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DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> Virginia Beach Photo Ops?
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03/23/2009 04:18:34 PM · #1
I'm going to Virginia Beach for a few days next week and I'm looking for some good photo opportunities. I'm staying HERE. Does anyone in the area know of some good beach spots for photography opportunities?
03/23/2009 04:21:05 PM · #2
man, to be honest you might be a little disappointed.
i was there a few years back, and other than a "generic" boardwalk street, and a nice beachfront, there's very little to photograph.
there's a lighthouse at one end of the beach that i would recommend, but other than that, its a bit generic.
03/23/2009 04:36:17 PM · #3
VA Beach is basically a military town. If you head towards Oceana Naval Base you could quite possibly catch numerous types of military aircraft as the pilots do their 'touch downs and take offs' to keep qualified from that base. Not only fighters and bombers, but harriers and copters. Anything the Navy flies.

Farther down the road a bit is Dam Neck Naval Base. This is a training facility, so if you go to the public beach that abuts the Navy property you may catch them doing target practice with drones (usually radar tracking, but sometimes Phalynx target practice), there is Mount Trashmore Park which is a fairly good sized park and was quite nice when I was there and the 'mount' is all land-filled garbage. Being a higher elevation, it is a good spot for sunrise and sunset pics.

The upper end (north? - towards Chesapeake Bay) of the main beach quite often has sand sculpting going on, but it may be a bit early in season for that.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is an awesome structure and many photo ops on a good day. Can't stop except for one or two areas, but if you are not driving, have camera in hand if ships are moving. It is worth whatever the toll is (I think you only pay one way, or at least you did a few years ago just to drive it. And if you do you via leaving VA, you end up in Delaware and some very beautiful farm country not far up the highway. Also a huge chicken farm and turkey I think. But if I recall they are a bit up the road.

Norfolk is not far away (16 miles?) and the Naval Station and docks and shipyard there are quite extensive and there are plenty of public areas and tours where excellent photo ops can be found if you like big boats...with guns...and missiles...and others waiting to be sunk as man made reefs when the call comes in. Also if you are lucky, there could be submarine activity which is just awesome to watch them in the water - so freaking huge. Last time I was there a sub was actually being commissioned and there was a huge celebration. It was something to see this massive steel tube just disappear when they flooded the dry-dock. A smaller sub was also launched via the ramp which was a thing to see.

If you go not far from the beach and hit the country, there are some beautiful vistas and scenery. Great tobacco farms within 1/2 hour. Some really old plantation farms and such.

As I think more I will post. I used to live there in the early 80's. But as a resident you tend not to notice so much of what a tourist comes to see and being in the Navy I was busy a lot of my time.

If you go beyond the main beach areas keep your eyes open for sharks teeth. From VA Beach all the way up the west side of Chesapeake Bay they seem to wash up on shore. Not like hundreds of them all over, but I have found many every time I am there.

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 16:54:37.
03/23/2009 05:06:01 PM · #4
CEJ Gave you pretty much the "to do" list in that area. To add one more to the list. If you have your own transportation, taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnelall the way across will bring you to the Eastern Shore of Virginia This is a beautiful place and once you cross the Bridge, there is a Nature Reserve. Not sure if the public is able to tour it, but there are plenty of places to stop and take photos. The Eastern Shore has a few places (can't recall them, its been a while) that could be great photo ops.

On a side note. I've been across that bridge at Sunrise and Sunset and always kicked myself for not having a camera. Once you're in the middle of it, there really isn't any land around.

Forgot about the Dismal Swamp. Don't think that'll be to far from you.


Message edited by author 2009-03-23 17:09:00.
03/23/2009 05:10:48 PM · #5
bust post

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 19:09:13.
03/23/2009 05:58:31 PM · #6
I made it to Virginia Beach a few times when I was in the Navy. It was a while ago and I vaguely remember...

1. Huge horse flies (with teeth and they try to eat you)
2. No waves (although there were often several surfboards around)
3. Very few bikinis

I don't remember taking a single photo of the place.

03/23/2009 07:45:45 PM · #7
Thanks for the input. I have never been to VA Beach before and just wanted a few ideas of what I might expect when I get there. This will get me started for sure :)


03/23/2009 09:20:55 PM · #8
Less than 40 miles is False Cape.

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 21:21:10.
03/23/2009 09:33:47 PM · #9
Nice find CEJ.

Think I'll have to spend a day out there myself. Since getting into the whole photography thing, I've seen more of this state in the past 4 months than the past 10 years. Thanks for the find. =)
03/23/2009 09:47:39 PM · #10
False Cape does look nice, but I'm not sure if I'll have time for an excursion like that.
03/23/2009 09:50:59 PM · #11
You could photograph me buying you a beer if you wanted to.
03/23/2009 10:00:09 PM · #12
Originally posted by langdon:

You could photograph me buying you a beer if you wanted to.


How about a photograph of me buying you a beer instead?
03/23/2009 10:04:56 PM · #13
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by langdon:

You could photograph me buying you a beer if you wanted to.


How about a photograph of me buying you a beer instead?


Or....Party at Langdon's house! ;-)
03/24/2009 12:10:14 AM · #14
We are planning to hit VA Beach in July. But you guys aren't exactly throwing out great reviews for the place. :)
03/24/2009 12:19:39 AM · #15
Originally posted by Stiger:

We are planning to hit VA Beach in July. But you guys aren't exactly throwing out great reviews for the place. :)


Photographers will find images in any location :)
03/24/2009 11:57:41 AM · #16
Just stumbled across this site. 1000 things to do while in Va Beach.

Message edited by author 2009-03-24 11:59:24.
03/28/2009 11:40:49 PM · #17
Originally posted by CEJ:

Just stumbled across this site. 1000 things to do while in Va Beach.


Thanks... that looks helpful too :)
03/29/2009 12:10:17 AM · #18
Hey, I lived there for four years. What type of stuff are you looking to photograph? I sort of agree VA Beach itself isn't too exciting photographically. If you have transportation you can get to better places without too long a drive. The Outer Banks has better lighthouses (45 minutes to the south). They have a warship anchored at the Nauticus museum in Norfolk. Colonial Williamsburgh is also maybe an hour plus away. Could be some architectural things to photograph there. You could get a fur and walk in front of PETA headquarters and then photograph anything that happens. VA Beach does have the Virginia Science Marine Museum which may have some wildlife opportunities for you. There is an aquarium there too.

You know what I love to do when I'm heading to a new place and want to see what's there to photograph, check it out on Google Earth and just see what Panoramio comes up with. What do other people consider worth photographing? (even if they do a really bad job.)
03/29/2009 12:49:24 AM · #19
I was just looking around to see what sort of standard opportunities were available. I'm sure I'll come up with some decent stuff here and there... especially people. I will have my own transporation and I might ride around some during my free time...
08/30/2009 12:13:34 AM · #20
Jim - I came across your post and must admit I was amused. Photo ops in Virginia Beach? To read the responses one would think there are none, but nothing can be further from the truth. While I think you ended the thread appropriately, leaving open the possibility of finding something or someone to shoot, there is a lot more to be positive about Virginia Beach! Besides that fact, photography is what you, the photographer, make of it. I saw a video demo of a macro set up of a glass jar, a piece of aluminum foil, and a lemon slice. Basic for sure, but the resulting photo was stunning. Shot on a picnic table in sun light. You don't have to be that inventive to make great images of Virginia Beach, just keep your eyes and mind open!

Virginia Beach is filled with treasures, you just have to get out and find them. I've lived in Virginia Beach since the late 1980's, so I have some knowledge beyond someones bad vacation memories. As a matter of fact I make my living selling photographs of scenic Virginia Beach and the entire Commonwealth. Check out my website if you want to see more of scenic Virginia Beach. Since your post was a few months ago, I hope you came away from VB with some killer photos.

Regards,
Tim Rudziensky
Virginia Images Photography
www.VirginiaImages.com
08/30/2009 09:29:38 AM · #21
So, jmsetzler did you find anything worthy to photograph?
Virginia Beach was one of the first beaches I saw in my life, being a native of Colorado, and I was rather disappointed. So tell us... how were your adventures!?
06/02/2011 03:19:17 PM · #22
We have been to Va Beach many many times and believe me there are plenty of photo ops there. Many museums aquarium exhibits naval base etc. and there are plenty of bikini clad young ladies walking around swiming and some surfing.
11/25/2011 09:09:31 PM · #23
I have lived in Virginia Beach for almost 3 years. I am military and a photographer in the area. There are many places to photograph so i gad to respond. There are many parks in Virginia Beach, Regent University has beautiful indoor spots not to mention the Botanical Gardens in the area!!! So if anyone visits again you know some places to shoot!!!
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