ROSCOE NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY
Located in Sullivan County, New York, Roscoe is a small community with a population of approximately 541 residents according to the 2010 census; it sits in the southwestern part of Rockland, along New York State Route 17. The town proudly embraces two renowned rivers: the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc Creek.
MILKY WAY SKIES
Roscoe is also a hot spot for Milky Way photography. Its skies are some of the darkest in the state. At Roscoe, the inky night sky transforms into a stunning Milky Way photography hot spot. This destination offers unparalleled views of the starry expanse above in an area renowned for its deep, velvety black skies. The crisp air tingles with anticipation as photographers set up their equipment and await the perfect shot. Here, the stars shine brighter and more fiercely than anywhere else, creating a mesmerizing backdrop for any photographer’s vision. As you gaze up at the vastness of space, it’s hard not to feel like a speck in the grand scheme of things. But at this moment, under the twinkling lights of Roscoe, you are part of something truly magical and wondrous. SEE BELOW FOR HOW TO SHOOT MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY.
PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS IN TOWN
O&W RAILWAY MUSEUM
MUSEUM HOURS
The season starts on Memorial Day weekend and ends on Columbus Day weekend. The museum is open Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 3 pm if you want to explore the inside, but you can photograph the outside anytime.
The Roscoe O&W Railway Museum proudly showcases a collection of historical treasures, including a main building, caboose, trout car, and shanties. These artifacts serve as a reminder of the rich railway transportation history in New York, particularly the influential New York Ontario & Western Railway, which operated from 1868 to 1957. Additionally, the museum houses memorabilia from Rockland and its surrounding areas, making it a valuable resource for learning about the town’s past.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEAR ROSCOE NY
BEAVERKILL COVERED BRIDGE
You can also photograph the Beaverkill Covered Bridge at 3 Ragin Rd, Roscoe, NY 12776. This true visual gem is a short drive from Roscoe. Built in the late 19th century, this historic wooden bridge spans the Beaverkill River, offering stunning views and a captivating glimpse into the past.
As you approach the bridge, you are immediately struck by the deafening silence surrounding it. The tranquility is only interrupted by the gentle flow of water beneath, creating a soothing melody that carries through the air. The Beaverkill Covered Bridge is a true visual gem. The Beaverkill River, winding its way through the heart of Roscoe, offers a serene and picturesque setting for photographers and visitors alike.
DUNDAS CASTLE
The Dundas Castle in Roscoe, NY, has been the site of our most cherished adventures. The once-accessible place is no longer accessible, and it is now heavily guarded and monitored by security and cameras. However, we can’t resist sharing our memories of it and urging you to read our articles before the strict surveillance was put in place.
Milky Way Photography at Dundas Castle – Ghost Hunting Dundas Castle
THE ROCKLAND HOUSE MOTEL, BAR AND RESTAURANT
The Absolute best place to eat and stay in Roscoe, New York
The food was phenomenal, and the quiet, comfortable motel room was priced right. The service was outstanding. The salad bar was packed with various foods, and the night’s soup was tomato soup. The meals come with a soup and salad bar. There is no way on this planet you will leave here hungry. We love the sign out front!! Eat Here, or We Will Both Starve!!
Wi-Fi – Free parking – Handicap Accessible – Air-conditioned – Pet-friendly – Kid-friendly
~Restaurant Hours~ Monday thru Thursday 5-9 – Friday & Saturday 5-10, Sunday 4-9
*Holidays & Winter Time Subject to Change* ~Bar Hours~ Monday thru Thursday 4-? Friday 3-? Saturday & Sunday 2-?
ROSCOE NEW YORK COMMUNITY
The community is a popular stopping point for people traveling along Route 17 (between New York City and Binghamton, New York) because the facilities are right by the highway’s access road. These include gas stations, convenience stores, and, of course, the Roscoe Diner.
We discovered a fabulous restaurant on our journey. We wouldn’t be surprised if people travel from miles around to go to the Rockland House Restaurant. We also enjoyed a great stay at the adjoining motel. We did Milky Way photography all night and rolled in for a good night’s sleep around 1 a.m. This very quiet and spotless motel is run by excellent management. Check out the photos of the salad bar and the serene area of the motel. We immensely enjoyed our stay.
GEAR LIST FOR SHOOTING MILKY WAY
LIGHT POLLUTION MAP:
CAMERA:
You will need a camera to manually control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
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 or grain 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. When exposing your pictures in general, you can use the remote release or use your camera’s built-in two-second timer.
CAMERA SETTINGS FOR MILKY WAY
ISO:
Start with ISO 1600 – 3200. This is just a common starting point, and you will adjust from here.
Shutter Speed – Remember, the earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. We want crisp, non-star trail images. Here is the formula to avoid star trails—the 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you are using a crop sensor camera, first do the math of the crop sensor to find the focal length. Cannon is 1.6, Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.
APERTURE:
Depth of field isn’t critical on these shots, but letting the light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open if. If the depth of field is essential to you, try not to go too high. (wide open =the lowest aperture your camera will allow). You will have to increase the ISO some, giving you digital noise.
SHUTTER SPEED:
Now that the ISO and aperture are set in manual mode, roll your shutter speed until your meter reads (0) zero. Take a test shot and adjust from there. Remember, the earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. You can make star trails specifically, but that’s not what we are going for here since we started with Milky Way photography. We want crisp, non-star trail images when doing this.
Here is the formula to avoid star trails—the 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you are using a crop sensor camera, first do the math of the crop sensor to find the focal length. Cannon is 1.6, Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.
WHITE BALANCE:
In live view mode, you can change your white balance settings and see what it will look like. You can shoot in shade or cloud mode as a standard setting and adjust things later when editing.
LIVE VIEW:
To focus in the dark, use your camera’s live view, hit the zoom button, and focus on a bright star. You can also use the infinity setting on your lens but do several test shots to determine accuracy. It can be off a little on some lenses. You can also light it up with a flashlight, focus, then gently, without touching the focus ring, put the camera in manual focus so it will not search for the focus. You must do this each time you move your camera to take your next angel.
WHEN TO VIEW THE MILKY WAY:
The best images are usually of the dense part of the Milky Way. We can see this part of the milk way in the southern sky. During March, April, and May, the Milky Way rises above the horizon in the pre-dawn hours. In June, at about 10:00 p.m., you will see the Milky Way. From July until October, you can see the Milky Way as soon as it sunsets, and it becomes dark enough to see about an hour after sunset. In November, the Milky Way no longer comes above the horizon. You will have to wait until March if you want to stay away really late or get up early to see her again.
See our Milky Way Hot Spot Locator and our Night Photography Information.
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MORE TO DO IN ROSCOE
Roscoe has been a well-kept secret among avid anglers and nature lovers for years. Tucked away in the Catskill Mountains, this hidden gem offers a secluded retreat for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. With its five premier trout streams and pristine lakes, it’s no wonder there is more to discover here than just fishing.
The historic downtown boasts charming antique shops, while the Good Taste Artisanal Beverage Trail offers a unique experience with stops at Prohibition Distillery and The Roscoe New York Beer Company. For the adventurous types, there are plenty of outdoor activities besides photography, from whitewater rafting and kayaking to snowshoeing and exploring the rugged wilderness. Discover the allure of Roscoe and all it has to offer in this tranquil corner of the world.
CAMPING
ADD YOUR CAMPGROUND HERE
Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your campground to stay during their ghost-hunting trip? Put your campground information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number, and the information on your campground to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are good at getting there in the dark.
Would you like to be featured in an article as a place to stay while doing photography or ghost hunting? If so, please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.
ACCOMMODATIONS – ROSCOE, NEW YORK
ROCKLAND HOUSE MOTEL AND RESTAURANT
159 Rockland Rd, Roscoe, NY 12776•(607) 498-4240
This family-run motel has an outstanding restaurant and a bar on the main road through Roscoe.
This motel offers rooms with one double bed, king-size beds or 2 double beds. The rooms have a private bath, air conditioner, cable television with flat-screen tvs and high-speed internet at rates that are designed to fit anyone’s budget.
We loved that they had a coffee room when we loaded up to go out for milky way photography till the wee hours. It is also equipped with a microwave, toaster, and table.
You are sure to enjoy your stay with here while doing milky way photography. The motel is within walking distance to great fishing, a nine-hole golf course, the Roscoe Beer Company, Prohibition Distillery in case you want to do something else during the day and do milky way photography at night.
The restaurant is only a few short steps away so you can enjoy dinner and drinks to end the day. Just don’t drink and drive and milky way. :)
FOOD AND DINING
Rockland House Restaurant
159 Rockland Rd, Roscoe, NY 12776 • (607) 498-4240
The food was great, the portions were huge, and the salad bar was extensive, and you will not be disappointed. We recommend the scallops. This is an experience you must not miss!
ROSCO N.Y. AREA INFORMATION
Park and Area Information:
Entrance Fees: None
There are no places in this vicinity that charge fees.
WEATHER IN ROSCOE
Click here to see what the weather is in Roscoe New York
Don’t forget that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. If it is bright and sunny, you want to use a low ISO such as 100.
If you are doing photography along with your ghost hunting on cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get a long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places, be careful!
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