Pics in the Parks
We welcome all ages and skill levels. Use your cameras and smartphones to take part in our informal sessions and challenges available online. We also hold occasional photo hikes.
You will learn techniques for taking impressive photographs of Boston’s scenic parks. We'll also give you challenges and a theme to focus on periodically. Select photos may be chosen for an exhibit online in our digital Pics in the Parks art gallery.
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Have questions? Contact:
Parks and Recreation
Upcoming Photo Walks
Photo WalksThere are no related events available at this time!
Photo Tips
- Look closely and think about what attracts you without your camera before you look through your camera. Never “point and shoot.”
- Think about why you want to capture something. Which elements do you like best? Which ones do you want to remember or share?
- Adjust your perspective if necessary. You might need to kneel on the ground, move three steps to the left, stand on a bench, or do something else.
- Check for distracting elements and adjust again to avoid them. Outdoor distractions include vehicles, trashcans, and street signs. Indoor distractions include light switches, fire extinguishers, and clutter.
- Pay attention to the weather. In outdoor photography, you need to pay attention to what is going on outside. Precipitation, temperature, cloud cover, or sunlight. These all will play a role in the photos you take.
- Try something new! Don’t play it safe, especially if you have a digital camera. If it doesn’t work this time, maybe it will work next time. Every time you pick up a camera is a new opportunity to see differently.
- Don't forget to let us know what park you took your photograph in.
- Submit your photos to Parks@Boston.Gov for a chance to be featured in our Pics in the Parks photo gallery.
- All photos submitted may be used for Boston Parks and Recreation Department promotional materials.
Previous Fall Weekly Challenges
Challenge 1 - Color
Fill your viewfinder with primarily one color.
Challenge 2 - Texture
Today's challenge is to explore your park and take a photograph so that viewers can "feel the texture."
Challenge 3 - Leading Lines
Find natural lines in the landscape that will draw your attention.
Challenge 4 - Filters
Use built in preset filters in your phone’s photo app (or social media app) to make a visually pleasing photo.
Previous Winter Challenges
Challenge 1: Weather
Look at the forecast and choose a good weather day to get outside and take some photographs.
Challenge 2: Contrast
Show contrast in your photos and make something pop.
Challenge 3: Texture
Texture can be an element that subtly enhances your photos or can be the main focus.
Challenge 4: Light and Shadows
This week we want to pay attention to the way light and shadows play on an object.
Previous spring weekly challenges
Challenge 1: Angles
Don’t just stand there to point and shoot. Physically change your position to get a better photograph.
Challenge 2: Framing
Take pictures so the subject is framed by an element in your environment.
Challenge 3: Color
Fill your viewfinder with only one color. Try to examine objects closely and find details in simple objects,
Challenge 4: Texture
Take pictures so viewers can “feel the texture.” Focus on small details like cracks, bumps, lines, and curves.
Challenge 5: Background
Make sure the subject of your photo has a background that enhances the subject and doesn’t distract the viewer.
Challenge 6: Focus
Use focus in a way that draws attention to the subject of your photograph.
Challenge 7: Reflection
Capture people, birds, or objects reflected in a body of water.
Challenge 8: Light and shadows
Photograph the way light and shadows play on an object — not necessarily the object itself.
Challenge 9: Repetition
Find an object or a shape that repeats itself. It could be in nature or in structures, or in architecture.
Challenge 10: Filters
Smartphones and photo applications have many different options to filter the photos you take.
Challenge 11: Motion
Crisp photos can capture something in motion frozen in time
Challenge 12: Leading lines
Find natural lines in the landscape that will draw your attention to the subject you are taking a photo of.
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
Parks and Recreation
