Fresh Start Photography Group

Quarterly Critique:

This will be our formal critique. A facilitator will review each photo and offer comments and suggestions. Members will also have a chance to offer comments about each image. We will make adjustments to the critique format as necessary.

This will be a friendly and supportive critique. Please upload four photos to the photos section of this meeting at least seven days prior to the meeting. It's not mandatory that you upload photos, but it's strongly suggested.

Please follow the guidelines & instructions below for uploading photos:

We will meet at the Visitor's Center end of the parking lot. Look for my red Toyota Highlander with the Shenandoah National Park tags.

Huntley Meadows Park has some of the best wildlife viewing in the Washington metropolitan area. From the ½ mile wetland boardwalk trail and observation tower, you have an excellent view of beavers, muskrats, frogs, dragonflies and herons. Huntley Meadows is well known as a prime birding spot, with over 200 species identified in the park.

We will be starting 7:00 am, sunrise will be at 7:19 am. It's about a ten-minute walk to the half-mile long boardwalk through the marsh. The reason for the early start is to be there when wildlife is usually most active. We also want to avoid the majority of visitors who tend to show up after 10:00 AM

You will probably want to bring your longest lens, although at times you can get pretty close. A tripod or mono-pod are optional. With any kind of nature photography, you never know what you will find until you get there.

While there is a 10 AM end time for this meetup, you can stay as long as you like.

The visitor center and restrooms will be open at 9:00 AM.

Huntley Meadows Park Information:

Get ready to use your macro and close-up photography skills at one of America's top gardens - Lewis Ginter! Explore the gardens at your leisure, photographing seasonal flowers and insects outside as well as flowers like orchids inside the Conservatory. Please note the butterfly area will be closed in 2024 & 2025 to build a future permanent butterfly enclosure.

Equipment suggestions include: Macro lens (or a lens that allows you to photograph close-up photography), and a flash with diffuser. Optional lenses can include a wide angle for landscapes in low-contrast situations, as well as a telephoto for bird potential.

Lewis Ginter has over 50 acres of spectacular plants and flowers in all shapes, colors and sizes. Tripods are allowed as long as they do not block the walkways. Admission prices vary, so please refer to the following link for details: http://www.lewisginter.org/visit/hours-admissions/.

To view a map of the gardens, click the following: http://www.lewisginter.org/visit/gardens/map/ .

Lewis Ginter has touchless refillable water stations for refillable water bottles. If you want to take advantage of this, don't forget your water bottle! All other food and drinks must be paid for inside the gardens.

Schedule:

Let's meet just inside the gardens when you exit the main building after you purchase your tickets at 10am. If you are running late, just get your tickets and enter the gardens. You will probably find us nearby.

Remember that the pathways are narrow, and too many people can make it difficult for other visitors to maneuver around us. When you are ready to leave, feel free leave the gardens, but please remember to share your pics on meetup! I'd love to see them!

FYI - You can return to your car and re-enter the gardens as needed. Also, the garden cafe will be open if you need refreshments or want to take a break to eat lunch (closes at 3pm). You can also bring snacks, but only water is allowed inside the garden, so you will have to return to your car to eat.

Please let me know if you have any questions in the Comment section below, and hope to see you at the gardens!

Please read our disclaimer for this event in the link below. By sending an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Fresh Start photography Meetup, I agree to abide by the rules and regulations in this disclaimer:

Learn how to remove unwanted objects from your photos in Lightroom - Presented by Marco DeVito

After the main topic of discussion, our remaining time will be used to discuss submission guidelines and other important information for the 2nd Annual Library Photo Exhibit in August and September. Pick your best photos of the year and display them for view or purchase! If you'd like feedback on any of your potential submissions, now is the time! Your participation in this exhibit not only showcases the your talent and skills as a photographer, but provides exposure for our club, encouraging new photographers to join.

Monthly Critique - Emphasis: Photo Submissions for our 2nd Annual Library Exhibit.

You can submit photos for our upcoming library exhibit, from a recent meetup, related to the monthly meeting topic or any other photograph you want critiqued. Limit: three photos per member. Please note that photos for the Library Exhibit will be critiqued first.

Please follow the guidelines & instructions below for uploading photos: