Walnford House Photography
Historic Walfnord House in New Jersey is a good photography location.
HISTORIC WALNFORD HOUSE, FREEHOLD, N.J.
Ranger Station: 609-259-5794 – Walnford House: 609-859-6275
Escape to the remote countryside and discover a vibrant piece of history. This hidden gem is both fascinating and eerie, as locals believe it may be haunted. Our friend Helen took us on a journey to this little-known location, which we fondly referred to as “Helen’s Mill” for quite some time.
The mill’s striking blue color makes for stunning photographs, especially with fall foliage as a backdrop. The surrounding buildings also provide great photo opportunities. You can tour inside when they are open or take a guided tour to learn about the mill and its wetlands.
Be sure to position yourself for captivating reflections on the water’s surface and use a polarizing filter for added depth in your photos. If you venture inside, don’t forget your tripod for architectural shots. This spot doesn’t attract many visitors, but checking their event calendar is always a good idea.
There isn’t much else around here, but you can explore the back roads in search of old barns or horses to complement this location. Alternatively, you can make a pit stop here on your way to another popular photography destination in Monmouth County.
IS THE WALFORD HOUSE HAUNTED?
Our previous visit to this location was far from perfect. Our camera lens was limited, and the autumn leaves had already fallen from the trees, leaving them barren and unphotogenic.
Despite our initial disappointment, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of eerie anticipation as we approached the blue building in front of us. Legend has it that a ghost named Helen resides within its walls. It’s been quite some time since we last saw our spectral friend. As we take in the surroundings, we notice the first hints of autumn beginning to creep in. The air is crisp and cool, with a faint scent of decaying leaves. (We are kidding… our dear friend Helen took us here.) She can be seen in the window picture.
We can only imagine how beautiful this place will look when the leaves are bursting with vibrant colors in a few weeks. Perhaps then, Helen will invite us back for a redo of our photoshoot over a leisurely lunch. In the meantime, we can’t help but feel a shiver run down our spine at the thought of what other surprises this hauntingly beautiful place may hold.
WALNFORD HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION
WHEN TO GO:
This location is good all day, although the lighting seemed just right in the afternoon to get the sun on the side of the mill you see in the photo. If you want to do the interior work on the buildings, you must go when they are open. It’s great for fall foliage, but spring and summer are good. You can do it in winter as well. This can be great in fresh snow. It’s only one small spot and not near much else. You can only spend a little time here, so you must pair it up with something else. Consider stopping here if you’re on your way to Batso Village.
CAMERA LENS:
A wide-angle lens is a must for this location. There is a lot to shoot in this area, but wildlife is minimal and may appear out of nowhere, so having a zoom lens with you can’t hurt. However, I would not recommend lugging it around just in case.
GEAR:
If there is not a lot of light to work with, bring your tripod and circular polarizing filter to achieve your desired depth of field. Don’t forget your neutral density filter; there is moving water here.
HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH
Probably about an hour to two hours. You can also go inside and take photographs.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEARBY
Check out Allaire Village and Batsto Village. See the other New Jersey photography locations at the bottom of the page.
HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?
It doesn’t get very busy.
RESTAURANTS, CAMPING & WEATHER – SEE BELOW
PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS – WALNFORD HOUSE
SHUTTER PRIORITY:
You have moving subjects, so you’ll want to shoot in shutter priority to ensure your shutter speed is high enough to keep 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 here by the mill. You will have to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and the neutral density filter you use. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always set to 100 or as low as your camera allows. The aperture is f/22, 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 a 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when taking the exposure. 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 recommend that you don’t go anywhere without one. Long exposure makes all the difference between lifeless images and outstanding, dynamic images, and you need a filter for that during the day.
WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY:
If you’re going to take the milky water photography shots here along the water, you’ll need a tripod and a neutral-density filter. Preparing before embarking on a waterfall photography excursion is always best. You can also explore long-exposure waterfall techniques by visiting our waterfall photography page for tips.
PARK INFORMATION
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Food: It’s better to bring your own—no food or drinks are offered.
Professional Photography Permit: $50 to $180 per hour for weddings and professional shoots.
You can go into town for some food. You’ll enjoy this small town in New Jersey, but there isn’t much to choose from.
There is no food at this location. There isn’t too much near by unless you go into town so bring some water and some snacks just in case.
Learn from Award-Winning Photographer Pamela Goodyer – New Jersey Photography Classes
