Volusia Bar Light Photography Guide

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Volusia Bar Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° 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

Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.

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 Volusia Bar Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

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 May as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (60%). July 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 lighthouse

• A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
• Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
• Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
• During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
• Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
• Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.

Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Volusia Bar Light, closest first.

Lake

Lake George9.1 km away · Volusia County

Wilderness Area

Juniper Prairie Wilderness11 km away · Lake County

Wilderness Area

Billies Bay Wilderness13 km away · Lake County

Wilderness Area

Alexander Springs Wilderness18 km away · Lake County

National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge20 km away · Lake County

State Park

De Leon Springs State Park22 km away · Volusia County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

• Hopkins Prairie Campground12.5 km (7.8 mi) · reservable
• Juniper Springs Rec Area13.2 km (8.2 mi) · reservable
• Buck Lake Group Campground13.9 km (8.6 mi) · reservable
• Alexander Springs Recreation Area14.2 km (8.8 mi) · reservable
• Salt Springs Recreation Area22 km (14 mi) · reservable

FAQ

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.