Visiting & Photographing Jekyll Island
Driftwood Beach is located on the Northeast end of Jekyll Island, Georgia. It's a gem of a place that's been on my bucket list for years and I must admit, it did not disappoint! The Island is very easy to navigate, and you'll find other opportunities and subjects to photograph around the Island, as well as a mere 30-minute drive off the Island to St. Simons Island Lighthouse.
For a chance to see some larger alligators, search Horton Pond in Google Maps. See my Gator image in my Jekyll Island Gallery which was shot at Horton Pond. It's a simple stop with only a few steps to a lookout platform. There's also a small hike around the pond. But, for even better advice on finding opportunities, talking to the locals is the best way to get the most up-to-date, and accurate info, and boy was everyone so friendly and social during my stay.
For sunset locations, search for "St. Andrew's Beach" which is located on the South Western side of the Island. But take note: there's also a "St. Andrew Beach" located on the South East side. Go figure. St. Andrew's Beach is the only other beach that has driftwood similar to Driftwood Beach but not nearly as much.
I spent two full days, plus one last sunrise shoot before heading to Jacksonville International (JAX) for my return flight home. JAX is a smaller international airport and a very pleasant experience to travel through. It's a simple hour drive from Jekyll Island. Better yet, consider including Cumberland Island in your itinerary which is south of Jekyll Island and only a 30-minute drive to JAX. I spent two days in St. Mary's, GA to spend 1 full day on Cumberland Island which requires a ferry ride. See my Cumberland Island gallery for more details. I spent 4 full days (5 with the last day of flying home) to visit both locations in one trip.
You'll want to pack lenses that cover the entire focal range from 14 mm to 400 mm. If you enjoy Macro photography, I'd pack that as well. There are so many opportunities for abstracts and textures - especially on the many trailheads throughout the Island.
Driftwood Beach favors sunrise as it is located on the eastern side of the Island. With some creativity, and different angles - side light or shooting through the trees towards the ocean with front light, you can certainly find decent compositions for sunset, but ultimately, you'll want to be on the beach a good hour before sunrise as the blue hour offers fantastic and vibrant light. Photographing the Milky Way at Driftwood Beach is possible, however, there is enough light pollution to challenge your efforts. I shot 10 consecutive frames for stacking and was fortunate to pull out these tones from my raw images.
I recommend checking the tide each time you visit the beach. Sneaker waves can certainly ruin your mornings, especially during low light times when it's difficult to notice them encroaching towards you. Also, as you traverse north on the beach, if the tide is incoming, there's a section, that if you're beyond it, you'll have a difficult task getting back to the southern end shy of bush-wacking through some heavy windmill palms and dense driftwood. Be vigilant - as we always say, never turn your back on the ocean, although the waves here lose most of their energy long before hitting the beach due to the continental shelf being far from the shoreline.
For more images, visit my Jekyll Island Gallery.
If you are planning a trip to photograph on the Island, feel free to email me and I'll share any additional information I have. It's a fantastic experience and well worth the effort - especially if you love Live Oak Trees like myself.
- The Houdsta
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