Photography, Unexpected Adventure

Capture a Memory at Your National Parks

Photography helps create, develop, and protect the history of many of our national parks.

Japanese-American photographer George Masa’s photographs were a key influence to the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ansel Adam’s black and white photographs of Yosemite National Park are still iconic almost a century later. Now you can find your inner artist at these national parks provide seminars for visitors to capture their own memories of these iconic places.

Yosemite National Park

California
Ansel Adam's Playground

Ansel Adam’s legacy of photography education continues today. With epic scenery and an abundance of wilderness, Yosemite National Park gives inspiration to artists year-round. Here, the park offers visitors the opportunity to take photography classes for all experience levels and free seimnars throughout the year at the in-park Ansel Adams Gallery.

Things to Do

  • Biking
  • Arts & Culture
  • Birdwatching
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Children's Programs

Lassen Volcanic National Park

California
Learn with the Pros

This California national park offers field seminars for all levels of photographers! Through their Field Seminar Program, visitors have the opportunity to take a two-day photography workshop, with this unique landscape as the classroom. Not only can you see beautiful wildflowers, visit unique hydrothermal features, and explore a volcanically-created environment, but now you can learn how to best capture these images on (real or metaphorical) film.

Things to Do

  • Boating
  • Birdwatching
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Children's Programs
  • Cross-Country Skiing

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Great Falls, Washington, D.C.
Photography at Great Falls

Great Falls National Park, part of the larger George Washington Memorial Parkway, near Washington, DC, offers nature photography classes, led by an experienced professional photographer. Bring your camera to capture images of the historic canals, the graceful birds, and the epic great falls, for which the park is named.

Things to Do

  • Biking
  • Arts & Culture
  • Birdwatching
  • Picnicking
  • Wildlife Viewing

In addition to these three national parks, many other national parks also offer photograph seminars as seasonal events or as part of a special series. Make sure to call or check the websites of your nearby or favorite parks to see if they are offering photography classes or seminars in their park! Then grab your camera and go #FindYourPark.

Woman holding a camera walking in a field
Share Your Park Experience

Finding Your Park is just half the fun. You can share stories and images of your park and inspire so many more people to find their park.