Washington D.C.
Washington is a great destination for photographers. The history, architecture, memorials, and museums still excite me, decades after I first visited as a boy. I recommend the shoulder seasons (Spring and Autumn) when the weather is mild and crowds are thinner than summer. Plan your visit to see the Cherry Blossom Festival in early Spring, but the blossoms are weather dependent, of course. Autumn is a great time, too, but don't expect striking fall foliage like New England. Here, you need to focus on the magnificent architecture and there is plenty of it. Washington D.C. can be a challenge to photograph with fences, scaffoldings, cranes, and restricted areas, but do not be discouraged by those. Talk to the National Park employees and officers protecting these places for all of us to enjoy. They are happy to share tips and suggestions.
Weather-worn flags surround the Washington Monument at sunrise. This composition relies on curves created by the flags. The monument is not in this photograph, but that's the point. I look for a unique perspective. The fun part of walking around Washington are the countless unique scenes just waiting to be photographed.
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington has some of the best spring foliage in North America, and it's a great time to visit the city. I "framed" the monument with the blossoms early in the morning. My focal point are the blossoms, which are just a few meters in front of me. Using a high F-stop helps keep the monument in reasonable focus. Generally, your eye will go to the bright spot in the photo, and that's perfect in this case. I wanted to "hide" the monument in the background.
The Washington Monument has been photographed millions of times. How do you distinguish your photo? The monument is 555 feet tall, so squeezing it inside a frame is difficult. Try a long-distance perspective across the water or with an interesting sky. My best zoom is my legs. In this composition, the late afternoon sun illuminates the cherry blossoms lining the Tidal Basin. I use the rule of thirds to place the monument off center in the composition. The other smaller tower on the right third is the Old Post Office Tower, a beautiful building on its own merit.
Lincoln is one of my favorite Presidents, so how do you do him justice? You can take the normal touristy straight-ahead photo, but I tried a view from the side. You might be surprised. I like this composition with Lincoln's focused, driven, compassionate stare, fixated on the Capitol. Also, from this angle you cannot tell it was very, very crowded inside the memorial! The interior has just enough light to photograph without a flash, if you have a good camera to handle the low light.
The Jefferson Memorial "framed" by Cherry Blossoms at sunrise. I like to "frame" a man-made object with plant life to soften the abrupt lines and points. The white dome on the Jefferson Memorial has an interesting light during darkness. During the day, the sun's reflection on the dome is incredibly bright. So for me, sunrise or sunset is best for the Jefferson Memorial. Jefferson loved Greek and Roman structures. The dome on the memorial is similar to the dome on the University of Virginia Rotunda and Jefferson's Monticello home, both in my hometown of Charlottesville.
Across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial is a newer monument to Martin Luther King Jr. Again, I tried a side profile similar to the Lincoln Memorial and framed with cherry blossoms. Despite the 35 degrees F when this photo was taken, the stone appears warm in the early light. This memorial is nicely landscaped and has several inspirational lines from MLK.
The Senate at sunrise. With corinthian columns and pediment, the Capitol seems straight from the Acropolis in Athens, the birthplace of democracy. The architecture outside and the artwork indoors are a real treat. The Capitol is a very large building. Composing a large building into one frame requires a short lens, which inevitably produces distortion. So I focus on a portion of the building, in this case, the Senate wing of the Capitol.
Sometimes I turn the camera sideways, in what is called portrait style. I know the camera works fine that way, I just prefer landscape style! The dome of the Capitol is beautiful architecture, with the pediment of the Senate in the foreground. Nothing beats the golden hour for light.
Cherry blossoms in the in early sunlight. You can see a hint of the Washington Monument in the background.
The World War II Memorial on a cold winter morning. I use the curves as leading lines to draw you into the photo, toward the Atlantic Victory Arch. The granite memorial and bronze sculptures feel cold in this photo and that's intentional. Soldiers, sailors and air crews endured bitterly cold weather in the North Atlantic and Europe, especially during the Battle of the Bulge.