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Maunabo Lighthouse Rincon Lighthouse

Photographing the

By Efraín M. Padró 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 unflat-

A
s a professional nature and travel photographer, I always have tering images.
a handful of themes when I'm on location photographing for I recommend a polarizing filter to slightly increase
myself. During a recent trip to Puerto Rico one of my themes the contrast between the blue skies and many
was lighthouses. The Spanish built 16 lighthouses around this clouds you are likely to encounter during your
100 x 35-mile island before the U.S. annexation in 1898. Because of visit. This filter is most effective when the camera
my schedule I could not photograph them all, so I selected a handful of position is perpendicular to the sun, and can be
lighthouses based on their condition, location, and accessibility. I then rotated to obtain a little more or less contrast.
traveled around the island to visit and photograph the selected light- Be careful not to overdo it or the skies will look
houses. There are road signs leading to most of the lighthouses I almost black.
visited, so keep in mind that the Spanish word for lighthouse is If you have them, make sure to pack your
"faro" (for you history buffs, the word comes from the island and wide angle and moderate length lenses
lighthouse of "Pharos" in the harbor of ancient Alexandria). (roughly 30mm-60mm range), as you
Here are some tips to help you bring back great images of the will be able to get close to all but one of
Puerto Rico lighthouses. the lighthouses described here. A tele-
photo lens (200mm or longer) might also
General Tips come in handy for close-up shots of the
Early and late in the day are the best times to photograph lighthouses, but if you're trying to save
lighthouses. Not only will the sunlight be more warm and some space and weight, the long lens is the
pleasing, but if the lighthouse is operational the lantern will be 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 ram-
parts, 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 unlim-
ited. 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 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
Arecibo
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 photo-
graph the lighthouse.
The lighthouse itself, a neo-classic structure, sits above a rocky
bluff that is continually being buffeted by ocean waves. An obser-
vation 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 light-
house, 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 pho-
tographed in the afternoon. There is an entrance fee (which varies
with the time of the year) and a parking fee. For more informa-
tion, call (787) 880-7540, email lighthousespr@hotmail.com, or
visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/arecibo.shtml.

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“If You Go”
1 For general information about visiting Puerto Rico (food, lodging, direc-
tions, 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.
2 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.
3 Parking can be a problem in Old San Juan, so consider taking a taxi when
visiting the old town.
4 The official currency in Puerto Rico is the U.S. Dollar, major credit cards
are accepted almost everywhere, and English is widely spoken.
5 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
Rincón
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 infor-
mation, visit http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/rincon.shtml.
30 Lighthouse Digest July 2006
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 reason-
able. 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.
6 Security screening at the San Juan airport, as with all other U.S. air-
ports, 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.
Cabo Rojo
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 restora-
tions, 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 fore-
ground 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.
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 reserva-
tions, 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 photog-
raphy 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.

El Morro Lighthouse Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

Lighthouse Digest July 2006 31