In the spring of 2011, photographer Alison Shaw began shooting the five Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses on assignment for Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. Though Alison had been a visitor to the Island since childhood and a resident there since she graduated Smith College in 1975, the Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses were one subject she had scarcely photographed. But once she began the project, photographing the lighthouses quickly evolved into a passion—and her book To the Harbor Light, published by Vineyard Stories.

To the Harbor Light is the result of 1,500 miles of trekking: 60 miles over sand and more than 300 over water. While some lighthouses, like Oak Bluffs’ East Chop were right in Alison’s backyard, others were nearly unreachable. At times, Alison had to wait hours for the tide to recede before being able to cross the stone breakwater that leads to Provincetown’s Wood End lighthouse, and when shooting in late fall and early the winter, Alison constantly had to monitor weather conditions.

Please enjoy this collection of images celebrating the five Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses, plus additional selections from Nantucket and Cape Cod, from To the Harbor Light.

CAPE COD, NANTUCKET & MARTHA’S VINEYARD LIGHTHOUSES

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Alison Shaw

Do you have a favorite of the many Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses?

See more of Alison’s work as well as information about this book and her other titles, at: alisonshaw.com

This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.