Whiteford Lighthouse Landscape Photography Gary Whiteford Lighthouse Landscape Photography

Whiteford Lighthouse Landscape Photography – The Gift of Light!

Photographing Whiteford Lighthouse on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales
by Gary Gough, Professional Photographer

Capturing the haunting beauty of Whiteford Lighthouse has been on my photography bucket list for years. This isolated, cast‑iron wonder sits on the northwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula, surrounded by ever‑shifting sands and tidal waters. In this in‑depth blog post I’ll share my step‑by‑step journey, three trips in total. The lessons I learned, and my best tips for shooting sunset, sunrise and long exposures at this magnificent location.

In this video I set out to capture images of the iconic, and frankly, awesome-looking, Whiteford Lighthouse

This is my incredible e-bike Crazy powerful and comes with a twist grip for off-roading 👍👍👍👍

My Three‑Trip Adventure to Whiteford Lighthouse

Trip One, total disaster
A couple of weeks ago, my mate Lee and I set off on what we thought would be a straightforward day trip from our base in West Yorkshire down to South Wales. Our goal was simple, photograph Whiteford Lighthouse at golden hour. Instead, we got lost twice on the narrow paths leading to the remote area of Whiteford Sands. By the time we arrived, Lee’s electric bike chain had snapped. We found ourselves pushing that e‑bike nearly two miles back to the van, muddy boots and all, before Lee could drive an hour to fetch replacement parts. Lesson learned.

Trip Two, perfect conditions but forgotten filters
Undeterred, I returned solo the very next morning. Tide tables were on my side and the sky promised clear, pastel‑hued reflections on the shallow pools around the lighthouse. I arrived just before dawn, set up my tripod and composed my shot, I realised I’d left both my ND and graduated ND filters back at the van. Rookie error! Without my filters I couldn’t slow the shutter enough for the silky water effect I’d envisioned. I made do with a few single exposures.

Trip Three, success at last (sort of)
My third attempt proved a little more successful. I arrived two hours before sunset. The weather was great and the light, excellent. I captured a series of long exposures as the waves lapped at the base of the lighthouse, and even managed a few rich, warm sunset frames as the light dipped below the horizon. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the result of persistence, planning and hard work.

Tips for Capturing a Sunset at Whiteford Lighthouse

1. Arrive Early

   • Sunset: Scout compositions at least 60 minutes before golden hour so you can adjust as the light changes.

   • Sunrise: Plan to be onsite 90 minutes before first light to catch the full range of pre‑dawn colours.

2. Use a Sturdy Tripod
   Coastal breezes at Whiteford Sands can shake your setup. A solid, heavy tripod ensures razor‑sharp frames.

3. Compose for Reflection
   At low tide, shallow pools form around the lighthouse. Position your camera low to capture mirror‑like reflections of the structure against the sky.

4. Bracket Your Exposures
   The dynamic range between the bright sky and darker foreground can be extreme. Bracketing (e.g. −2 EV, 0 EV, +2 EV) allows you to blend exposures later for a balanced final image.

5. Shoot in RAW
   RAW files retain all the detail you need to recover highlights in the sky and shadows in the wet sand.

Mastering Long Exposures by the Sea

• Neutral Density Filters
  A 6‑stop ND filter is a great starting point for 10–30 second exposures during daylight or twilight. Graduated NDs help balance bright skies with darker foregrounds.

• Remote or Cable Release
  Even the slightest camera shake can ruin a 20‑second exposure. Use a remote trigger or your camera’s built‑in timer.

• Low ISO & Small Aperture
  Keep ISO at 100 (or your camera’s base ISO) and choose an aperture between f/8 and f/16 to maximise sharpness and depth of field.

• Check for Water Droplets
  Spray from the waves can land on your filter or lens. Carry a lens cloth and give it a quick wipe between shots.

How to Get to Whiteford Lighthouse

Whiteford Lighthouse Landscape Photography

1. By Car

   • From Swansea, take the A4118 west towards Llanmadoc.

   • In Llanmadoc, follow signs for “Whiteford Sands.”

   • Turn off onto the minor lane leading to the small Whiteford Sands car park (GOOGLE MAPS).

2. Parking and Walk

   • The car park holds around 30 vehicles. Arrive early on weekends and in summer to secure a spot.

   • From the car park, it’s approximately a 1.6‑mile walk across the sands to the lighthouse. Wear sturdy, waterproof boots, avoid incoming tides.

3. Tide Awareness

   • Check  tide times – If you intend to walk out to the lighthouse, DO NOT head there during an incoming tide!

Final Thoughts

Photographing Whiteford Lighthouse is as much about the journey as the destination. Those three trips taught me the importance of preparation, gear checks and local research. When you finally nail that perfect sunset reflection or long exposure of crashing waves against its cast‑iron walls, you’ll know every muddy boot print and broken bike chain was worth it.

If you have questions about gear, shooting techniques or planning your own trip, drop a comment below. And don’t forget to check out the full behind‑the‑scenes video on my YouTube channel for even more tips and outtakes from this adventure.

Happy shooting,

Gary Gough
Professional Photographer | West Yorkshire
www.garygoughphotography.co.uk

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