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Summertime Photography Ideas

Strawberries at the Alexandria Farmers' Market

With so many activities happening during the summer months, it’s the perfect time to go out with your camera! Here is a list of ideas/locations to include on your summer photography list:

  • The local Farmers Market – photograph all the vibrant colors of fresh produce on display
  • A County or state fair – from carnival rides to livestock to arts and crafts, there is a wide variety of subjects to photograph during the day and into the night! Most counties around DC – in both Maryland and Virginia – have county fairs, and both Maryland and Virginia have state fairs.
  • Street festivals and block parties – capture the food, music and fun at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, the H Street Festival and Adams Morgan Day!
  • Family reunions – be the “official photographer” at your family reunion and capture those once-in-a-lifetime shots of family members and long-lost relatives
  • The mountains – residents in the DC area are privileged to live within driving distance of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which get their color from a gas that the trees release, creating that unique blue color we love to photograph! There is plenty of flora, fauna and a few waterfalls to photograph as well!
  • The beach – likewise, residents in the DC can also spend time in one of the many coastal towns on the eastern shore/Atlantic Coast of Maryland and Virginia, capturing sunrises and slowing the “motion of the ocean” by using a tripod and a long shutter speed.
  • Gardens and wildlife in peak form – there are many gardens throughout the DC area which have abundant plantings and wildlife, just waiting to be photographed, such as Hillwood, the Enid Haupt Garden and Burnside Farms.
  • Historic sites – the DC area has an abundance of historic sites, some dating back to the American Revolution With America’s 250th Birthday next summer, many historic sites are proudly presenting new programs and activities focusing on that momentous event. You can step back in time in a colonial town or property such as Old Town Alexandria or George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
  • Museum Collections – DC is known for the wide array of (free!) Smithsonian museums that line the National Mall, but don’t forget about other museums that highlight specific topics, such as the International Spy Museum, the National Building Museum, and the Folger Shakespeare Library.
  • Night photography – there is no better place to work on your night photography than the National Mall! The monuments and memorials are beautifully illuminated all year round and you can photograph them during the Golden Hour and the Blue Hour, in advance of nightfall.

Interested in learning how to photograph these genres of photography? Check out the safaris we offer on our website at https://www.washingtonphotosafari.com

Photo by Sherryl Belinsky

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