Ocean Grove sits at the geographic center of the Jersey Shore, with Sandy Hook to the north and Atlantic City to the south, placing all of the Shore’s attractions within easy reach. Known for its peaceful atmosphere, it offers families a quiet escape from the noise and bustle often found at other New Jersey beaches.

The town’s controversial, cross-shaped pier—originally reopened just eight months earlier—was closed in December after several newly installed pilings were damaged by strong waves. This past spring, however, a portion of the pier was reopened to the public.

This post marks the fourth installment of my “12 Shades” series, where I choose one location each year and photograph the same landscape every month for twelve months. This year proved especially challenging, as a demanding and often difficult work schedule made it hard to plan my twelve visits to the beach. Finding the perfect conditions—composition, light, and color—is never easy, but that’s also part of what makes the project meaningful.

Below are my favorite 12 long-exposure images of this beautiful shoreline. If you’re new to long-exposure photography, the concept is simple: it’s a technique that uses slow shutter speeds to blur motion—like water, clouds, or passing cars—to create a smooth, dreamlike effect. It’s one of the most powerful ways to capture dramatic and atmospheric landscape scenes.

January 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 50mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 5m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

February 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 24mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 3m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

March 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 38mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m 30s | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

April 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 36mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m 30s | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

May 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 38mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

June 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 29mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

July 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 40mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 15s | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

August 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 50mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

September 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 | 24mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1s | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

October 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 | 24mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 1m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

November 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 36mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 2m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

December 2024

Nikon Z6ii | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 70mm | ISO 100 | f/11 | 5m | Breakthrough(10ND) | Haida Filter System

Share some love for these Ocean Grove Beach images

Do check out my last post from the series “12 Shades” about Ocean City Beach – 12 Shades of Ocean City Beach, New Jersey.

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