This time I am sharing images of The Egyptian Lighthouse for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness. It is among the oldest lighthouses in the world, and it stands as a testament to maritime history, guiding sailors safely into the harbor for centuries. I tried to add an old photo touch to them to invoke a sense of nostalgia, highlighting the lighthouse’s timeless charm and the stories it could tell if only its walls could speak.
I captured a solitary man sitting on a wooden bench by the waterfront, facing the prominent Egyptian Lighthouse. The lighthouse stands tall on a rugged stone pier, with a small group of people visible at the base, adding a sense of scale and human presence. The foreground reflects the soft light, while the clear sky enhances a tranquil and contemplative atmosphere. What I wanted was to depict architectural strength intertwined with quiet solitude, utilizing monochromatic tones that emphasize texture and contrast to evoke some emotions in this and all the other photos I edited for this post.
The Egyptian Lighthouse is one of the oldest in the world and is located in the old harbor of Chania. It’s a stone structure that sits at the end of the breakwater, serving as a “guard” for the old Venetian harbor and is actually the most photographed spot in the Prefecture.
The Venetians built it in the late 16th century, but it was later rebuilt by the Egyptians between 1830 and 1840 when Crete was under the regent of Egypt, Mehmet Ali. By the time the Ottoman Empire was winding down, they had added a ladder on the east side and some pipes for seawater to flow under its base. The lighthouse stands 21 meters tall, covers an area of 26 square meters, and its light can be seen from about 7 nautical miles away. It has an octagonal base, a part with 16 angles in the middle, and a circular top.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 
Love monochromatic photography . . . it somehow tells the ‘real’ story. Interesting history to tell in a current idiom . . . love the balance you have achieved twixt ‘then’ and ‘now’ in the photo you term ‘3’ the weather gracefully having taken a backseat . . .
I love the olde worlde feel of your introductory photo. And it’s complemented by the shot of the contemplative man on the bench. A lovely small series.
I very much like and admire your photographs, but I truly enjoyed your narrative. Thanks, Ritva, through your creativity I had an experience I’d never have been able to have otherwise. pp
These are gorgeous.
A fabulous lighthouse Ritva. Great monochrome photos and information.
Beautiful they have such a timeless feel and the composition is awesome!
Beautiful..
Old lighthouses are so interesting. I’m going to have to some research on it. It is an interesting shape too, very narrow. I don’t normally think this, but I do like the people around it too. Great monochrome images Ritva.