Maude Svensson
October 2025 - The Lighthouse Keeper
About the Image(s)
At the International Lighthouse Day in August I visited the old port with its three lighthouses and a pilot's lookout in Ratan, Northern Sweden. The Rataskar was the lighthouse where the father of the man in the picture used to work as lighthouse keeper. The father was the last lighthouse keeper and left his position as late as 1971. Since that, the lighthouse has stood more or less untouched.
I found the history so interesting and asked the man if I could take his picture. I converted it into black and white because I felt it made it timeless.
5 comments posted
I especially like the man's far-a-way gaze which captures a sense of someone with a comfort in his surroundings and an appreciation for the history of the place. Posted: 10/05/2025 22:11:26
Maude, I'm a great fan of mono portraits and this is one that I certainly would like to have taken. Mono was a good choice to avoid distractions and I like the composition with the man's hand and arm leading the viewer up this face with its wistful expression. The assorted bits and pieces around him add context. And as you say, an image which tells a story of the past as well as the present. Posted: 10/12/2025 08:29:06
I had no idea there was such a thing as International Lighthouse day. His 1000 yard stare speaks to the solitude and loneliness of the lighthouse keeper's life. The texture of his clothes, the ruggedness of his face and the paraphenalia around him echo the bleakness and hardness of such a life. A great environmental portrait. I love his hat. I had one like it but lost it after doing a portraiture class at a camera club. Posted: 10/13/2025 08:45:15
Great environmental portrait. Nicely composed with tonal variations. The expression in his eyes as he is leaning forward in his chair amidst his surroundings tells a good story. The scene is well suited for monochrome. Well done, Maude. Posted: 10/13/2025 14:10:26
Maude--The man really seems to be "of" this environment. His face speaks volumes about the hard, lonely life of a lighthouse keeper. The hands are a major element for me; they suggest the struggle of life in the old days when men had to be tough to get the job done. There are just enough details with the lantern and chart on the wall to tell the story of the location. This is a wonderful portrait and monochrome is the certainly right choice. Posted: 10/19/2025 16:01:07