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Best MetroWest Landscapes For Taking Photographs

There are so many places across Massachusetts that are perfect for photographing landscapes. The MetroWest, though close to the city, is no exception. It possesses beautiful gardens and parks with areas overlooking bodies of water and vast forests. Even stretches of historic neighborhoods provide plenty of fodder for landscape photographers. These spots have much to offer both amateur and professional photographers.
Acton Arboretum
(Photo Credit: Acton Arboretum)

Acton Arboretum
Taylor Road and Main St.
Acton, MA 01720
www.actonarboretum.org

Visitors to the Acton Arboretum will find more than 60 acres of forests, trails and scenery. These areas offer several opportunities for landscape photographs, but the focal point is the arboretum's gardens. There are 12 different gardens, each offering something different, from trees and ponds to ferns and flowers. The gardens are interspersed with green grass, boardwalks and landscaped trails. The splashes of color and alternating terrain make these gardens a must-see for photographers.

Irish Round Tower
Irish Round Tower (Photo from St. Mary's Milford)

Irish Round Tower
Saint Mary Cemetery
19 Winter St.
Milford, MA 01757
www.stmarymilford.org

The Irish Round Tower overlooking the Saint Mary of the Assumption Cemetery in Milford is the only example of such a building in North America. This monument to Irish immigrants in Massachusetts is more than a century old and is wonderful to photograph any time of year. When taken from most angles, bits of the cemetery can be included for a spooky or reverent photograph. From other angles, photographers can take in the surrounding trees and water for a serene and classically romantic photograph.

Noon Hill
Noon Hill (Photo from TheTrustees.org)

Noon Hill
Medfield, MA 02052
www.thetrustees.org

Noon Hill offers great hiking, views of the Charles River and lots of wild animals to photograph. However, the gem of this reservation is Noon Hill itself. Once visitors reach the top of Noon Hill, 360-degree panoramic views are available. Photos from the top are unbeatable. While this kind of view is good for photography any time, some of the best photo opportunities happen when the surrounding forest is a little foggy. Trees peeking up through the fog give the pictures a surreal quality.

Related: Boston's Best Photography Galleries

Oxbow National Wildlife Reserve
(Photo credit: FWS.gov)

Oxbow National Wildlife Reserve
Still River Depot Road
Harvard, MA 01451
(978) 443-4611
www.fws.gov

The Oxbow National Wildlife Reserve is a vast natural area with several different landscapes available for photographers. There are forests, fields and wetlands. Moreover, there is a variety of animals from lizards to birds. Like most New England reserves, the best time to photograph the trees is in the fall when the foliage changes colors. The best time to photograph the wildlife is in the spring. Nonetheless, photography enthusiasts will find plenty to capture here any time of year.

Sudbury Reservoir
(Photo Credit: Mass.gov)

Sudbury Reservoir
Framingham, Marlborough and Southborough
(978) 365-3800
www.mass.gov

The Sudbury Reservoir is a dream for photographers who like to hike and take pictures over great expanses of outdoor scenery. Here, cameras will land on a number of aquatic and land fowl, structures scattered around the reservoir, forests reflecting off the water and wildlife in every direction. The best time to come to this area is during the fall when the reds, yellows and oranges of the changing trees reflect in the water. If taken just right with a glint of sun or the droplets falling off a bird's feet as it takes off from the water, pictures of Sudbury Reservoir in the fall can make a portfolio stand out.

Related: Boston's Best Artistic Photographers

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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