Pass-a-Grille Beach Photography Guide

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Pass-a-Grille Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 39° in winter.

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.

Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Pass-a-Grille Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 33° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (67%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this beach

• Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
• Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
• Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
• Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
• Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
• Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.

Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Tides

The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Pass-a-Grille Beach, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Pass-a-Grille Beach, closest first.

Beach

Lido Beach3.2 km away · Pinellas County

Lighthouse

Tampa Bay Watch Light5.0 km away · Pinellas County

National Wildlife Refuge

Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge5.5 km away · Pinellas County

State Park

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park6.2 km away · Pinellas County

Lighthouse

Egmont Key Light11 km away · Hillsborough County

State Park

Egmont Key State Park12 km away · Pinellas County

National Wildlife Refuge

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge12 km away · Pinellas County

Lighthouse

Whitted Airport Runway Extension Obstruction Light14 km away · Pinellas County

Botanical Garden

Sunken Gardens14 km away · Pinellas County

FAQ

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.