Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup

Annandale, VA, US

2,930 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+)

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Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 7:30 PM EDTPhotograph Middletown, MD Independence Day Celebration - Sat. June 28
Middletown Community Park, Middletown, MD
What Three Words Address:
///reporter.seasonings.clarifying

Located west of Frederick, MD, visit a small-town Independence Day celebration including fireworks at 9:30 PM over a pond.
https://www.middletown.md.us/index.asp?SEC=9E6AE7F5-5EB6-4509-9DCC-51E7812600BC&DE=1EB86C90-9CA6-4E10-B365-8B9F7F49A2C8&Type=B_BASIC

Here are some photos I took in 2013:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjGuqsXA

It does help to have a wide lens, as you can get to see more of the reflections. The lens I used above is an 18mm.

Here is a quick take on how I photograph fireworks:

Have the camera on a tripod

Use a wide lens as you can get, as the fireworks will show up as reflections in the pond

Set the ISO to 100

Set the aperture to f/11 or f/14 - The higher the number, the smaller the aperture and the thinner the lines in the fireworks

Set the shutter speed to Bulb

Focus on infinity

Have a remote trigger to not shake the camera

As soon as you hear the sound of the firework going off, press the trigger to open the shutter

Wait for the burst of the firework and close the shutter

In some cases, you can leave the shutter open to capture multiple bursts

Be careful for the grand finale, as it gets bright fast, and you don't want to leave the shutter open very long

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+6
Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 8:30 AM EDTPhotograph Summit Point DRIFT NIRVANA® Shenandoah Reverse - Sun. June 29
Summit Point Main, Summit Point, WV
# DRIFT NIRVANA® Shenandoah Reverse

Shenandoah Reverse #drifting #driftnirvana

To gain entry for free as a media representative, you must complete the registration and be approved. If your name is not on this website, expect to pay ($15 online and $20 at the door).
https://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/event/event.status/uidEvent/678CCBC9-96F1-D6D8-F8BFC1004916CF06

$15 online and $20 at the door per person
https://events.summitpointmp.com/products/june-29-2025-drift-nirvana-reverse

Event 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 Day

There 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, tripod, 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.
5 attendees
Tue, Jul 1, 2025, 12:00 AM EDTPhotograph One A Day (31 Day July 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 **June** 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 07/31/2025.

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 July 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 07/31/2025. 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!
2 attendees
Fri, Jul 4, 2025, 8:00 AM EDTPhotograph Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens July 4th
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC
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
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 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 size 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 mosquitos 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.
7 attendees+2