OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Dynamic Photography Location

OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHY

& THE FLANDERS HOTEL

Located along the coast of New Jersey, Ocean City boasts an expansive landscape perfect for photography. The vibrant city is dotted with scenic spots, offering endless possibilities for creating the perfect shot. But perhaps the most alluring aspect of this coastal gem is its breathtaking dark skies in this general area, a haven for photographing the mesmerizing beauty of the Milky Way galaxy. With minimal light pollution and clear skies, Ocean City is a dream destination for any avid astrophotographer.

OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHY

OCEAN CITY FISHING PIER

The Ocean City fishing pier is located on the boardwalk at 14th Street, where you can create dynamic, award-winning pictures like the above.

Read the full story behind “Fire in the Sky” and “Purple Fire in the Sky,” the images pictured in the header, which have won awards by Pamela Goodyer. You can purchase this Fine Art Collector’s Piece. It is among her “Artists Favorites” Limited Edition Collection, making the piece much more valuable to Fine Art Collectors.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?

Spring and fall are great times to visit. This beach town gets less crowded in the spring and fall, and it gets very busy in the summer, especially on the weekends.

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. You can do Milky Way Photography just a few towns away from Ocean City.

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.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS AREA?

This area can be explored and photographed in just a few hours. You should pair this with other great photography locations. If you add Milky Way photography and sunrise and sunset photography, which we highly recommend, you should stay overnight here.

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR SHOULD I BRING?

A Camera with a wide-angle lens.
A zoom lens for some wildlife nearby.
Tripod – For shooting long-exposure milky waters at the fishing pier.
Shutter release
Polarizing Filter
Ten-stop neutral density filter for daytime ocean water blur effect.

WHAT ESLE SHOULD I BRING?

Water and Snacks
Bug repellent
Organic Sunscreen – Regular is toxic. Here is some good stuff.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Ocean City, New Jersey, United States. From the Garden State Parkway, Exit 30 (Ocean City – Somers Point) follows through Somers Point, around the circle, and over the 9th Street Bridge into Ocean City.

WHAT OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY IS NEARBY?

We highly suggest you pair this trip up with the East Point Lighthouse. 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. Weekdays off-season is the best time to go.

OCEAN CITY PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION :

This is a long-exposure photographer’s dream location. You will want to do a long exposure of the pier, preferably at sunrise and sunset, so the crazy colors will most likely show up. The colors make the images, but some great daytime clouds can also make them dynamic. It is warm enough, and the wind is not whipping; you could do a time-lapse video on a good cloud day.

HOTEL ROOM

We recommend booking the upper-level room at the Flanders Hotel with that great balcony overlooking the city and doing a time-lapse movie. We did a short one but were paranoid about our new friend Mark falling over. Our tripod was super sturdy, but in our mind, our 5D Mark IV in the wind was stressing us a bit, so we did not fall asleep during the time-lapse.

The best way to shoot the Ventnor city pier, just a few blocks from The Flanders Hotel, is in manual mode on a tripod at 5 to 30-second exposure at sunrise and sunset. A good neutral-density filter will allow you to shoot longer when the sun is present. A good ten-stop filter will also enable you to take milky water photos during daylight hours.

See our How to section for information on long exposure to waterfalls to blur the waters. Here is more information on neutral density filters and night photography for you to read.

THE FLANDERS HOTEL HISTORY

The Flanders Hotel was built in 1923 by the Ocean Front Hotel Corporation.

The architect Vivian Smith designed the building in the Spanish Mission Revival style. The building was constructed using steel girders and concrete.

The Flanders Hotel was originally managed by J. Howard Slocum until 1932, when Elwood F. Kirkman took over ownership of the hotel. James M. Dwyer purchased the building in 1996. The hotel was converted into luxury condominiums for daily rentals, operating as a “Condotel” in 1997. Mr. Dwyer suffered several financial setbacks, including tax liens and personal bankruptcy. As a result of the bankruptcy, Mr. Dwyer was removed from his involvement with the hotel. In December 2005, a new board of trustees was installed, and Peter Voudouris was named President of the Board of Trustees and assumed the responsibilities as General Manager. He presently holds the title of Director of Hotel & Banquet Operations.

In 2009 the Flanders Hotel by a unanimous vote was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Flanders Hotel is a thriving destination for guests year-round. The accommodations range from Luxury Suites to Spectacular Penthouses. The Flanders is the only full-service hotel in Ocean City that includes elegant ballrooms & meeting rooms, a full-service restaurant, a Specialty & Clothing shop, a Salon & Spa, a Fitness Center, a Business Center, and a heated outdoor pool.

The old Flanders in at night, Ocean City picture.

THE FLANDERS HOTEL FIRE

The Flanders Hotel was tragically surrounded by fire on the boardwalk in 1927. The Hotel had approximately 500 guest rooms destroyed by the fire, but they quickly recovered from the fire. They moved the hotel away from the beach and built an extension to keep its beachfront status. By 1929, the hotel had three saltwater pools, which became the most popular attraction in Ocean City.

Although the hotel was well known for its highly styled rooms, sophistication, and pure elegance that gleamed above others at the Jersey Shore, the stock market crash of 1929 and the economy was devastating to the Flanders Hotel. The hotel was sold to Elwood Kirkman, and it retained its high style, large staff, and elegance, hosting guests such as Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly.

THE FLANDERS HOTEL MISS NJ PAGENT

In the 1950s, The Hotel Flanders stayed in the public eye, hosting the 1950 Miss New Jersey Pagent in the pool area. Although the large pools closed in 1978 to save on expenses, the owner was overwhelmed financially. There were many issues, and the hotel was deteriorating. There was a court-ordered election for the President of the board. The newly elected President was Peter Voudouris, whom we met this week at the hotel. Mr. Voudouris secured a two million dollar construction loan, and the much-needed renovations began.

Flanders Inn New Jersey Ocean City night time.

HISTORICAL FLANDERS HOTEL

2009, the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places list. The same year, Peter and Arleen Voudouris purchased the barbershop and the interior stores. You can get your hair done by Michael Lombardi, one of the original barbers at the exact location a long time ago. We won’t tell you how long so we can keep Michaels’s age a secret. He is also a piece of history in this fantastic, sophisticated architectural delight. Be sure to see Michael on your stay and treat yourself to a haircut from one of the masters of the industry.

THE FLANDERS HOTEL OFFERS

The Flanders Hotel, restaurant, ballrooms, spa, salon, and coffee shop are currently thriving under the management of Peter and Arlene Voudouris. The banquet and conference center is gleaming with elegance and an atmosphere that transforms you in time. The ballroom is a perfect location for your wedding venue, regardless of the time of year. The sophisticated hall is reminiscent of the early 1900s. The award-winning chef is an excellent addition to the staff of this historic, well-run piece of history of the New Jersey Shore. The Flanders is the only full-service hotel in Ocean City that includes elegant ballrooms & meeting rooms, a full-service restaurant, a specialty & clothing shop, a salon & spa, a fitness and business center, and a heated outdoor pool.

FLANDERS HOTEL

The staff provided one of the best experiences in our travel history. The Hotel was decorated for the Holidays at the time of our visit. We fell in love the second we went to the second floor. The pristine, upscale atmosphere made us want to stop and stay in the large gathering area of the level. We did for a little while before heading off the deck to check out the overlook of the boardwalk and the hotel pool.

We suggest staying at this hotel even during its off-season. If you are coming to photograph the Fishing Pier, please feel free to do this whenever the weather permits. We won’t be on the Jersey Shore when it is zero degrees, and the wind whips around at 30 m.p.h. But a nice 40-something-degree day will do. The town is quiet in the winter months. There were no crowds or traffic or lines to deal with. If you saw the images above in the slideshow, you will agree that tolerating the cold was well worth it.

The hotel was built in 1923 and cost 1.5 million dollars. It was the largest construction project in the town at that point. Upon completion of the ceremony in the elegant grand ballrooms, it was enjoyed by many guests. Fine dining, dancing, and speeches were the focus of the night. If we could travel in time someday, this would be one of our stops, an actual historical moment.

You will receive top of the line service from your server Christine at Emily’s Ocean Room Restaurant inside the Flanders Hotel. Breakfast and Lunch are served year-round with delectable meals at reasonable prices.