On January 10, 2026 Flagpole members and guests visited the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx as their first field trip of the new year. The Haupt Conservatory at the Garden featured model trains running both inside and outside of the building delighting both young and old alike!
Replicas of iconic New York City buildings and bridges constructed from natural plant materials filled the area as model trains followed the tracks laid throughout the expansive area. The Conservatory’s collection of lush tropical plants added to the textures and backdrops lining the miniature cityscapes and provided wonderful photographic opportunities as did the massive reflection pools.
Members spent the morning practicing their skills utilizing macro and panning opportunities as well as composition techniques and changing camera settings to adjust for a range of lighting situations. They were also encouraged to participate in a “Photo Challenge” capturing scenes highlighting:
- Color & Shape
- Creative Composition
- Light & Shadow
- Macro/Close-up
- Reflections & Transparency
- The Botanical Portrait
- The Surprise Find
The deadline for submitting these challenge photos has been extended to Tuesday, February 10 to be followed by member voting for the “People’s Choice”.
On the way home, twelve out of the sixteen people in the group stopped for a great lunch (thanks Kerry for the restaurant suggestion!) and to discuss many of the memorable moments of the day.
We’d also like to thank Flagpole’s VP, Colleen Robinson, for organizing this fun field trip!
