
As we visited Castle Hill Lighthouse, I was reminded of an old Turkish folk tale. The legendary Turkish folk philosopher Nasreddin Hodja is famous for his tales that mix humor and teaching. In one, he comes home with a saz (a long-necked string instrument) and his wife says, “you don’t know how to play it, why did you bring it home?” He tells her to wait until after supper. And, later he picks up the long neck of the instrument at one point and starts hitting the strings, without moving his other hand; trrrumm, trrumm, … After a while, his wife says, “I saw other people playing it, they move their hands and fingers up and down on the neck.” He replies, “they are looking for this very spot!” Trrrmmm, trrrmmm, …
In the same spirit, I am sharing the photographs that many of my friends have been searching for in their multitude of Castle Hill Lighthouse photographs! As I say this, I have my tongue in my cheek, of course!
I had never been to Castle Hill, indeed I have not been to see many lighthouses beyond the Annisquam Lighthouse and the Beavertail Lighthouse, both by chance. Jim heard that I had never been to see the popular photographic subject, and asked me to go there with him. Yesterday morning, he picked me up at 10 AM and drove us to Castle Hill. We parked in the parking lot of the Castle Hill Inn, it was not too crowded.
A Long Hike For Me
Then I realized the road to the lighthouse started with a steep downhill and asked Jim how long would be the hike. He assured me that there was another way that I could take from the lighthouse that was downhill. I could not quite understand how I could go downhill to the lighthouse and then downhill again to another spot, where he would pick me up. As we went downhill and had a stretch of level path, the answer became obvious. There was a steep climb at the other end too! Walking very slowly and stopping to take photographs of different things that captured my attention, we finally made it to the top of the short hill to see the lighthouse.
The Definitive Photographs of Castle Hill Lighthouse
In the spirit of Nasreddin Hodja playing the instrument he never played, I am presenting you the “definitive” photographs of the lighthouse you have all been trying to take! Along the way, I enjoyed other things, like a tree root that mimicked an octopus, a dead tree pretending to be reclining, the rocks that were decorated by lichen, and the like. After I took the “definitive” photographs of the lighthouse, it was time to return to the parking lot. Again, walking quite slowly, we made it back to the car, quite out of breath!
Backroads in Newport are not like how most people imagine, the ocean, yachts, mansions, etc. We drove back to where we had seen some sheep grazing to see if there was anything to photograph. They were too far away, behind a locked gate and we did not have a long lens to reach. So, I took a few photographs of the rural backroads of Newport with fall colors. Then it was time for lunch at the deli in Jamestown.
On the way out, I noticed the lamp-post reaching its head to the clouds. That made it worth doing my annual exercise (!) by going up and down the hillside!
Haluk Atamal
Distraction due to overflow of mind and visual energy is not too uncommon but close to rare.
You have that marvellous trait – use it as you enjoy it!
Fantastic captures as per usual. Thanks Cemal!
A. Cemal Ekin
Thank you Haluk.
Cemal
James Turner
This marquis image of Castle Hill lighthouse with its pointed spire on top of its lid perfectly rests on the frame acting as if it is a fulcrum to which the frame itself is balanced……To me that is the image that made this trip worthwhile…..
A. Cemal Ekin
Yes, indeed, the end of the spire touches the top edge with no accident at all. It is to show that it can puncture it, and also to show as if it is hanging from the frame like a fancy ornament. I’m sure there are photograph with similar framing but probably not as precise! Thank you for noticing the finer points Jim.
Cemal