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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Six: Vantage Point makes the difference > Phantom, Cape Disappointment, Oregon, 2006
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08-JUN-2006

Phantom, Cape Disappointment, Oregon, 2006

In 1898, the North Head Lighthouse was built just north of Cape Disappointment -- a storm-swept graveyard of sailing ships. It is still in operation. Do shipwrecked ghosts still haunt this lighthouse? If so, could this be one of them? Using the image stabilization feature of my camera, I was able to hand-hold this image at one full second in the dark stairwell of the lighthouse as a fellow photographer, unaware of my presence, came walking up the steps. There is some minor blurring of the stairs and wall, but it supports the central point of the image: movement in time. When my fellow photographer saw me, he stopped in his tracks and looked up, blurring only his face. He graciously apologized for “ruining” my picture. Yet he gave me exactly what I wanted. A phantom. It is the face and the shadow coming out of the body that gives up the ghost here – a function of my high vantage point.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1s f/2.8 at 7.4mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis26-Jun-2006 17:57
I knew you would like this image as soon as I saw it, Kal. It is very Khogalian in its mood, technique, and expression of mystery.
Kal Khogali26-Jun-2006 13:24
EAch shadow of a railing lies perfectly along the line of each step...incredible Phil...I am in love with this image. K
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2006 18:48
The vantage point was critical here, Jenene. As for making contact with me, this spirit seems about to do just that. Not just with me, however. With all of us. I love your phantom too -- the happy lady has no idea what is hovering about her, and it is that incongruity that makes your image so special.
JSWaters19-Jun-2006 17:01
I really like the angle from which you shot this, Phil. Instead of moving in time though, to me, your phantom is moving across time - will he make contact with you? What secrets from the graveyard of sailing ships does he have to share? The color of his clothing and skin lends an almost monster like quality to him, not so shadowy, more tangible, and thus much more disturbing. I captured my own phantom recently herehttp://www.pbase.com/jswaters/image/61498083
Phil Douglis18-Jun-2006 18:29
Who do you think I was thinking of when I made this shot, Kal? We don't often get a chance to photograph spirits.
Kal Khogali18-Jun-2006 14:38
My favourite type of image. Dark and disturbing. the shadow says more than the figure in detail...wonderful. K
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