Photography Classes & Workshops

Let's chat! The purpose of this event is to meet and connect with like-minded investors and to grow our network. Great opportunity to network with investors, lenders, brokers, operators and business leaders. We can all share what we want and need as well as help and bring value to the rest of the community. We will meet at the Ono Brewing Company, 4520 Daly Dr. Ste 102 Chantilly, VA 20151

Join us for another lowkey writing session! Bring your laptop, iPad, or notebook so that you can get some words down! We will start around 6:00 as people filter in. Writing, chatting, and casual introductions will go on until 6:30 as people arrive and grab food and drinks, when we will do a round-table to introduce ourselves, our genres and writing styles, and what we are looking for from the group. After that, we can buckle down to do some writing and make ourselves be productive! I will try to snag the big community table to the right of the registers at Tatte, or sit against the back wall with a couple of tables pulled together, so you can look for me there. I'll post in the comments when I arrive, so feel free to check there or message me if you are feeling lost or having difficulty finding the group. I'll look forward to meeting you all! Our next workshop will take place on the Monday following this one, so look forward to that, as well!

Beginner-friendly evening [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ) class [at OSMA in Herndon, VA](https://www.virginiabjj.com/): Learn escapes, submissions, and live strategy with expert instruction. **🔥** *No experience is required* -- **new students** and **first-timers** are genuinely welcome. Classes focus on **practical**, **real-world fundamentals** taught in a **safe**, **technical**, and **highly supportive environment**. You’ll learn how to **escape common holds**, **apply effective submissions**, and **understand live positional strategy** \-\- the same leverage\-based system used in modern BJJ and [Mixed Martial Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts) (MMA), adapted for everyday people. This **gi class** takes place every **Monday** and **Wednesday** and includes **one hour of guided instruction** followed by **one hour of optional open training** (live rounds, drilling, review, and research). Gis are available if you need one. **Drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20** and can be **paid on-site**. We are located in **Suite #130** \-\- let us know when you arrive and we’ll take care of the rest\.

This place has lights! If you can’t RSVP because we are full please join the waitlist and when we get more players we will open up the event to more players. If you sign up and can’t make it please be respectful and change your RSVP. If you are a no show for no good reason multiple times will not have you at future meet ups. If you need help with anything for an up coming meet up text Anthony at (703) 843-4243 Let’s have fun! Bring a can of balls please or lightly used ones will do.

**Inflow 6:00 PM - Talks Start \~6:30 PM** **Reston Community Center - 2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA 20191** NoVA Hackers is a group located in the Northern Virginia area and is made up of Information Security Professionals from all walks of life, from government and private sector, to students and beginners. The monthly meetings are held much like a mini-conference with 4-8 speakers and only a few basic but strict rules. Participation and Permission Active Participation is required for continued membership and is the only due required. Permission is required to be obtained from anyone providing information to the group from the person providing it to be made public by anyone other than the provider. Historically our talks generally run a bit late and we have a hard stop at 9:30pm for the room. If you want to socialize we recommend you arrive at 6 to meet and greet before the talks. Agendas and remote meeting option available after you join the group.

***Feel free to come earlier to ensure we have enough courts!*** **Remember to bring a can of new or lightly used tennis balls.** By signing up to this Meetup event, you agree * To practice effective social distancing and hold yourself 100% responsible for protecting yourself against exposure to Covid-19 and any other cooties. * To not hold anyone (including Meetup.com) liable should you be exposed to Covid-19 by attending this event. * To decline attending if you suspect you have any of the Covid-19-related symptoms (we can wait until you're better to show your tennis prowess). Please bring a can of NEW tennis balls. As usual, this meetup is cancelled if the weather doesn't permit us to play If you see others waiting to use the courts, please limit your play to one short set (best of 5 games), where the losing team rotates out. Thanks in advance!!

My name is MJ Huntsgood, and I am a speculative horror author with award-nominated speculative fiction published in literary magazines, anthologies, and across the internet. I've taught classes online, at conventions, and in other venues. I'd love to bring my knowledge to the community. In this one-hour workshop, we’ll explore how to use speculative elements (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, dystopian, surreal) as tools for storytelling rather than decoration. The focus is on clarity, emotional stakes, and ideas that actually sustain a narrative. This session blends short craft discussion with guided writing exercises, so you’ll leave with new material on the page, not just notes. **In this workshop, you’ll:** * Learn a simple framework for generating speculative premises from personal, social, or philosophical questions * Explore how to ground speculative concepts in character and emotion * Draft a short piece or opening scene using a focused speculative constraint * Get tools you can reuse for future stories, regardless of subgenre **This workshop is for:** * Writers interested in speculative fiction (SF, fantasy, hybrid, literary speculative) * Writers who want their work to feel meaningful, not gimmicky * Writers comfortable doing short writing exercises You don’t need to be published, but some prior writing experience is helpful. This is not a critique workshop. **Format:** 1.5 hours **Includes:** Craft guidance, writing exercises, and optional sharing **Bring:** Something to write with and a willingness to experiment (a limited number of pens and notebooks will be available)

Welcome to MindShift Gym! We're hosting free introductory classes on Saturday, January 17th for ages 6-99. Curious about parkour, aerial silks, dance, yoga, and more? Come play with us. ​ **Schedule** Click the class to be taken to its registration page. **Classes will fill up so please RSVP online to guarantee your spot.** All classes listed are introductory classes; NO experience needed. Classes are between 45min-1 hour. ​​ Intro to Parkour * 11am [Family (kids and adults ages 9+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=424F72E8-E563-4FEB-BDF7-E65EAA89CDB5) * 12pm [Nano parkour (ages 6-8)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=B73041E7-26DB-4C10-AB2E-3E480C9B8918) * 1pm [Youth (ages 9-14)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=A41489AA-CFEB-4C12-B9A6-7B2FA0A3D7FF) * 2:30pm [Youth & Teens (ages 9-17)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=06CADFA0-BF66-4F09-99FF-19A3A0E4E219) * 2:30pm [Adults (ages 18+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=3E6914FB-09FF-4837-A87F-CBAAD10649DC) * 3:30pm [Low-impact parkour (ages 35+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=DF5565F6-2FF0-4736-AE6B-2EF807D51332) ​ Intro to Aerial Silks * 1pm [Teens & Adults (ages 15+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=FE1AB527-3BEF-4E55-94EC-25528CC24918) * 2:15pm [Youth (ages 9-14)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=B33B2A88-19F4-4CEC-9ED1-EFF468F66E93) ​ Intro to Dance * 2pm [Intro to Ballet (ages 15+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=C27E27E8-AFB8-4D02-B74B-15C8C319F6F5) * 3pm [Intro to Contemporary Dance (ages 15+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=C65E2271-3901-4305-9DA1-E847146565C3) ​ Intro to Hammock Yoga * 12pm [Intro to Hammock Yoga (ages 18+)](https://mindshiftgym.sites.zenplanner.com/event.cfm?eventId=73498455-4CB2-46F4-AF5E-5D219CF29C5F)

Meeting in the big room at George Mason Library in Annandale, VA, for a get-together to celebrate this Meetup group being 11 years old! We will have food and drink. Bring your favorite prints (2 max and any size) that you took in 2025, and bonus points if they were taken at a Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup. This year we will have three prizes: for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Please review the Meeting Room Terms & Conditions. Only light refreshments, such as granola bars and bottled water, are permitted. Additionally, the meeting room must be cleared no later than 5:55 p.m. Users are responsible for room setup, including arrangement of tables and chairs, and cleanup, including returning furniture to its original placement. Setup/cleanup time should be included in the reservation. Groups are expected to leave rooms in an orderly condition promptly at the conclusion of the reserved time.

It’s time to stop watching others. Have a great time and jump in yourself! Swing Dancing is easy, fun, you don’t need a partner, it’s great exercise, it helps prevent Alzheimer’s, and it’s a super friendly community to join into. It’s time to stop watching others having all the fun on the dance floor and time to jump in smf gind your happy place! Swing Dancing is easy, fun, you don’t need a partner, it’s great exercise, helps prevent Alzheimer’s, and it’s a super friendly community! The lessons are held at Colvin Run dance hall in Great Falls. It’s inexpensive too! So stop sitting on the sidelines and jump in and have some fun. It’ll be the best New Year’s resolution you’ve ever made. Gottaswing.com to register Casual comfy clothing and smooth soled shoes. Or duct tape slapped on the bottom of some old sneakers?!

• What we'll do Learn how to take great pictures BEFORE you go on that expensive trip! And we will teach you how to use your camera IN THE FIELD, not in a classroom! Join our standard Monuments and Memorials workshop, offered Wednesdays and Saturdays, in which the instructor takes you to some of DC’s most popular attractions: White House, Lafayette Park, the Einstein, Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam Three Servicemen Memorials, and finally to Union Station, where you learn to make all the moving people DISAPPEAR! Remember, it was Confucius who said: "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do, and I understand." At Washington Photo Safari, we help you "do " and understand! That is why our motto is "See. Click. Learn." This $71 Safari (a 20% discount from the regular $89 price) begins with a 45-minute travel photography orientation, giving you basic tips in composition, F-stops and shutter speeds, portraiture, and interior photography. While you are taking pictures, you receive hands-on guidance on how to make those images even better! Advanced and smartphone photographers will appreciate the instructor’s extensive knowledge of the best camera angles in DC. This is suggested as a preliminary course before taking special safaris. Open to any photographers at any skill level with any camera, phone, or tablet. Transportation from site to site is provided by the instructor. • What to bring camera and all lenses • Important to know travel, architectural, portrait and street photography techniques

Ed and Gail's Tuesday Night Dance for Everyone With Guest Instructors Mal and Linda Zerden! Mal and Linda are Diamond Showcase Champions, and have been teaching for decades, so they know what they're talking about! 7:00-7:20 Country Western Two-Step Basics 7:20-8:00 Intermediate Country Western Two-Step 8:00-10:00 Dance (Variety: Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Country, Everything!) $15 No partner necessary!

This class is a practical, hands-on introduction to creating strong, dramatic portraits using a single light source. We’ll be working in a small studio environment with one model and one light, focusing on how light placement, distance, and modifier choice completely change mood and shape. This is not a lecture-only class—you’ll see the setup demonstrated and then rotate through shooting time yourself. What we’ll cover • How to shape dramatic light with a single source • Light placement for short light, broad light, and high-contrast looks • Controlling shadow depth and falloff in tight spaces • Using minimal gear to create intentional, cinematic portraits • Directing a model efficiently while lighting stays simple What to expect • Small group (10 photographers max) • One shared lighting setup, adjusted live so you can see cause and effect • Time to shoot the model and ask questions as we go • Emphasis on decision-making, not presets or gimmicks Who this is for • Beginner to early-intermediate photographers • Anyone who feels overwhelmed by multi-light setups • Photographers who want stronger, more intentional portraits What to bring • Any camera (DSLR or mirrorless) • A lens in the 35–85mm range is ideal • Fully charged batteries and memory card Lighting gear and model are provided. You just focus on shooting and learning.

Northern Virginia Photographer’s Coffee Chat is a monthly Saturday morning meetup for photographers, videographers, and creators who want to meet more local talent, swap ideas, and leave with new connections (and better shoots). We’ll keep it simple: coffee, quick intros, what you’re working on, and time to network. No pitching, no awkward formal panel, just real people building creative momentum in NoVA. Hosted at The Studio by Nonagon Productions in Falls Church. Every month at 9:00am on Saturday.

THIS CLASS IS OFFERED THROUGH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER **PLEASE REGISTER WITH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER, NOT MEETUP!** https://capitalphotographycenter.com/classes/class/2026-02-01-photographic-composition-essential-techniques The composition of a photograph is the single most important element a photographer uses to convey an artistic statement. What’s included, excluded and the arrangement of elements within the frame is all part of composition. This class will teach you techniques to improve the composition of your photos with hands-on shooting experience coupled with feedback. Join instructor Michael Koren as you learn about composition in the Postal Museum and Union Station. The class begins with a lesson and viewing examples of compositional techniques from master photographers to help you when composing your own photographs. We'll then go to specific locations to practice those composition techniques. Afterwards, participants will have free time to photograph all the museum has to offer. We’ll follow up with a gentle critique and feedback of your best work of the day. This class is about "seeing" stronger images. Any camera will do from DSLRs to mobile phones. If you *are*bringing a DSLR or mirrorless camera, lenses in the range of 18-135 would work well. No tripods allowed for this class. Questions can be directed to Marie Joabar at info@capitalphotographycenter.com. Class limit: 8-10 *** **THIS CLASS IS OFFERED THROUGH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER** https://capitalphotographycenter.com/classes/class/2026-02-01-photographic-composition-essential-techniques

• What we'll do Learn how to take great pictures BEFORE you go on that expensive trip! And we will teach you how to use your camera IN THE FIELD, not in a classroom! Join our standard Monuments and Memorials workshop, offered Wednesdays and Saturdays, in which the instructor takes you to some of DC’s most popular attractions: White House, Lafayette Park, the Einstein, Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam Three Servicemen Memorials, and finally to Union Station, where you learn to make all the moving people DISAPPEAR! Remember, it was Confucius who said: "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do, and I understand." At Washington Photo Safari, we help you "do " and understand! That is why our motto is "See. Click. Learn." This $71 Safari (a 20% discount from the regular $89 price) begins with a 45-minute travel photography orientation, giving you basic tips in composition, F-stops and shutter speeds, portraiture, and interior photography. While you are taking pictures, you receive hands-on guidance on how to make those images even better! Advanced and smartphone photographers will appreciate the instructor’s extensive knowledge of the best camera angles in DC. This is suggested as a preliminary course before taking special safaris. Open to any photographers at any skill level with any camera, phone, or tablet. Transportation from site to site is provided by the instructor. • What to bring camera and all lenses • Important to know travel, architectural, portrait and street photography techniques

✨ Join us for our **3rd Saturday Social Ballroom Dance** and step into an evening filled with friendly dancers and the extraordinary musical DJ and Instructor talent of **Michael Sims**, where you can sign up for dances with Michael during the evening! **7:30 - 8:30 PM: Bachata Dance lesson by** **Michael Sims, of Lite on Your Feet Dancing.** **8:30 - 10:30 PM: Ballroom Dance music by Michael Sims.** $15 (cash or check) includes the lesson plus the dance, cold water and special scrumptious snacks this evening. Dress is Ballroom Casual. Please no cutoffs, T-shirts or jeans. Dress to Impress! No experience, reservations or partner needed. All Singles Welcome!! 1,850 sq. ft. beautiful oak dance floor. Plenty of free, safe parking ## Questions? Find Colvin Run at [http://www.colvinrun.org](http://www.colvinrun.org) or visit [http://www.meetup.com/colvinrun-org/](http://www.meetup.com/colvinrun-org/) or contact [Kathy.Milks@ColvinRun.org](mailto:Kathy.Milks@colvinrun.org) Please go to our **[website](https://www.colvinrun.org/the-events/calendar)** [calendar](https://www.colvinrun.org/the-events/calendar) for all dances at Colvin Run Dance Hall.

**Swing'n Saturday Den** \- West Coast Swing Dance Party \- 4th Saturday of the Month Where: Elegant Dancing, 11230 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 ​When: 4th Saturday (no dance if it lands on or a day before/after a major Holiday) Time: 7:45pm- Beginner Level 1 Lesson (No experience needed) 7:45pm - Intermediate Level 2 /3 Lesson 8:30pm - 11:30pm-Dance Social Cost: $20 - Lesson + Dance Social \*Must Register in advance \*No partner needed

***Registration required at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy -*** [Birding Algonkian - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-algonkian-january/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at the Algonkian Regional Park in eastern Loudoun County. This bird walk takes place each month except December. With extensive frontage along the Potomac River, its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas combine to make it Loudoun’s top birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have them. We’ll meet at the boat ramp next to the parking lot.