WHEN TO GO TO THE EASTPOINT LIGHTHOUSE

Any time of year is suitable for general photography, but for photographing the Milky Way at East Point Lighthouse, you must go at a specific time to ensure the Milky Way is Visible. Midweek is the best. People come here to watch the sunset and most leave, but if you want the best chance of having the place to yourself at night, go in the middle of the week.

A complete renovation was done to the lighthouse recently. The bright red makes the building look dynamic. Do your daytime photography here, but don’t forget your nighttime photography.

This is a DARK SKY area that is good for Milky Way. So keep this in mind if you want to pair this up with a Milky Way trip.

Months: The Milky Way Core can be seen from March to October, disappearing below the horizon for the rest of the year. It appears in the early morning hours in March and becomes visible earlier each month. The best time to catch a glimpse of the core is during summer, when it can be seen immediately after sunset, providing an ideal viewing opportunity for stargazers and photographers.

New Moon: Timing is crucial to see the Milky Way. This celestial event can only be seen on clear nights without a visible moon, limiting the window for viewing.

Light Pollution: The best way to experience the full wonder of the Milky Way is to escape from areas with heavy light pollution. However, it may be possible to see some faint traces of the galaxy from places with mild artificial lighting; the most spectacular views can be found in remote locations far from cities and civilizations. Check out our How to Section for more details, including using a light pollution map to guide you to dark sky locations.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE

Brush up on the basics for daytime photography, too, before you follow our instructions for how to shoot the Milky Way.

Shutter Speed – Find out more about how to shoot in shutter priority. This is used mainly for moving subjects to avoid motion blur.

Aperture – Shooting in aperture priority allows you to focus on your depth of field. It is mainly used for still subjects.

ISO controls how much light is let into your camera when exposing your picture.

White Balance – Color temperature. Cloud, shade, sun, and also custom settings.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS AREA?

This area can be explored and photographed in just a few hours. You will want to pair this up with other great photography locations.

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR SHOULD I BRING?

• A Camera with a wide-angle lens.
• Tripod – For shooting flowers in aperture priority mode.
• Shutter release
• Polarizing Filter
• A zoom lens for sunset photography around the corner from the lighthouse.

WHAT ESLE SHOULD I BRING?

• Water and Snacks  – There is no good food out here—not much along the way.
• Bug repellent!! Especially in the humid months.

LOCATION – HOW TO GET TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

East Point Lighthouse is located in Heislerville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. It’s west of Cape May and Avalon, other Milky Way photography hot spots. From the north, take Route 55 south to Exit 28A. From the south, take Route 47 north to Exit 16B. Once you’re on Route 49, follow the signs for East Point Lighthouse. The drive takes about an hour and a half from Philadelphia.

WHAT OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY IS NEARBY?

You can also see our New Jersey Milky Way Photography Locations here.

And other New Jersey Photography Locations here.

HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?

It’s not too bad, but the area resembles other New Jersey shore towns. We were at the lighthouse twice; only a few people were inside the lighthouse, and a few photographers were in the garden. It was midweek.