Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup

4.8

2864 ratings

Annandale, VA, US

2,997 members · Public group

Organized by David Crooks and 2 others

What we’re about

This is a group of folks of all levels who enjoy getting out, exploring, and photographing the great nature around us by visiting local parks in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland around the I495 Beltway. We are planning to provide ways to get together to learn digital photography techniques and do some portrait and street photography. There is a Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/286732975305378

I wrote the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup Group Guide Book which lists 25 locations that the group has visited. There is an Info to Know section with links for directions and information about the location, plus photographs I have taken at the locations. Here is the link to the paperback book and Kindle version: https://cutt.ly/VBPMGB_Amazon The website for the Guide Book is https://cutt.ly/VBPMGB and has an Update and Errata document that lists the changes in the Guide Book since it was first published.

Upcoming events (4+)

See all

Wed, 1 Oct 2025, 12:00 am EDTPhotograph One A Day (31 Day October Project)
This is a virtual meetup., Washington, DC
The rules are simple:

Take photographs Each and Every Day, and post your best ONE (1) shot of the day - EACH DAY for **October** If you happen to miss a day or two (life happens), it is OK to catch up and upload the photos for the days missed or just skip those days.

Please don't post more than 2 to 3 at a time. This is part of the learning process.

DO NOT POST TO THE ALBUM UNTIL AFTER 09/30/2025.

Please use a browser like Chrome and the Meetup.com website to post the images, as the Meetup app does not handle albums very well.

Towards the top-left of the page is a link to Add Photos for uploading your photo to the album. CONFIRM that your photo was Added to the correct Album. Remember to post your best photo (JUST ONE) you took every day on that day! DO NOT POST PHOTOS FROM ANY OTHER TIME! If you have time to post an older image, you can take a new image and post it. Be creative.

Please add a caption to know how far you are in the process. After you upload the image you took that day, find your photo at the end of the album, and edit the caption to state the day and total of days in the month like this:?/31. You can add the title of the image if you wish. A good title can make a photo! So, your photo for the October 1st caption would be "1/31 My great photo!" ** Adding a caption helps you keep track of where you are in the month. It does help.

The purpose is to have fun and get in the habit of shooting every day. Learn to use your camera. Read your manual and test out a new feature you have never used before. Sometimes picking a theme/project can help focus (pun intended), like flowers, your pet(s), a lens you haven't used in a while, or whatever your passion is. Or try something new...

The end date is 10/31/2025. Meetup.com does not allow events to be longer than 2 weeks.

Other images that were not taken by you will be removed. Please keep the images family-friendly. You need to be a member of the Virginia Beltway Photography Group.

I look forward to seeing how far people go and grow as better photographers!
5 attendees
Sat, 4 Oct 2025, 7:30 am EDTPhotograph Private Bald Eagle Tour
Needs location
USD 150.00
This is a paid event. $150 per person, collected when you RSVP.

Space is limited with a total of 5, including me, plus the captain on the boat.

From the website:
"Ride aboard the Discovery Barge II, a 24-foot pontoon boat, as you travel into the midst of an ecosystem rich with wildlife, history, and beauty. Discover the James' Bald Eagle Tour, which takes you through a stretch of the James River known as Jefferson's Reach.

This tour focuses on resident bald eagles, who thrive in their territories year-round. This 'restored' resident eagle population is considered to be the greatest comeback of the bald eagle in the entire continent. Their conservation success story can be seen first hand, where 49 years ago, in 1975, there were no resident bald eagles within the 10,000 square miles of the James River's watershed. Four years after local extinction, in 1979, a first pair came back on their own and began this comeback. Today, over 380 pair of resident eagles call the James River home. Discover the James' Bald Eagle Tour shares a part of this amazing story while traveling through up to ten territories.

In addition to the resident eagles, two other populations of bald eagles migrate into the area. In early May, summer migratory bald eagles, from the south (mainly Florida), arrive and are gone by the end of September. In mid November, winter migratory eagles arrive from the north and stay into February, then return to New England and Eastern Canada to their breeding grounds.

Come experience majestic bald eagles closer than you may have ever seen them."

Be sure to dress for the weather.

Additional Information:
For more information on our Eagle Tours, click here.
To view our website, click the following: **www.DiscovertheJames.com**.
To check out Richmond's weather, click here.

Bring Water, comfortable shoes, fully charged batteries, and empty cards

By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I agree to abide by the rules and regulations (where applicable) of the event location, and I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.
5 attendees
Sat, 4 Oct 2025, 3:00 pm EDTPhotograph Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk® Oct. 4, 2025: 3PM
Dupont Circle Metro, Washington, DC
For the 15th year, I will be leading Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk in Washington, DC. I will post more details as the walk gets closer.

To officially join the WWPW, go to https://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/washington-dc-dupont-circle/

A Successful Walk Checklist:
Prep Camera(s) & Lens(es)
Charge Batteries
Sunscreen & Hand Sanitizer
Empty Card Readers
Bring Water
View T-Shirts (https://www.zazzle.com/collections/scott_kelbys_worldwide_photo_walk_2025-119846140932590424)
Check the Forecast
Donate to a Great Cause (To Donate to The Springs Of Hope Kenya Orphanage - https://worldwidephotowalk.com/donate/)

In the upper right corner is a link for Photo Walk Login and create your account there...

and register. There is a photo contest for the best photograph taken that day with some big prizes. Any photos uploaded here or on the Flickr Group do NOT qualify for the prizes.

REMINDER: You need to sign up on the World Wide Photo Walk website https://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/washington-dc-dupont-circle/) to be a part of being an official Walker and enter the contest to win the prizes!

REGISTRATION is now!

By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.
18 attendees+13
Mon, 6 Oct 2025, 5:30 pm EDTPhotograph Full Moon Rise over Washington, DC - Oct. 6
Needs location
Let's meet at the Netherlands Carillon Bells between Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Hopefully, the weather will provide clear skies!

I checked Photo Ephemeris and for Moonrise at 6:22 PM 82.28° Waning 99.92%
I scheduled it for 5:30 PM to get there early, find parking, and get set up.

What3 Words app: ///added.tigers.flight for location
https://what3words.com/added.tigers.flight

You need a lens around 100mm. I believe the shot above was around 120mm.

There is limited parking in the park and on the streets nearby.

By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.
21 attendees+16