Anyone familiar with Virginia?

[MindyRaeL]

So, I'll try to keep this short and not allow it to turn into a rant...

My husband got orders and we just transferred to Norfolk, Va about a month ago. We've been military for a while and I'm used to the moving, but I'm really having a hard time with this city. Before here, we lived in Isle of Palms, SC (close to Charleston) and before that it was La Jolla, CA (close to San Diego). Those were some beautiful places!
But Norfolk, well, I really hate it here. It's so industrial and crowded and run down, and seriously has some of the worst roads I've ever seen. I'm trying to convince myself it's not so bad, but everywhere I look is concrete and it's pretty depressing.
I'm sure it doesn't help that I've spent Christmas on beach the last 10 years, and this place has real winters, with rain and cold and gray skies. And it also doesn't help that hubs is on work ups and gone most of the time, so I'm by myself in a strange city. I've been exploring a few times, but have stayed mostly in the Norfolk/ North Hampton area, because I'm directionally challenged and can get lost in a wet paper bag.

But I'm feeling pretty down and really uninspired. I haven't even picked up my camera in a few weeks because I just can't see anything worth shooting. I'm hoping that some of you folks are familiar with the Norfolk area, and can point me to someplace with a little more green, a little less concrete, and a lot less people. Or can tell me something good about this city, because I'm tempted to move back to SC and tell hubs he's going to have a really long weekend commute.

Even if you're not familiar with the area, maybe you've got a few ideas how I can turn this funk around? I'm open to pretty much anything at this point.

[gturner]

Naval installations could be interesting... but you may have an MP or FBI person on your ass for that!

I know Richmond a little and it is not the prettiest place on earth....

Why not look at websites from other photographers from the area to get an idea of what they are shooting.

[Peach]

I'm definitely not familiar with the area, but on the event that you can't find any greener spaces with less people, have you thought maybe using the concrete, buildings, grayness to your advantage? It could be a giant challenge for yourself - to look at this drab dullness in a way you haven't and instead of making it nice or prettier, really showcase it's ugliness. It sounds ass-backwards, but you might get into it, who knows? You could show off textures, the way light plays on angles, cracks, scale, etc. Modern decay.

[MindyRaeL]

Originally Posted by gturner

Naval installations could be interesting... but you may have an MP or FBI person on your ass for that!

I know Richmond a little and it is not the prettiest place on earth....

Why not look at websites from other photographers from the area to get an idea of what they are shooting.

I have access to the bases, but there's more concrete there than anywhere, with a lot of barbed wire thrown in too. But I'll definitely look into websites of other local photogs and see if I can find something inspiring there.

Originally Posted by Peach

I'm definitely not familiar with the area, but on the event that you can't find any greener spaces with less people, have you thought maybe using the concrete, buildings, grayness to your advantage? It could be a giant challenge for yourself - to look at this drab dullness in a way you haven't and instead of making it nice or prettier, really showcase it's ugliness. It sounds ass-backwards, but you might get into it, who knows? You could show off textures, the way light plays on angles, cracks, scale, etc. Modern decay.

I love that idea, Peach. I keep trying that whole mind over matter thing. Like maybe if I tell myself enough times that it's not so bad here, then I might be able to convince myself of it.

[mosgood]

I'm on the west coast, so can't help you find places for inspiration. But Peach has some great ideas....use what you have. Challenge yourself! DPS has some really awesome assignments right now, & that could also help the creative juices flow. If you are looking for something less industrial, check out this free computer program called "Google Earth" that you can download. It's awesome! You can start right at your location & start scouting from there. There's even street views available. Warning....it can get addictive! Next if you have trouble with navigation, I'd recommend investing in a GPS unit. Garmin is fairly user friendly...but there are others too.

You could find some cool stuff close by just by searching.

Best of luck!

[lputman]

You are not far from Virginia Beach....also take a visit to Suffolk.

[Jeffrey Garrison]

My father is retired Air Force, (retired from Langely Air Force Base) which is pretty close to where you and your husband are stationed. I spent some time down there visiting them I totally agree with you that the area is very industrial and can be depressing.

That being said, you have to check out Jamestown, Williamsburg (both the old Colonial "living history" site and Bush Gardens (awesome amusement park!!) Yorktown National Battlefield, Virginia Beach (it's pretty cool, but not a cool as San Diego) and The Great Dismal Swamp National Widlife Refuge (southwest of Norfolk, straddling the North Carolina state line). Also for long weekends (or long day-trips) Virginia is littered with Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields and state parks. You can also zip on down to Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and the Kill Devil Hills on the North Carolina coast.

I guess what I'm saying is that even though the Newport News/Hampton/Norfolk area isn't that great, especially compared to the other postings you've had, there's actuall alot around it and easily accessible from there to check out, especially for a photographer!

Williamsburg VA Attractions | Historic Attractions, Theme Parks & Other Events

Wright Brothers National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

[Doug Sundseth]

There's quite a bit of the Tidewater area that is very pretty. The road up the York river from Hampton to Yorktown (IIRC) is just beautiful, the places the previous poster mentioned are nice, Fort Monroe used to be nice, though it was hit with BRAC a few years ago. The shipyards in Newport News are interesting if you like heavy industry. The Mariner's Museum in NN is worth a visit, though not as much for photography as just because it's a neat place. DelMarVa is pretty, especially if you have the time to travel up the Atlantic coast (sea birds can be particularly interesting along that coast). DC is only a couple of hours away.

You should have no shortage of places to shoot.

[Jim Poor]

Head to Williamsburg. Check out the civil war and revolutionary war sites all over this area.

[metallion58]

If you're surrounded by concrete, maybe a quick search for "Urbex" on Google might spark some inspiration. Basically, it's about photographs of urban decay and can be quite interesting.