Ideas for New England Photo Shoots?

<p>My buddies are visiting me here in Connecticut from Indiana in less than a month (members here William and Kara Brothers)...We have a lot in common, but as far as what we are into for photography we vary. I like bugs and flowers and waterfalls and stuff... They like abandoned things, interesting people and such. Though we do both like seascape-type shots...</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone has a location suggestion(s) in the NE/Lower NY State area (preferably with in a 100-200 mile radius of the Hartford, CT area) that would be of interest to my friends...anything unique, abandoned or creepy or just wicked cool. I have no idea where to start looking for locations of interest to my friends, because I don't shoot places like this myself.</p>

<p>Thanks for ANY input and have a good one.</p>

<p>Waterfall--Kent Falls State Park (Western CT)<br />Flowers--Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boyleston MA<br />Butterflies--there is a place near the main Yankee Candle Factory store in Deerfield MA(recommended to me, but I've never actually been there)<br />CT Shoreline<br />Mystic Seaport--Abbotts is a somewhat tricky 15 minutes away--in case anyone likes fresh clams or lobster<br />Bluff Point State park has a 4 mile hiking trail along "undeveloped" land--been over 10 years since I've done it. <br />Hammonassett Beach/Meigs Point/Willard Island--lots of shoreline birds once the crowds go away. Lenny & Joes is a block away in case someone wants fresh seafood<br />CT Audubon society in Milford CT--great birding spot--next to a salt marsh, beach for birds, and Stuart B. McKinney NWR</p>

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<p>Zack, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory is amazing. One of my favorites places to shoot. Well worth the trip. I shoot there in the winter, when I need my 'bug fix'. I have been to almost every place you have mentioned :) One of my other faves is Kent State Park and the Saville Dam.</p>

<p>Lenny and Joe's? Sooo delicious.</p>

<p>I lived in the north Boston area for a while, and I have to say that you can pretty much drive out of the cities (and there's plenty to photograph IN the cities too), and find great stuff to shoot. I mean, Indiana is a lot nicer than people give it credit for, but you're going to have visitors in the fall in New England, and you don't know what to show them? (hint: think trees and foliage).</p>

<p>I know, I know...fall is my favorite season...just looking for something different. We will spend a few days at my cabin in Vermont (thinking trees and foilage)...and then hit the Ren Faire in CT...a friend of mine is working on getting us into the old Remington Factory in CT...they want to shoot the Boston skyline at night...</p>

<p>Wish I didn't find your post Jennifer. ;)<br>

I was born and raised in Conn. Sniff-Sniff</p>

<p>Other than the best foliage in the world, I would suggest any of the following seashore towns along I-95.</p>

<p>Guilford, (My Fav) ;)...Madison, Saybrook, Old Saybrook.<br>

You have incredible seafaring themes to shoot, really old.<br>

A trip to New Haven will provide some great architectural shoots if you like that.<br>

Yale University comes to mind.<br>

All these towns are just a few miles off I-95. They are steeped in history and tradition AND off the beaten path where most tourists never bother to look.</p>

<p>Ya got me thinking now; so if you see some guy with 2 cameras attached to his body, moving in some really odd positions; ya..That's me, looking for "The Shot" ;)</p>

<p>Will keep an eye out...I am always out and about...Essex, OS, Gillete Castle, Hartford area, Southbury...and I too, get pretty creative with my positions...but this of course, is all photography related, lol...</p>

Route 197 across northeastern CT. and then down 169 to Brooklyn includes a lot of pretty scenery. Also maybe Newgate prison in East Granby, CT. Deerfield, MA is a good scenic place too. All good with fall colors.

<p>Old Newgate Prison...I drive by signs for that all the time. I was also thinking about Sturbridge Village and how wonderful it would be in the fall. Deerfield is wonderful, my old stomping grounds...(a UMass grad)...</p>

<p>Gravestones of colonials born in the fifteen hundreds (amazing, such markers of that period have all been lost in my part of Quebec), on that heritage trail in Boston, plus some of the older buildings on the trail. The market is fun for people shots, Beacon hill for the rather austere and polite architecture (an "urban" Deerfield), cobblestone street patterns and lighting of the streets from low sun position.</p>

<p>One of my biggest dreams would be to get into the Portsmout Naval Base prison. Used to break into it when I was a Marine up there, but that was before my photo days.</p>

<p> Gotta love Bean Town, Arthur...</p>

<p>Looks like it's going to be or is in the process of renovation, Bill.</p>

<p>(don't like calling you 'Bill' lol but you know that already...)</p>

<p>...abondoned and creepy...Porstmouth Naval Base prison...yup.<br>

Might be tough to get into, I think it's still inside the bounds of the base.</p>

<p>Bill can find a way, lol...I think I will stay in the car :)</p>

<p>North and west of Hartford:<br>

1) Forest Park in Springfield (park, gardens, small zoo)<br>

2) Smith College Botanic Gardens<br>

3) Stanley Park in Westfield, MA<br>

4) Berkshires in western MA<br>

5) Quabbin Reservoir area<br>

6) Southwick Animal Park (http://www.southwickszoo.com/homePage.html#)<br>

7) Sturbridge Village<br>

8) Mohawk Trail - Rt. 2 in MA - especially the Hairpin Turn in North Adams - see 3 states (drive SLOW and heed warnings - it is a very sharp U-turn down a mountain with a cliff)<br>

9) Rt. 7 and Rt. 8 north CT and MA in western part of the states<br>

10) Northampton and Amherst, MA<br>

11) Hartford Botanical Garden<br>

12) Berkshire Botanical Gardens - Stockbridge, MA<br>

13) Mount Holyoke College Botanical Gardens<br>

14) All along the Connecticut River (CT, MA, Vermont)</p>

 

<p>It's a bit of a hike, but I've always liked Hancock Shaker Village. And, of course, Boston, the hub of the universe. And if you're near Boston, Walden Pond is nice.</p>

<p>I am at Forest Park weekly...<br />Smith College's Tulips Show is awesome...<br />Stanley Park is a favorite, especially the mill...<br />I fish at Quabbin all the time...<br />And that hairpin is crazy, especially on the back of a Harley :)<br />Never been to Walden Pond, though the novel is amazing~ I will have to visit.</p>

<p>This place always lowers my mood. I see it quite often gracing the entrance to Portsmouth NH, Harbor. Hence the subdued B&W. The prison. Now closed and under lock and key on the grounds of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. </p><div></div>

<p>Ahh that's the place.</p>

<p>I find comfort in it, perhaps I am weird</p>

<p>Bill/ Widow(For Jen)</p>

<p>Great shot of the prison, Dick.</p>

<p>You - the one with a house in Vermont and the Red sox fan who goes to Boston, should not need Ideas on this.<br /> Take a ride to your house thru Mass and stop along the way. You know where to go.<br /> When you get to VT you also know to go further North than Dover.<br /> But if you want to take some great photos, I can tell you where to get some tickets to a Yankee game at the new stadium</p>

<p>I think we'll pass on the Yankees tickets, Joesph, lol...good one though :)</p>

<p>You might find the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY worthwhile--they have an airshow of vintage planes that is photographer friendly--not only do the planes fly slow but they are flown relative to the sun/audience so that you can get good shots.</p>

<p>I would find some maple trees and shoot them!</p>