Portland Head Light, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine is the quintessential lighthouse and one the most photographed lighthouses in America. How was I going to find a unique angle on a vertical canvas that captured its dramatic beauty? I started sketching this magnificent light in March but did not find the right composition until late August when the prominent shadows gave me the depth I was looking for. To add further drama, I reduced the number of colors I was witnessing to green granite rocks, black shadows, and a cream-colored sky. Gray distant clouds added the final touch and made this beautiful scene bolder with a greater depth perspective.