FXBG: A Street Photography Hotbed

Locals capture unique city perspectives, establish first collective for art form

By Erica Terrini

Freelance Writer

While it may be on the smaller side in terms of size and population, the City of Fredericksburg is not lacking in charm, vibrancy, or a strong sense of community. Boasting more than 29,000 residents, its historic roots date back to 1728 according to the city’s local government website. Permanent residents, along with a steady stream of visitors to the popular downtown area, make for an enticing assortment of opportunity for artistic inspiration.

From paintings featured in local cafés and coffee shops to sculptures, prints and poems—the appeal of the small city that is nestled halfway between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia is a strong one to say the least and this alluring arena has not failed to evade the eye of area photographers either—just ask regional resident and co-founder of the Fredericksburg Street Photography Collective, Ted Nelson.

“It all began in late 2019, early 2020. I was seeking a photography group that specifically shot a lot of street photography,” Nelson said. “The genre is all over the internet, Facebook and Instagram, but there were no real groups locally. Everything was in D.C. or farther north.”