{"id":32981,"date":"2025-10-21T20:56:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T00:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/?post_type=tribe_events&#038;p=32981"},"modified":"2025-10-21T21:02:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:02:59","slug":"field-trip-mason-neck-state-parkva-at-sunrise","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/event\/field-trip-mason-neck-state-parkva-at-sunrise\/","title":{"rendered":"Field Trip:  Mason Neck State Park(VA) at Sunrise"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"tribe-events-schedule tribe-clearfix\" >\n\t<p class=\"tribe-events-schedule__datetime\">\n\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__date tribe-events-schedule__date--start\">\n\t\t\tOctober 26, 2025\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__separator tribe-events-schedule__separator--date\">\n\t\t\t\t @ \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__time tribe-events-schedule__time--start\">\n\t\t\t\t7:00 am\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__separator tribe-events-schedule__separator--time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t &#8211; \t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__time tribe-events-schedule__time--end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t10:00 am\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Updated Tue 21-Oct-2925 with new location!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"672\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-2.png 672w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-2-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Nestled on a tranquil peninsula in Lorton, Virginia, Mason Neck State Park offers photographers a rich tapestry of natural beauty and wildlife. The park\u2019s diverse ecosystems and scenic vistas provide endless inspiration. Whether you&#8217;re chasing the perfect wildlife shot or composing tranquil landscapes, Mason Neck State Park invites you to explore, create, and connect with nature through your lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mason Neck State Park features these and other photo opportunities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 <strong>Wetlands, forests, and open fields<\/strong> create dynamic compositions with shifting light and seasonal colors.<br>\u2022 <strong>Belmont Bay and Kane\u2019s Creek<\/strong> offer serene water reflections, perfect for golden hour shots.<br>\u2022 <strong>Bay View Trail<\/strong> is a favorite for nature walks with your camera, offering varied terrain and intimate nature scenes.<br>\u2022 <strong>American bald eagles<\/strong> are a highlight\u2014frequent sightings make this a prime location for bird photography.<br>\u2022 Other wildlife includes deer, foxes, herons, and turtles, often spotted along trails and waterways.<br>\u2022 Early morning mist over the wetlands and late afternoon sun filtering through the forest canopy create magical lighting conditions.<br>\u2022 The park\u2019s quiet ambiance makes it ideal for contemplative, slow-paced shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32983\" style=\"width:690px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-2.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>(Photo Credits: All images, Seton Droppers)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mason Neck Park description is available on the Virginia State Parks web site &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dcr.virginia.gov\/state-parks\/mason-neck\">Mason Neck State Park<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Equipment:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your camera and your standard \u201cwalk-about\u201d lens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A wide-angle lens may be useful<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A long telephoto if you plan on wildlife photography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sturdy tripod and remote release for longer exposures, if desired<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sturdy shoes for walking the various trails<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Inspiration:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NVPS Field Trip to Mason Neck State Park, 2013: <a href=\"https:\/\/nvps.smugmug.com\/NVPSGallery\/Field-Trips\/2012-2013-Field-Trips\/Masonneck\">Mason Neck &#8211; January 2013 &#8211; Northern Virginia Photographic Society<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mason Neck State Park Photo Gallery: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/vadcr\/albums\/72157603482896419\/\">Mason Neck SP | Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunday<\/strong> October 26, 2025, 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. (Rain date is Saturday, October 25, 2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunrise is at 7:30 AM. Park gates open at 7:00 AM. During a pre-field trip check the gates were not open until 7:00 AM and there was no convenient parking near the gates to wait for the gates to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mason Neck State Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA 22079<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a $10.00 parking fee to Mason Neck State Park, payable at the contact station (use the self-pay envelope provided at the contact station). You may also enter if you have a current annual pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will meet in the parking lot of the Picnic ground. This provides access to the Bayview trail, with views across a small bay and around a large marsh. You can also easily walk from the picnic parking area to the visitor center (which will be closed this early in the morning) and access other trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may wish to review and print the PDF map available on the Mason Neck State Park web site (above).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32986\" style=\"width:647px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-Announce-1-1.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">After Field Trip Snacks:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Panera Bread, 9402 Lorton Market St, Lorton, VA 22079<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NOTE: from Lorton Market ST, heading toward Lorton Road is ONLY available via the \u201cCarwash\u201d entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"710\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1.png 710w, https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1-300x275.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Seton Droppers and Christopher Fedorchak<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Field Trip Coordinators 2025-2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\t<div  class=\"tribe-block tribe-block__events-link\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"tribe-events tribe-common\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tribe-common-c-btn-border tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t class=\"tribe-common-c-svgicon tribe-common-c-svgicon--cal-export tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__export-icon\" \taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\tviewBox=\"0 0 23 17\"\n\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n>\n\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M.128.896V16.13c0 .211.145.383.323.383h15.354c.179 0 .323-.172.323-.383V.896c0-.212-.144-.383-.323-.383H.451C.273.513.128.684.128.896Zm16 6.742h-.901V4.679H1.009v10.729h14.218v-3.336h.901V7.638ZM1.01 1.614h14.218v2.058H1.009V1.614Z\" \/>\n\t<path d=\"M20.5 9.846H8.312M18.524 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noreferrer nofollow noindex\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoogle Calendar\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item--ical\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow noindex\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiCalendar\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item--outlook-365\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"tribe-events-c-subscribe-dropdown__list-item-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow 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Nestled on a tranquil peninsula in Lorton, Virginia, Mason Neck State Park offers photographers a rich tapestry of natural beauty and wildlife. The park\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":32982,"template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"America\/New_York","_EventStartDate":"2025-10-26 07:00:00","_EventEndDate":"2025-10-26 10:00:00","_EventStartDateUTC":"2025-10-26 11:00:00","_EventEndDateUTC":"2025-10-26 14:00:00","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"$","_EventCurrencyCode":"USD","_EventCurrencyPosition":"prefix","_EventDateTimeSeparator":" @ ","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":" - ","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[158,164],"class_list":["post-32981","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tribe_events_cat-activities","tribe_events_cat-field-trips","cat_activities","cat_field-trips","entry","has-media"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/32981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tribe_events"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/32981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32992,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/32981\/revisions\/32992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32981"},{"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nvps.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events_cat?post=32981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}