The Ocean State has views unlike any other in New England. With 400 miles of coastline, it provides endless scenes for beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
As a landscape photographer, it also presented new opportunities when I moved to Rhode Island in 2022. After nearly three years exploring the state’s beaches, coasts, and lighthouse, I have been able to collect a small list of my favorite places to visit in the earliest hours of the morning to photograph a sunrise.
Point Judith Light, Narragansett
For me, it doesn’t get any better than a sunrise at Point Judith Light. The lighthouse itself stands prominently at the tip of the state’s southern coast, positioned brilliantly for sunrises. It’s an especially great location when the sun is rising in the southeast sky. The rocky shore that lies below lends itself to endless possibilities for compositions. There is also a small hill that is positioned directly in front of the lighthouse for a more direct “hero shot” of the lighthouse. If you’re a fan of seeing full moonrises, this is an equally great location.
If you’re heading out with a camera in hand, bring your full array of lenses. I find myself mostly shooting with a telephoto lens (100-400 mm) here, but the rocky shore lends itself really well to wide-angle photos too.
Taylor Point Lookout, Jamestown
While we’re on the subject of iconic Rhode Island landmarks, the Newport Bridge can be photographed from a myriad of places. For sunrises, I find it bet to head to Taylor Point Lookout. The walk is brief from the parking lot to the rocky terrain that serves as a beautiful foreground for the bridge. It’s a great view all year round, but from this location the sun only rises directly behind the bridge when it’s positioned to the northeast.
When I head here for a morning shoot, I almost exclusively use my wide-angle lens. The rocky cliffs, the water, and the bridge can’t really all be in your photo otherwise.
Dutch Island Lighthouse, Jamestown
Positioned not very far from the Newport Bridge, Dutch Island and its famous lighthouse are also an attractive subject when photographing the sunrise. I find it’s best to position yourself somewhere along the shore in Narragansett looking toward Dutch Island — while always being mindful of not veering into private property — in order to get a good shot of the lighthouse.
This view can also allow you to photograph both Dutch Island Lighthouse and the Newport Bridge at the same time — two landmarks in one photo!
Black Point, Narragansett
The Black Point Trail, and the variety of views along this coastal hike, provide something for everyone including some really amazing sunrises. The Black Point Ruins are a popular area to photograph as well, though I’ve found some fun compositions along the trails.
Rocky Point State Park, Warwick
The Fishing Pier at Rocky Point State Park stretches out (most of the year) toward the sunrise, making it another great location to photograph. The water around the pier tends to be calmer, lending itself well to some really nice reflections in the water. This was the first location I visited when I moved to Rhode Island to photograph, and one I’ll surely return to again and again.
There’s much more of the state I’ve yet to see, which means new locations to discover and photograph! If you’re just getting into photography, check out the video below with some helpful tips and steps on how to photograph a sunrise:
