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Photographing Lotus and Water Lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Park

Discover the hidden oasis of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and capture the vibrant beauty of lotus and water lilies in this exclusive photography course. Immerse yourself in the natural splendor of the park and learn how to create stunning images using various techniques and equipment. Unleash your creative vision and join us for a memorable morning of photographing nature's wonders.

  • All levels
  • 18 and older
  • $119
  • 5114 Ritchie Rd #644, Bealeton, VA , USA, Bealeton, VA
  • 3 hours

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  • $119
  • Bealeton Flying Circus Air Show @ 5114 Ritchie Rd #644, Bealeton, VA , USA, Bealeton, VA 22712
  • 3 hours
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Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this photography class:

Spend a Morning Photographing Beautiful Lotus and Water Lily Blossoms at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens!

Located on the eastern bank of the Anacostia River, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a one-of-a-kind destination within Anacostia Park and it is a hidden gem in Washington, DC. The summer lotus and lily blossoms are a “must see” during their peak blooming period in July, not unlike viewing the cherry blossoms in the spring. The Anacostia River is the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River and the area was originally wetlands, where the Nacotchtank – the indigenous Algonquian people – lived for almost 4,000 years. Eventually, in the late 1600s, as the English Colony in Maryland grew, the Nacotchtank were displaced, and the wetlands became farmland for tobacco crops.

In the 1880s, a Civil War Veteran named Walter Shaw bought 30 acres of land on the flats of the Anacostia River. Walter cleaned out an ice pond that had been built in the edging wetland (considered unusable) by a previous owner and planted wild water lilies that he had transported from his parents’ home in Maine. This was the start of the Shaw Aquatic Gardens. After Shaw’s death in 1921, his daughter Helen Shaw Fowler continued to run Shaw Gardens, which sold about 4 dozen different water lilies! In 1930, Helen Fowler received a condemnation notice, as part of a dredging project on the Anacostia River. She fought to save Shaw Gardens, and in 1938, Congress authorized payment of $15,000. for 8 acres of land, which was added to Anacostia Park. Helen Shaw Fowler lived on the property and cared for it until her death 15 years later. Included in this 8 acre parcel was a section of the original marsh, which is accessible by the Boardwalk at the back of the aquatic gardens.

Today, the historic ponds and the natural wetland areas that support them are managed by the National Park Service. There are over 45 ponds filled with a variety of water lilies and lotus, an elevated boardwalk through the surrounding tidal marshes, and access to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. There is some type of water lily blooming in the park from early May until mid-September, but the gardens are known for their lotus display which reaches peak bloom in mid-July. During this time, there are several varieties of lotus – white, pink, and fancy in all stages of their life cycle:

  • Bud, which is about the size of a grapefruit,
  • Newly opened, with a bright yellow seed pod, yellow stamens and cream anthers – the flower is about the size of a basketball!!,
  • Mature blossoms, with a pale yellow seed pod
  • Aging blossoms with a seed pod that has turned a beautiful shade of pale green,
  • The green seed pod, with no petals or stamens attached.

There are also plenty of other flowers and wildlife to photograph, such as water lilies, wildflowers, bees, dragonflies, butterflies, birds and bullfrogs.

During the class, we will work on using different focal lengths, f-stops and compositional techniques to create artistic images.

Make sure to bring your longest lens – a zoom lens such as the Tamron 18-400mm works well, since the Lotus grow in ponds, and most are not easily accessible, although there are some that grow close to the edges of the ponds. A tripod and remote release are also recommended, since the long lens does get heavy after a while! Bring a circular polarizer, a reflector and diffuser, if you have them.

Water, a hat and bug spray are also recommended for later in the morning.

What to Bring:

  • Camera
  • Lenses
  • Extra memory cards
  • Extra charged battery
  • Accessories such as filters, remote release
  • Tripod
  • Weather appropriate clothing

Where to Meet: 

Meet in the parking lot at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC. The closest Metro station is the Orange Line/Deanwood Station.

Refund Policy

  • Cancellations must be made in writing via email at least 10 business days prior to Safari date to [email protected]
  • Cancellations received 9 business days or more in advance of Safari date receive a refund of 75% of the amount paid.
  • No refund is made for cancellations received less than 9 business days before the Safari date.

Washington Photo Safari operates rain or shine. A separate itinerary is followed on rain or snow days, utilizing landmarks with unique photogenic interiors, such as The National Building Museum, Union Station, The National Postal Museum, The Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial.

In the event that an instructor or the school needs to cancel last minute, students will receive a refund less a 5% non refundable registration fee.

In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

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Washington Photo Safari

Washington Photo Safari teaches the techniques of photography by taking visitors and local residents on half-day and full-day photo shoots around key sites of the nation’s capital and other cities, while an accompanying professional photographer offers participants extensive tips in camera use, image...

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