee. For more information, visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/rincon.shtml.

Established in 1882, the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse is located above a spectacular limestone bluff on Puerto Rico's Southwestern corner. Over the years the lighthouse has undergone a number of restorations, the most recent of which was completed in October of 2004. Owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and administered by the Town of Cabo Rojo, the hexagonal lighthouse is located at the end of a bumpy dirt road. The structure is a short walk from the end of the road. The lighthouse is best photographed in the afternoon when the often-spectacular sunsets wash over the structure with pink and orange light. Morning shots are also an alternative, especially from the bluff overlooking the lighthouse from across a small beach to the Southeast. And more than any other lighthouse I photographed, Cabo Rojo offers many opportunities to frame wide angle compositions with a strong foreground subject (such as rocks, grasses, and the bluff below the lighthouse). When I visited Cabo Rojo there was no access to the inside of the lighthouse, but there are plans to allow visitors in the future. There is no fee to visit the surrounding grounds. For more information, visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/caborojo.shtml.

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Maunabo The Maunabo lighthouse is located on Punta Tuna in Southeast Puerto Rico. Established in 1892, the octagonal brick tower and accompanying one-story keeper's quarters are staffed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and are not open to visitors. The lighthouse sits on a high, rocky bluff and is partially surrounded by trees and the ocean, making photographing it a challenge. There is a small beach roughly to its East (morning shot), where your view is almost unobstructed. You can also hike around a rocky outcrop on the structure's West side

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(afternoon shot), where large rocks and crashing waves make for a dramatic foreground. A third possibility is a small beach to the West of the lighthouse, where you can choose palm trees to frame your subject. It is from this spot that I would recommend a long lens if you brought one. As an added bonus, there is a small restaurant across this beach you can visit for dinner after your afternoon shoot. Whatever option you select, note that the Maunabo/Punta Tuna lighthouse is a little hard to find (despite the "Faro" signs you'll see here and there), so ask around once you get to Maunabo. The locals will point you in the right direction. For general information about Maunabo, visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/maunabo.shtml.

Fajardo The Fajardo Lighthouse, established in 1880, sits above Las Cabezas de San Juan (San Juan's Headlands), a set of three promontories that reach into the Atlantic near the Town of Fajardo. The lighthouse is part of the 316-acre Cabezas de San Juan Nature Preserve, administered by the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust and easily one of the natural jewels of the Caribbean. The lighthouse itself has been beautifully restored to insure it is historically accurate (right down to its green, white and gray color scheme). To visit the lighthouse you must make reservations for a two-hour trolley tour of the preserve, which is conducted by trained guides and follows a predetermined route. The tour will include short drives and walks around a dry forest, a lagoon, mangroves, and a beach. Your final stop will be the lighthouse. Make sure to go up the antique iron staircase to the observation deck, where you will enjoy spectacular views of the headlands and ocean to the Northeast, and El Yunque tropical rain forest (probably covered in clouds) to the Southwest. Tours in English start at 2:00 p.m. For more information and reservations, call (787) 772-5882.

Author's Biographical Information Efraín M. Padró is a full-time professional photographer specializing in nature and travel subjects. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Efraín has photographed in such diverse locations as Perú, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Mexico's Baja California Sur, and Puerto Rico. Efraín's work has appeared in Outdoor Photographer, Frommer's Budget Travel, Santa Fean Magazine, and other publications. He also teaches photography and Legal Issues for Visual Artists at various New Mexico schools. Efraín is a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA), and serves in NANPA's Ethics Committee and History Committee. He currently lives with his wife Cathy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To see more of Efraín's work please visit www.padroimages.com.

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

El Morro Lighthouse

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