What a Difference a Wire Makes

A multitude of wires and a telephone pole block the view of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse.

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse has been aiding navigation for mariners since 1858. Today, this historic structure is a popular tourist destination, especially for photography enthusiasts. There must be thousands of pictures by people visiting 103 146th Street in Ocean City, Maryland every season.

The main problem with those pictures, whether taken with a large camera or a smart phone, is the many wires crossing the scene and that huge telephone pole right out in front of the lighthouse. Compare the two photographs below and you can see how just removing the “extras” can improve the image.

image of the fenwick island lighthouse with wires and pole
Original photo of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse with wires and the telephone pole.
Image of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse with wires removed
Fenwick Island Lighthouse with wires and telephone pole removed.

As you can see there is a world of difference between the two images. The only other changes were the building were “straightened” to remove the keystone effect of pointing the camera upward – notice how the two keepers’ houses are leaning in toward the center. And there was also a bit of cropping done to remove most of the street in the foreground and give the overall photograph a more “normal” shape that fits nicely in a frame, such as 36″x24″ or 18″x12″ to hang on your wall.

In addition, the use of a bit of creative editing in post processing and some artistic license can present this image in many variations. In addition to wall art photographs, these variations are also available on a variety of home decor products, such as throw pillows, coffee mugs, shower curtains, ornaments and even jigsaw puzzles. (See the menu to the right.)

Link: Click HERE to see a gallery of Fenwick Island Lighthouse photographs and home decor items.

Link: Click here to purchase the “wires-removed” photograph above.

5 Replies to “What a Difference a Wire Makes”

  1. It will be interesting to see how you develop the site. What is the history of the lighthouse? It would be intriguing to see some really old photos of it if available!

    1. The site will be mostly a shopping portal for wall art and home decor items based on my photography. I will include a history section and some old photos from the National Archives and/or Library of Congress. I do not want to compete with The “New” Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse at https://fenwickislandlighthouse.org/.

  2. I’m always amazed by the number of “fine art” photographers that don’t pay attention to distracting details. It is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. Hopefully your article will motivate a few to spend a bit more time and creating a “finished” photo rather than a simple snap shot!

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