PHOTOGRAPHER’S JOURNEY.com

I came to Washington in 1994 as a young reporter. Having been raised in Southern California - and having spent some time, as well, in the Midwest and South - the nation’s capitol was different than anyplace I had seen.
For one thing, the city is flat-out beautiful. Say what you want about its politics, but when Pierre L’Enfant designed this place based loosely on the design of Paris, he knew what he was doing. The city’s beauty may be lost on most tourists who spend most of their time parading up and down the Mall looking for the next tour bus. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course - I even encourage my out-of-town friends to do it. But the fact is there is so much to Washington, D.C. and most people who don’t live here never get to see it.
As a photographer, I could probably write a book about getting great images in this city. There are very few places I have ever been that offer the photographer more variety and more consistency. So this post should not be considered my last effort on the subject since I will no doubt post many more D.C.-related photography.
Of course, one big challenge shooting in Washington is the fact that there are very few cities more often photographed. But don’t be daunted - take it from an insider: there are many places to go where you can find unique photographs if you find yourself with a bit of time to get off the beaten path.
The Mall. The area of green that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial east to the Capitol and straddled by the Washington Monument - is filled with opportunities. If not the largest park in the city it is by far the most heavily visited. Most tourists bounce from monument to museum and miss seeing the crowd itself. But I love photographing crowd. That’s where you find people, after all. And people are among my favorite photographic subjects. What’s great about the Mall is nearly everyone has a camera. Nearly everyone is taking a picture. So it’s easy to blend right in. Sometimes a simple image of a tired tourist resting on a park bench, the whirl of the Carousel, the sun beating down across this peopled landscape, can make a heck of a picture.

Events. There are more events in this city than most other places in the world - and by “events” I mean everything from festivals to protests. Yes, this city has protests - and all by themselves if you favor a photojournalistic style of shooting as I do, you will find virtually limitless opportunities for photography. Some time back I blogged about my experiences during the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. That is just one example of the kind of photographic opportunity that arises here if you keep your eyes open.
Buildings. If shooting architecture is your thing, consider heading up “Embassy Row” - Massachusetts Avenue - as it climbs northwest out of the city. The street is lined with embassies - most of them architecturally housed in a style representative of the particular nation inhabiting them. The main downtown section also has some nice, modern buildings worth checking out.
Parks. And we’re not talking about the Mall here. This city is filled with parks. One great one for finding people is the park at Dupont Circle. Always crowded, it’s a great place for people-watching. Old men playing chess at a park table - that sort of thing. Very cool.
Eastern Market. A weekly swap meet of sorts that’s a lot of fun to check out even if you don’t intend to make photographs. It’s located just east of the Capitol, not far from a Metro stop.
Great Falls. Even a lot of people who live in Washington don’t know this, but just outside the city (roughly 20 minutes by car from downtown) the Potomac River cascades through an amazing series of waterfalls. It is different every time I go, due to volatile water levels. The area is run by the National Park Service and there is a fee for entering - but trust me, it’s worth it. Some people prefer the Virginia side (I do); others prefer the Maryland side. Regardless of which side you choose, you’ll be stuck with it since seeing both isn’t that practical on the same day. But either way, you can’t go wrong.
The Landscape. Many photographers have found great success treating Washington, D.C., not unlike a wild landscape. They concentrate on shooting the beautiful monuments and major buildings during golden hour, during storms and lightening, during bad weather and snow. A simple fact is that many of the most beautiful monuments and buildings in the city happen to be white in color - meaning they are particularly susceptible to qualities of light. There are times when I’m headed down the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the airport when a twilight - or pre-dawn - view of the city is simply breathtaking. How many times I wished I’d had my camera with me on those frenzied drives to the airport!
Inside the Museums. Shoot with a fast ISO and avoid the flash and you’d be amazed at the images you can find inside museums. The blend of people, the mix of fascinating objects, displays and reflections, can inspire to know end. The image at the very top of this article is a simple example of an image I never expected to find in a museum. Here is another: Of course these are just a few ideas if you are planning to visit the nation’s capitol - with your camera - and you want to branch out a bit. There are countless other opportunities out there if you get outside the District: Shenandoah National park in Virginia (about an hour and a half drive), Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in eastern Maryland (fantastic for shooting birdlife) and an unlimited number of places inbetween. By all means, if you find yourself visiting this lovely city, drop me a comment and I’ll be happy to help steer you with more specificity.
Take care… and happy shooting.

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