Inauguration Day 2009 shootout?

greenpea

So would anyone be up for a Inauguration Day 2009 shootout in Washington DC?

I try to completely keep my political views off this site, but for me personally the election victory was pretty cool.

I would have loved to have been in Chicago last night, but there was no way that was going to happen, but I might be able to pull off a quick trip to Washington DC on January 20th. Anyone else interested? Anyone else have any experience with photographing something like?

schmoo

In!

greenpea

schmoo wrote:

In!

Figured you would be interested in this one. You ever photographed anything like this before?

Get your email off to your senator or representative now, that's who provides you with the swearing in ceremony tickets.

Phyxius

I know nothing about it either, but since I'm local I'm "IN"!

Llywellyn

I'd feel remiss if I didn't even try. I usually avoid the madhouse in DC for things like this after working four blocks from the White House for three years, but I'd make the trek for this.

grimace

I might be up for it. I'll know my schedule in a month or so. They say rooms are going fast and in the downtown area they are already gone!!

I won't say I have a ton of experience photographing events like this but I did photograph the RNP Convention (events outside of the Excel Center), McCain/Palin rally, Obama rally, Senator Coleman, President Clinton, Senator Clinton and Al Franken. It made for an interesting season.

schmoo

Ja it sounds like this will require some sort of planning? I have no idea where to start with something like this! Thanks Andrew for the tip!

(But no matter what, I guarantee it'll be fun as long as there's Dgrinners and it's not just me drinking tea alone at a Starbucks downtown )

greenpea

schmoo wrote:

Ja it sounds like this will require some sort of planning? I have no idea where to start with something like this! Thanks Andrew for the tip!

(But no matter what, I guarantee it'll be fun as long as there's Dgrinners and it's not just me drinking tea alone at a Starbucks downtown )

This is the offical site for all things Inauguration

http://inaugural.senate.gov/2009/

Here is a recent article from MSNBC about planning your trip for the Inauguration

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27596406

The parade is of course open to the public. I don't know what the official word on cameras, big lenses, and tripods is. If you want to make it to the "main event" the swearing in ceremony you need to write your congressman or senator and request tickets. Unfortunately you won't find out if you will receive tickets until January. We got ourselves in the drawing with our state representative. If I go, I've got lodging with my in-laws near Quantico (I guess they always get a bunch of tickets for a number of the balls too!), but I'm still holding off on buying the plane tickets. I'm still not 100% sure I can pull off flying across the country in January between the $$$ and time off from work.

It would be really cool if I can pull this off, but if not I would love to see a bunch of pictures posted from all you East Coast dgrinners who can pull something like this off without a cross country plane ticket.

Phyxius

And, if you guys aren't totally pressed on staying IN DC you can stay in nearby cities like Bowie or even better, but slightly farther away (like 30mins?!) Annapolis. Annapolis is the state capital of Maryland and prior to DC being the nation's Capital Annapolis had that honor. Annapolis streets are quite photogenic too.

greenpea

Phyxius wrote:

And, if you guys aren't totally pressed on staying IN DC you can stay in nearby cities like Bowie or even better, but slightly farther away (like 30mins?!) Annapolis. Annapolis is the state capital of Maryland and prior to DC being the nation's Capital Annapolis had that honor. Annapolis streets are quite photogenic too.

I have family that live near Quantico. That's who we would probably stay with.

Baldy

I would love love love to have a shot worthy of printing really large of the inauguration
that captures a sense of how many people are there. I can't go, but someone get one!

I'd love to know who got this shot:



Anyone know?

Cuong

It's amazing that almost every man, woman, and child in that crowd was packing a camera phone, P&S, dslr, video cam, or even a web cam on a laptop.

Cuong

angevin1

Thanks
Requested my tickets~~ got a place to stay in Arlington~

thanks Greenpea~

cheers, tom

ps: Wonder how close one can get even without tickets?

pss: ought to be plenty to see~

greenpea

angevin1 wrote:

Requested my tickets~~ got a place to stay in Arlington~

thanks Greenpea~

cheers, tom

ps: Wonder how close one can get even without tickets?

pss: ought to be plenty to see~

wonder what the rules will be about big lenses or even tripods

Andy

In.

Nikolai

I'd love to, but with our schedule at work it doesn't look like it's gonna happen :cry Whoever ends up going, snap a few for me, will ya?

RogersDA

I most definitely am a serious possible in on this. Sounds like a good time.

angevin1

Four others with me?
I went ahead and booked tickets into the Washington Monument for 11 a.m on 20 january. There were still 80 or so tickets left in case anyone else has thought of this. Of course the Swearing in ceremony is TBD and I'd like to imagine recieving tickets from my Senator...so just in case I booked the monument...want that crowd view...I got four extra tickets~

Whadda ya think??

tom

Phyxius

angevin1 wrote:

I went ahead and booked tickets into the Washington Monument for 11 a.m on 20 january. There were still 80 or so tickets left in case anyone else has thought of this. Of course the Swearing in ceremony is TBD and I'd like to imagine recieving tickets from my Senator...so just in case I booked the monument...want that crowd view...I got four extra tickets~

Whadda ya think??

tom

Very cool! You know I've lived here for 25 years and I've never been up in the Washington Monument? Terrific idea!

angevin1

Phyxius wrote:

Very cool! You know I've lived here for 25 years and I've never been up in the Washington Monument? Terrific idea!

Yeah, I worked over at Washington Hosp center and VHC in Arlington and never did either...so want to try the view...if so that leaves three more (tickets) available~

cheers, tom

angevin1

tickets?
So. I recieved the tickets to visit the Washington Monument at 11 a.m. on Jan. 20th 2009 in the mail from the Park Service.

And unless something really strange happens...like I end up sick...I intend to go.

I'd be glad to share four of my six tickets to anyone who lets me know. These tickets are free and I only paid a shipping/handling fee to the NPS.

cheers, tom

angevin1

two tickets left.

greenpea

Well it's official, Cameras are OK. But pretty much everything is not (including umbrellas...hope for no rain).

...and they say wear very comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of standing.

angevin1

greenpea wrote:

Well it's official, Cameras are OK. But pretty much everything is not (including umbrellas...hope for no rain).

...and they say wear very comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of standing.

You talking about on the dais, the platform or where??

t?

greenpea

angevin1 wrote:

You talking about on the dais, the platform or where??

t?

The actual inauguration ceremony (assuming tickets you can get tickets for it).

Phyxius

I just found out that the company I work for is sending me to Florida Jan 20-21 because our company is switching platforms and I have to go learn the new system.

No inauguration shootout for me.

RogersDA

Information from my Congressman today in response to an email last month:

• All official tickets for the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremonies are provided free of charge. Constituents are advised to be aware of potential scams. No website or ticket outlet has official inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim.

• As you may know, my office has received an unprecedented amount of requests for tickets to the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol. Unfortunately, the number of requests far outweighs the limited number of tickets made available to my office. In January, my office will notify ticket recipients. Specific details regarding collecting tickets will be made available at that time. Please note any tickets distributed will not be mailed to recipients and must be collected in person in Washington, DC. Currently, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies predicts that tickets will be available for pick-up during business hours on Friday, January 16, 2009 and Monday, January 19, 2009. However, this is subject to change. Please plan accordingly as tickets that are not collected at the appointed time will be redistributed.

• In an effort to include as many people as possible who would like to witness the swearing-in ceremony, the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) has announced that the entire length of the National Mall beyond the areas requiring tickets will be open to the public. Large screens and audio systems will be displayed throughout. In the upcoming weeks, the PIC will release additional information regarding the National Mall viewing and other inaugural events. This information will be posted at www.pic2009.org

• Parking

Parking on Inauguration day will be severely restricted. Constituents are strongly encouraged to take public transportation. For more information, please visit www.wmata.com.

• Volunteer Opportunities

If you wish to learn about volunteer opportunities for Inaugural events, please visit the Presidential Inaugural Committee's website at www.pic2009.org/content/home/.

• Balls, Galas, Receptions, & the Inaugural Day Parade

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is responsible for the planning of all balls, galas, receptions, parties and the official Inaugural Day parade. For more information, please visit www.pic2009.org/content/home/.

Applications to participate in the Inaugural Parade are no longer being accepted. The deadline for application submission closed at 5 pm on November 18, 2008. The Presidential Inaugural Committee is responsible for making final decisions regarding participation and notifying selectee

Llywellyn

Chance to win tickets: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-12-29-contest_N.htm

I nominate the eloquent Schmoo for participation.

schmoo

Llywellyn wrote:

Chance to win tickets: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-12-29-contest_N.htm

I nominate the eloquent Schmoo for participation.

No chance if you've already entered!!

Sewyew

angevin1 wrote:

two tickets left.

any left ?

Sewyew

IN!