Great Places For Photography In Dayton
If you're looking for great places to practice your photography skills in Dayton, you're in absolutely the right place! The areas in and around Dayton have so many fabulous public places filled with plenty of color, scenery and character that make for fabulous backdrops.
Great Places For Photography In Dayton
If you're looking for great places to practice your photography skills in Dayton, you're in absolutely the right place! The areas in and around Dayton have so many fabulous public places filled with plenty of color, scenery and character that make for fabulous backdrops.
Whether you enjoy photographing people, nature, or architecture, you're sure to find something you love in the Dayton area. A few of the better known areas for photography are the many Five Rivers MetroParks.
Cox Arboretum - This is probably one of the most popular parks for photographers of all levels. Everywhere you look there's beautiful scenery, waterfalls and lakes, and lots of trails in the woods. There's even plenty of pretty weeds that add great texture and color for pictures of the family. The Butterfly House usually draws a big crowd of photo lovers and it's a prime spot for Prom and Homecoming group shots. The main "aisle" of trees is used for Weddings and also is a favorite for family photos. The great thing about Cox is that it's so large, you can shoot there many times and get a variety of different looks every time.
Wegerzyn Gardens - Another MetroPark that isn't as large as Cox, but is a definite favorite of photographers, is Wegerzyn Gardens. It has beautiful gardens, walkways, and natural art. I really like the formal look it has to it with the trimmed hedges and large vases all around.
Carriage Hill and Possum Creek are also known to be fantastic photo backdrops, but be sure to check out the MetroParks website for a link to all their parks and give them a try.
Young's Dairy is another place that families and photographers flock to for lots of fun and great country style photos. And if you're at Young's or you just want a bright and cheery place for photos, it's worth the trip to check out the Sunflower Field just a short distance down the street, across from Whitehall Farm. It's in bloom RIGHT NOW!
Here's a great sampling of images that professional photographers from all over Dayton have taken at the lovely Sunflower Field.
Top Left to Right:
John Flynn - Clover Storm Photography
Eastlyn Bright Tolle of Eastlyn Bright Photography
Erin Krizo of Lasting Snapshots Photography
Bottom Left to Right:
Alaine Voytko of Photography by Alaine Voytko
Kimberly Elaine of Kimberly Elaine Photography
If you're looking for something with a little more "grit" to it than the scenic parks, there's plenty to choose from. If you enjoy candid street and lifestyle photography, the Oregon District and the town of Yellow Springs are known to have a very artsy, gritty vibe to them.
The downtown area of Dayton also is a hot spot for urban backdrops. 2nd Street Market, The Cannery and Garden Station all have lots of character and unique features that are perfect for styled photo sessions or candid shots.
If you're up for a little adventure, the many alleyways, graffiti walls and sidewalks of Dayton are wonderful backdrops for models or as subjects themselves. And if you enjoy architecture, there's no shortage of historic buildings and striking architecture in Dayton. The Dayton Art Institute and Riverscape are two places that come to mind for architecture and city views.
It should go without saying, if you're photographing in public, be sure to respect the people and places. Some places require permits if you plan to use your images for promotion, while other places will let you do photography inside their businesses but you might need to pay a fee. And if you're doing street photography you may to get permission before photographing strangers.
These are just the beginning of the many wonderful spots for photography in Dayton.
Be sure to comment below with YOUR favorite Dayton locations, and share what you enjoy photographing the most and why you love it. There's no need to travel all over the state for fabulous photography, Dayton has everything we need!
