Landscape Photography

I plan to complete the AT PA section during this summer so I try to some every week. I hope that some of you can join me. This trip will be about 78.5 miles (15/27.5/15/23) Here is the itinerary: We will meet at 3.30 pm on Thursday at Grosvenor-Strathmore metro parking area (https://maps.app.goo.gl/RfWpd3f8LSg1dM9w7). Then we will drive to [PA Rt 443 Parking](https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B028'54.8%22N+76%C2%B033'02.7%22W/@40.481898,-76.5533109,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d40.481898!4d-76.550736?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and shuttle back to [Pine Grove Furnace State Park area](https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1TcwMiszrDIxYLRSNaiwsEy2NDAxSElNBIMkK4OKtDQDs1SL1KS0NLM047SUJC_Zgsy8VIX0ovyyVIW00qK8xORUheKSxJJUhYLEomwAAOQavw&q=pine+grove+furnace+state+park&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS886US886&oq=pine+grove&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqFQgBEC4YQxivARjHARiABBiKBRiOBTIGCAAQRRg5MhUIARAuGEMYrwEYxwEYgAQYigUYjgUyDQgCEAAYkQIYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYkQIYgAQYigUyEAgEEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQYjgUyEAgFEC4YkQIYsQMYgAQYigUyEwgGEAAYgwEYkQIYsQMYgAQYigUyDQgHEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyDQgIEC4YrwEYxwEYgATSAQgyNTYzajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#sv=CAwSaQoGbGNsX3B2EicKA3B2cRIgT2hZd2VEQTZNSGhtWmpBMlpUaGxZbVptTm1ZelptUmkSIgoBcRIdcGluZSBncm92ZSBmdXJuYWNlIHN0YXRlIHBhcmsaEmxvY2FsLXBsYWNlLXZpZXdlchgKIM6or7cB) (about 80 minute drive: [drive direction](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kdqZKfQ7P6ZpvZm77)) . Day 1: We will hike 15 miles from Pine Grove to Alec Kennedy Shelter Day 2: We will hike to Cove Mountain Shelter 27.5 miles Day 3: We will Hike to either Peter Mtn Shelter ( 15 miles) Day 4: We will hike 23 miles to [PA Rt 443 Parking](https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B028'54.8%22N+76%C2%B033'02.7%22W/@40.481898,-76.5533109,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d40.481898!4d-76.550736?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). I need to be back by 3 pm on Saturday so we will have to start hiking out early (\~5:30 am). This trip is for veteran member only due to the high mileage. You can learn about membership ranks [here](https://dculbackpacking.com/about/membership/). Read about DCUL's trip ranks [here](https://dculbackpacking.com/about/tripranks/). **Waiver**: By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to these guidelines and to DC UL's waiver liability terms ([https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/](https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/)) **Carpool**: As per our carpool policy, riders should pay drivers $0.10/mile. Total driving distance is around 290 miles, so all non-drivers should expect to pay $29 or so to their driver.

Improve your Spanish conversation skills in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where speakers of all languages are welcome. First come, first served until capacity is reached unless otherwise stated. Practice Spanish in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Improve your speaking skills in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where speakers of all languages are welcome. First come, first served until capacity is reached unless otherwise stated.

Easy hike! AllTrails map and details - [https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/needlewood-loop](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/needlewood-loop)

Come paint a miniature figure at the library! We provide the space, and you can bring your minis and paints. Limited supplies are also available from the library. Bring your miniature and paints to the library, sit down, and paint for a while! The library will offer you space to put brush to miniature, whether you're speed painting a squad for your table top army or taking your time glazing fine layers onto a display piece. If you're new to miniature painting and would like to try your hand at it for the first time, we offer a limited number of supplies including paints, brushes and miniatures courtesy of the library. **First come, first seated.**

This will be an in-person event organized by Jean Rosolino at her house!. You will receive the location address with your registration confirmation. You MUST register here: https://www.wifv.org/calendar/#id=32513&cid=783&wid=401&type=Cal

In previous years, the rangers said they try to get to the park and open the gate by 7:45 AM. From the website: [https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm) Waterlilies are bountiful all over the park! Our volunteers moved the tropical lilies from the hothouses to the display ponds, and they are vibrant. Bird enthusiasts have been enjoying watching the 3 young fledgling red-shouldered hawks, nesting orchard orioles, and kingbirds. Turtles have been laying eggs, and tadpoles and frogs are abundant in the ponds. Every year, we visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on July 4th. The lotus flowers start blooming in early June and will be plentiful by the end of the month. The best time to visit is in the morning as the temperatures are cooler and the flowers close up in the heat of the day, usually around 1:30 pm. I know it is outside of the Virginia Beltway, but it is not far. It is a very unique place in Washington, DC. I will be there in my red smart car and rain or shine (hopefully shine)! Bring: Tripod Comfortable shoes Water Fully charged batteries Empty memory cards Rain poncho and plastic bags for the camera and lens in case of rain. Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. Park Facts Entrance Fee: Free Allow Dogs with lease: No Bathroom: Restroom in the Visitor Center Address: 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington D.C. 20019 Lat, Long: 38.913003, -76.940142 - Parking Lot Plus Code: W375+6W Washington, District of Columbia Website: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm I generally schedule this meetup on the Fourth of July, as I would have the day off. They are open on July 4th, but one year we waited until 9:00 AM until a ranger showed up to unlock the gate and it wasn’t a holiday. I also want to mention security as one year a photographer in my group was at the gardens and saw someone’s car being broken into in the parking lot. From the parking lot, walk towards the gardens down the path. I usually stay to the left and head into the lotus fields. Please be careful, as there are just dirt paths between the fields, and if there has been a lot of rain, there can be ruts, and I almost twisted my ankle. You actually need a fairly long lens as the Lotus flowers are tall and can be some distance away. A wide-angle is only good for some overall shots and a good-sized macro works as well. Another thing folks do not realize is that the flowers do bloom into September, but have many full blooms. This is one park where you do not have to worry about mosquitoes as they are eaten by pond beetles, dragonflies, and damselfly larvae, and also by frogs and birds. There is a boardwalk at the back of the flower fields that goes out to a marsh area. I have seen many types of birds and dragonflies in that area. Being there makes it hard to believe that you are in Washington, DC. On the way out, allow some time to check out the small ponds with different lotus and lilies that also attract frogs and dragonflies. Why you will not see any mosquitoes in the park: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/learn/nature/insects.htm 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.

Kenilworth Gardens in known for its beautiful lotus blossoms and waterlilies at this time of year. For more info about the gardens and rules for visiting see their website: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm For this Meetup, be prepared. The park is unpaved - good, sturdy shoes will be a must. Also, during this time of year, there will be lots of bugs, so bring bug-spray. The park officially opens at 8am but we have historically gone early and been able to enter upon arrival. Just be aware of heat, humidity and your safety (take water etc).

[https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45899232](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45899232) 26.1 miles. Lunch is at the Great Falls overlook 18.2 miles into the ride. There are toilets at Great Falls and Fletchers' Boathouse. We will e-bike from Glen Echo Park in Maryland to the majestic Great Falls. We will be biking on the Capital Crescent Trail, the C&O Canal pathway, and McArthur Blvd with separate biking lanes. This tour captures the essence of adventure and natural beauty. We will be meandering alongside the serene Potomac River and the C&O Canal, offering E-bike Lovers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the lush landscapes that define this region. Glen Echo Park, with its rich tapestry of cultural and artistic heritage, serves as the perfect prologue to a journey that gradually unfolds into the wild, untamed beauty of the Great Falls. The route is just over 26 miles on gravel and asphalt. The gravel is compact. If you don't like the gravel on the C&O Canal pathway, this is not your route. Entrance to the Great Falls National Park is for free as we enter from the C&O Canal. We park at the large parking lot off Oxford Street, NOT at the smaller lot at McArthur Blvd. Please bring snacks, lunch and plenty of water. FYI: Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers Club membership is now for free as [www.ebikelovers.com](http://www.ebikelovers.com/) generates sufficient income from ads to cover the costs. Here is the link to activate your free membership: [https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN](https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN) The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up. **REMEMBER:** This is a self-guided event. This event empowers each participant to take the lead, as there are no designated bike leaders within E-bike Lovers. We all embrace the role of leaders in this self-guided experience. Please RSVP only if you are coming so we know how many E-bike Lovers will participate. We enjoy a nearly 100% RSVP success rate. Thank you so much for your help! As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome. DISCLAIMER LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, RICHARD CAMER TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS. See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer

**Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from a duo with over 16 years of experience combined. During this demonstration event, you can expect to learn how to direct and guide your creative vision through lighting and communication to your model. We guarantee you will leave this event feeling more confident to try new lighting set ups to match up with your anticipated outcome. Finding the right way to express your vision is key to getting your model to pose accordingly, so we got you there too! To take this even further, think about signing up for a tutorial spot following the demonstration.** ***Note: this is a demonstration event only, you will not shoot your own images. However, if you bring your camera we can test it for compatibility with the studio lights.*** **Following the demonstration will be a tutorial/coaching event - sign up separately if you are interested at** https://calendar.app.google/ZcHb4CQB2rrV3U7j9 **Save and book both for $199 (discounted from $215; the discount will be applied on the Tutorial invoice).**

These meetings will be a building block approach to learning photographic mastery over three disciplines: Completely Mechanical (CM) - A 13-week series Completely Exposed (CE) - A 26-week series Completely Composed (CC) - A 52-week series All three series will run concurrently and will dovetail as follows: Q3/26 - CM (Iter 1), CE (Iter 1, Pt 1), CC (Iter 1, Pt1) Q4/26 - CM (Iter 2), CE (Iter 1, Pt 2), CC (Iter 1, Pt2) Q1/27 - CM (Iter 3), CE (Iter 2, Pt 1), CC (Iter 1, Pt3) Q2/27 - CM (Iter 4), CE (Iter 2, Pt 2), CC (Iter 1, Pt4) That's likely confusing, but essentially, CM offered 4 times in that period, CE offered 2 times, and CC offered 1 time. **TO BE CLEAR - THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THESE CLASSES.** This is an aggressive series, with presentations, homework, group shoots to be added in, likely at LEAST twice a month, image critiques, and an expectation that you are willing to put in the work to elevate your photography significantly. Open to all levels and all equipment levels. Don't let hesitation about your skillset and/or gear keep you from a one-time opportunity. The group will meet every Tuesday, with periodic exceptions, and we will try to keep as close as possible to the original plan. Obviously, more data is coming and will be published as this is further developed, but now is the time to decide if you want to be a part of this.

This will be our regular monthly meeting, with a new topic picked each month. Topics to be determined and posted soon.

You can sleep in on the Sesquicentennial (observed), we’re shifting to the following Friday. But join the local UX community for a chat and some biscuits to catch up. If you were in CA for Figma Config, tell us all the lines and you can tell me how I can animate an SVG without coding it by hand, and why I’d even want to. Thanks to the team at Nationwide of supporting the group.