Lighthouse Dispatches
The view from the drone as it passes over Porphyry Point towards the lighthouse, from 400 feet up, is spectacular.
Another guest is here to challenge people’s perspective by creating a video on “the day in the life” of the staff doing their chores and daily upkeep.
As the drone settles back down to earth, the view offered by this new technology provides us with an opportunity to see how tidy the grounds are looking, with fresh cut grass and straight lines! 
Lighthouses situated in the most prominent positions warn mariners of the reefs and shelves that dot the lake, and even with good weather one sailboat did come aground off the point.
Traffic from visitors exploring the island has been increasing. Families can be found wandering the grounds taking in the newly finished exhibits with more questions than we have answers for.
Descendents from the Andrew Dick family, a former lighthouse keeper from the 1880’s and a Scotsman, toured the site recently to much delight. To see the families eyes light up when they experienced something from their ancestors was a pleasure to witness. In the guest book they write, “We are honoured to be able to visit this site. Thanks for maintaining it for our generation to see.”
Now the drone has been repositioned further down the island to fly over the cove as the summer staff is seen paddling a canoe along the craggy basalt shore. Turquoise water, green forest, and glistening paddles can be seen from above; this is what summers are made for.
Videographer Victor Chimenti, of Costalproductions.com is happy to be back on his second documentation about the island and the inhabitants, as it gives him time to explore further. His work will be seen at the end of the summer at the Movie Nights in the Marina.
Our second Artist in Residence has also arrived to do her thing. Lois Nuttall of Nuttallphotos.com is here to capture still images of the island scenery and the going’s on.
With a camera slung around her neck she is also exploring the island for the best landscapes and portraits. Light is always being assessed from sunrises and to sunsets; and Lois is there to imprison the image forever in a digital archive.
Nuttall shares her experience “the island is very accessible with a variety of places to go and things to do; from the Black Sands Beach and nighttime photography to arctic alpine flora and fauna, there’s an abundance of opportunities”.
Now that we are well into the summer we are looking forward to showcasing and sharing part of the summer experience at the Movie Night on the Waterfront, Friday September 9th., at sundown.
Next week we will be telling you about the Thunder Bay Yacht Club’s annual Rendezvous on Porphyry Island hosted by Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior, and also be sharing a few observations from our writer in residence.