About us
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
8
Photograph Huntley Meadows: Monday May 25
Huntley Meadow Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA, USWhat3words: https://w3w.co/stick.juices.rings
https://what3words.com/stick.juices.ringsShare only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park/
From the parking lot near the visitor center off Lockheed Blvd, there is Cedar Trail which is about a 15-minute hike to the Heron Trail boardwalk. The Cedar Trail goes through a great forest that has some wildlife like deer and many birds, The Boardwalk is where the majority of the wildlife is located. The Group has seen deer, foxes, beaver, snakes, frogs, green tree frogs, huge snapping turtles, and many types of birds including Bald Eagles, Osprey, Marlins, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, King Fishers in the marshy wetlands.
The boardwalk can become crowded before sunrise. The crowd, notwithstanding, the early arrivals have been rewarded with sightings of foxes and Bald Eagles. There is a point on the boardwalk that splits. The left side features sightings of shorebirds snapping turtles and beavers. The right side leads to one of the smaller overlooks and has several benches along the way. In the wintertime, the Group gets to photograph many migrating ducks, such as Green-winged teals, Northern Shovelers, and Northern Pintails! In the springtime, the park provides bird boxes for the Wood Ducks and Mergansers to lay and protect their eggs until their offspring fledge and leave the nest.
The Group then continues around the boardwalk to the right towards the forest where Great Blue Herons and Red-winged Blackbirds are photographed. Next, the Group approaches a two-story overlook complete with benches for the Group to rest and survey the park. Following a brief respite, the Group continues to Marker 8, the end of the boardwalk. At this point, the forest reappears. And on that edge of the wetlands, there are Red-Headed Woodpeckers. This is one of the few places in the Washington, DC area where they live.
After a couple of hours on the wetlands, the Group retraces the route by continuing on the boardwalk to the right towards Cedar Trail, past the visitor center onto the parking lot. There is a small pond behind and to the south of the visitors center that frequently has small frogs. While they are a true find to photograph, mosquitoes have been known to swarm at the pond! The north side of the visitor center features bird feeders that attract hummingbirds and other small birds.
At the end of this field trip, the Group typically has breakfast at IHOP, 7694 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA. 22306.
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.
14 attendees
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens - Sunset in the Gardens - Wednesday, May 27
Meadowlark Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA, USNOTICE: The park is open until 8:45 PM for Sunset Closing
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens/events/sunset-in-the-gardens-845pm-closingSunset is 8:25 PM
Fees: $5 for ages 6-17 & ages 55+, $9 for ages 18-54, and free for ages 5 & under
We will meet at the visitor center.
Bring Water, Tripod, comfortable shoes, fully charged batteries, and empty cards
There is no specific route in this park. Folks are free to wander around the trails in the park at their own pace.
Check out Rob Trek's video from May 16, 2021: https://youtu.be/QwNR_TuxM4Y
For dinner, after the field trip around 8:30 PM, we will head to Anita's New Mexico Style Restaurant, 521 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA 22180
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3T7gw87tjvVuwDT96Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos.
Beauty, conservation, education, and discovery flourish throughout the year at this 95-acre complex of large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than twenty varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature.
https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/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.
11 attendees
Photograph Summit Point DRIFT NIRVANA® Shenandoah Reverse - Sun. June 7
Summit Point Main, 201 Motorsports Park Cir Summit Point, WV 25446, Summit Point, WV, US# DRIFT NIRVANA® Shenandoah Reverse
Shenandoah Reverse #drifting #driftnirvana
$15 online and $20 at the door per person
https://events.summitpointmp.com/products/june-7-2026-drift-nirvana-reverseEvent Schedule (subject to change):
7:30-8:45 Tech and Registration
8:45 Driver's meeting
9:00 - 12:00 Hot Track
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch break
1:00 - 5:00 Hot Track
5:00 End of DayThere is a place to have lunch at the track that is not too bad...
See cars race around the track and burn rubber like in Fast and Furious.Bring: Water, fully charged batteries, empty cards, a tripod, and comfortable shoes
Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos.
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.
8 attendees
Past events
782
Group links
Members
2,877
