Lighthouse Register

The language of flashes

Every light has a rhythm of its own.

A single flash every ten seconds, a group of three, an occlusion where the dark is shorter than the light

A long-exposure of the north light turning through one full period.
A long-exposure of the north light turning through one full period.
The same light at dusk, before the lamp was lit.
The same light at dusk, before the lamp was lit.

Mariners read the pattern, never the brightness, because brightness lies in fog and pattern does not.

Fog rolling in from the west — the horn took over within the hour.
Fog rolling in from the west — the horn took over within the hour.

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