Old Harbor Light Photography Guide

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Old Harbor Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° 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 Old Harbor Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 November as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and August as the cloudiest (55%). 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

• 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.
• Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
• A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
• 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.

Tides

The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is SAVANNAH, 751 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Old Harbor Light, closest first.

National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge14 km away · Jasper County

National Wildlife Refuge

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge16 km away · Beaufort County

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Bloody Point Range Lights20 km away · Beaufort County

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Cockspur Island Light20 km away · Chatham County

National Wildlife Refuge

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge22 km away · Chatham County

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Savannah Lighthouse (historical)23 km away · Chatham County

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Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum23 km away · Chatham County

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Tybee Lighthouse23 km away · Chatham County

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.