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Message: <blockquote data-quote="10 Gauge" data-source="post: 477058" data-attributes="member: 39102">My awesome wife wants to let me choose any place in the state to go and shoot on Saturday (what a great wife, so supportive <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />).  So here is the short list of places I have compiled that I personally would like to go.  Now you guys can help me decide where sounds the best!Norfolk Botanical Garden: Heavenly especially for macro photographers, this beautiful botanical garden is world class. There are too many wonderful possibilities at this garden to name, but the rose garden and the butterfly house are two of my personal favorites. Many also come to view the landings and takeoffs at the nearby airport, as well. The garden, however, is most known outside of Norfolk for its Eagle Cam, one of the first of its kind. It focused upon the trials and triumphs of a pair that nested in one of the loblolly pines where they produced 19 eaglets over the course of eight years. After the female was struck and killed by an airplane at the nearby airport in 2011, the eagles became the source of much contention. Eventually, the garden was ordered to take the nest down and any subsequent nests. You may still see eagles at the garden, though. As of this spring, the male was still refusing to leave, and has resisted every effort to dissuade him from trying to rebuild on the grounds. As unhappy as the end of that story is, the garden itself is the epitome of happy.Colonial Williamsburg: Colonial Williamsburg is comprised of the historical area in the city of Williamsburg where the structures are preserved, restored, or sometimes reconstructed colonial era architecture. It is meant to be an accurate portrayal of the original settlement of Williamsburg, and by most accounts they are successful at it. It is peopled by “interpreters” in colonial-era dress busy at their colonial-era occupations; visiting is a wonderful opportunity for all photographers, but especially those with a penchant for portraiture or historical and architectural photography.Maymont: Maymont is a Victorian estate complete with a mansion, an arboretum, and formal gardens. That’s what was there originally. These days, the whole thing has been turned into a park of sorts, and they’ve added a museum, a carriage collection, wildlife exhibits, a children’s farm, and a nature center. In spite of these additions, it is tastefully done and quite a treat that also provides ample photographic opportunities. Great Falls National Park: The upside is that there is no hiking involved in accessing the beautiful falls in this park; the downside is that, while there are no legal strictures against it, the park has posted numerous signs alerting us to the number of drownings that take place each year when the foolhardy and unprepared choose to wander outside the boundaries of the trails and observation decks. I thought briefly of attempting a more unique view of the falls, but there really was not a single square inch of flat land to sturdy a tripod upon as far as I could tell. The good news is that, even with these restrictions, you can get some excellent shots of a truly breathtaking landscape. As a bonus, there are often kayakers in the white water, which can also make for some great shots if you have a good telephoto lens.Out of the currently listed options, I am leaning toward the first currently (since I just got a new macro lens I can put to work).   But, all of the options sound really good and I wouldn't be disappointed going to any of them.  Let's see where the votes go!</blockquote>

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