PLEASE SHARE
At my own expense, I offer all of this to you: a humble tribute to Mother Gaia. It is my hope that you will spread my art and message to others, uplifting and inspiring their souls.
May my works guide photographers illuminating their path toward creating stunning and impactful images that show the raw beauty and essence of life in all its transcendent glory. —Pamela Goodyer
When to Go: WARNING: THERE IS NOW A POLICE PATROL AT THIS LOCATION. We no longer recommend going to the castle due to the security. There is also a satellite dish and cameras hanging on the building that will ruin your pictures. They also barricaded the already treacherous trail so you cannot get through.
We spoke to the castle keeper, and they are trying to deter people from going here because it is very dangerous, especially in the dark.
THERE IS NOW A POLICE PATROL AT THIS LOCATION. There are now cameras all around the castle.
The Catskill Mountains contain some of the darkest skies on the east coast. When we turned our flashlights off at this castle, we could not see a thing! We literally could not see our hands in front of our faces. This is a Milky Way Photography Hot Spot. If you don’t already know, you need dark skies to see and photograph the Milky Way at night. Go to our other pages to learn more about Milky Way photography and get more details and resources. Check out the dark sky map – Go to Dark Sky Photography Info. For information on how to do night sky photography, go here.
Don’t go to Dundas Castle alone! – We highly recommend you go here with someone. There are entities here, for sure! Check out our new Ghost Hunting Photography Section in October. This trip inspired the new section. I assure you, we were not alone!
Check out the Milky Way and our other images.
HAUNTED DUNDAS CASTLE IN NEW YORK
Dundas Castle, located in the depths of New York’s countryside, is now infamous for its haunting thanks to us. The story goes that a young girl lived here with her husband, and her ghost has lingered ever since. But she is not alone. We felt the castle also harbors another spirit of a man who most likely was her husband. During our photo shoot, we captured an image of her silhouette in one of the castle windows. Some believe it to be the ghostly presence of the young girl, forever trapped in this haunted place. We couldn’t resist returning here for another supernatural encounter, even though we’ve been warned of the dangers that lurk within these cursed walls. This is our second article about Dundas Castle, which continues to haunt us long after we leave its eerie halls. See the image of the young girl here and read about more of the haunting. See the picture of the entity in the window.
MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY AT DUNDAS CASTLE
If you are looking for a breathtaking spot to photograph the Milky Way, look no further than Dundas Castle! This Scottish castle is set against the stunning backdrop of the night sky, making it the perfect place to capture some truly magical photos. But there are now security cameras and cameras, so we do not suggest you travel here.
Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or a beginner just getting started, Dundas Castle offers plenty of photographic opportunities. But beware: not only is it the scariest place in this realm, but it also has massive security now. Sorry.
GHOST HUNTING IN NEW YORK
Are you looking for a little bit of excitement? Why not go ghost hunting at Dundas Castle? This Scottish castle is said to be home to several ghosts, including that of a young girl who died in a fire. Visitors have reported seeing her ghostly figure roaming the halls. Other spirits said to haunt the castle include a man wearing 18th-century clothing and a woman in a white dress. If you’re feeling brave, explore the castle at night and see if you can spot any of these ghosts!
DARK SKIES IN NEW YORK
New York has various natural attractions and is one of the country’s largest and most popular states. From the city’s bright lights to the stunning Adirondack Mountains, the Empire State has something for everyone.
But did you know that New York is also home to some of the best stargazing opportunities in the country? New York offers incredible night sky views thanks to its large size and diverse geography. Look up and enjoy the dark skies of New York State. And do a better job shooting the Milky Way than we did. This was long ago, and we didn’t get it right. If you go and don’t end up in a jail cell and get the Milky Way, send it to us with your credits and story, and we will post it!
BEST TIME TO GO
It is not a great place to go anymore due to the cameras and security.
HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH
If you risk it, set aside at least two hours, even more if the Milky Way is in the sky.
WHAT ELSE TO BRING
Hiking boots. This castle is on the side of a steep area and not an easy climb. Bring flashlights and backup flashlights!! It’s crazy, scary, and as dark as it can get. Bring some bug spray seasonally.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEARBY
This is a dark sky photography area. You can do Milky Way photography here.
HOW BUSY IS IT?
Not many ever dare go here!
SHUTTER PRIORITY:
If you have moving subjects, you will want to shoot in shutter priority to ensure your shutter speed is high enough to have your subject in sharp focus. Approximately 1/250th of a second is appropriate for people walking by, and adjust your ISO accordingly. If they are moving fast, increase your shutter speed to about 1/500th of a second. A fast bird flying by would be shot at about 1/1000th of a second. If it’s a bright sunny day, go as high as 1/1200th of a second. Remember, the higher your shutter speed, the less light comes into the camera. For More Details, see our Shutter Priority Page.
MANUAL MODE:
You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots if you have moving waters at the location. You will have to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and your neutral density filter. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f22 or the highest f-stop your camera will allow. Your shutter speed will be the only variable depending on the light. Roll your shutter speed until your meter reads zero. (In the center) Use your shutter release or 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when exposing. You will want at least a 2-second exposure for milky water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you may not get more than 1/15th of a second in the sun.
You can buy an ND filter here. We highly suggest you do not go anywhere without one. Long exposure for moving waters makes all the difference between lifeless images and outstanding, dynamic images.
APERTURE PRIORITY:
Aperture Priority is often used to blur the background of your images and control your depth of field (how much from the subject to the background is in focus). For more information on this – see our Aperture page
ISO:
The higher you set it, the more light is when exposing an image. The higher the number, the more digital noise, so stay below 800. If you need to go higher to get the shot, you can use Topaz Denoise to filter out the digital noise later. See the ISO page here.
WHITE BALANCE:
Be sure to set your white balance each time the lighting changes. Auto mode is not always accurate on many cameras, and we prefer to set it manually. It’s one of the easier basics of photography to master. If you need more help, you can get some more details here. See the white balance page here.
LIGHT POLLUTION MAP:
CAMERA:
You will need a camera to control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture manually.
LENS:
A fast, wide-angle lens of 1.4 – 2.8 is ideal. If you use a 3.5 or higher (slower lens), you must increase the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more grain or digital noise will appear in your photos.
TRIOPD:
A good, sturdy tripod is essential for night photography. If it gets windy, you will need a sturdy one. Remember that when you buy one, it should be sturdy enough to withstand the wind but small enough to fit in your suitcase.
SKY MAP:
Sky Guide is available through the iTunes Store for $1.99. It has a 5 out of 5-star rating on both the current (3.2) version (1200+ ratings) and all previous versions (8600+ ratings).
FLASHLIGHT:
Our choice is Coast brand for flashlights. The ideal flashlight will have high lumens, and you can zoom in and out on the light emitting from the flashlight. Get the HP7, PX45, or the G50. Ideally, go with the HP7.
MOON PHAZE MAP:
The best time to go is during a new moon; you want to be in the darkest area possible. The week before the new moon, when the moon has not risen, is a perfect time to go, so be sure to check the moonrise chart to see when the moon will be up.
REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE:
When painting with light and over a 30-second exposure, you must have a shutter release to use your bulb mode. You can use the remote release or your camera’s built-in two-second timer when exposing your pictures.
ENTRANCE FEES:
This has no entrance fee.
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee of between $6 and $10 for day use. Parks may also charge additional fees for amenities like pools and picnic shelter reservations. Historic sites generally charge an admission fee of between $1 and $6. For more information about park and historic site fees and hours, including when fees are charged, please contact the facility directly. Contact information for our facilities can be found on our website’s park and historic site pages. New York State Parks offers certain discounts through the admission programs listed here. For more information, please visit the following links:
ADMISSION PROGRAMS:
Empire Passport—Your key to all-season enjoyment at New York State Parks. Passports are available for different lengths of time, from one year to multiple years or the Lifetime Empire Passport. All Empire Passports provide unlimited day-use vehicle entry to most state parks and recreation facilities.
CAMPING
Why not consider staying in one of New York’s beautiful state parks? Imagine pitching a tent near the St. Lawrence River or one of the beautiful lakes, waking up in your recreational vehicle surrounded by the majesty of the woods, or cooking breakfast in a cabin overlooking the “Grand Canyon of the East.”
Did you know you save 15-20% by reserving a weeknight* campsite? (*Sunday-Thursday, excluding holidays) For information about camping in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, visit
Reservations
Arranging a stay at a New York state park is easy! Reservations can be made from 1 day – to 9 months in advance by calling toll-free 1-800-456-CAMP for a spur-of-the-moment trip; rentals are also available on a walk-up basis.
