Best time/conditions for a skyline photo

Photog4Christ

I would like to go down to Arlington, VA and shoot the DC Skyline from the Netherlands Carillon (on the ground, not in the tower). There will be a last quarter moon on Friday, Sept. 11.

Here is the moonrise data for Sept. 11:

U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department


Sun and Moon Data for One Day

The following information is provided for Arlington, Virginia (longitude W77.1, latitude N38.9):

Friday
11 September 2009 Eastern Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 6:20 a.m.
Sunrise 6:46 a.m.
Sun transit 1:05 p.m.
Sunset 7:23 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:50 p.m.

MOON
Moonrise 10:31 p.m. on preceding day
Moon transit 6:18 a.m.
Moonset 2:09 p.m.
Moonrise 11:26 p.m.
Moonset 3:09 p.m. on following day

</pre> Last quarter Moon on 11 September 2009 at 10:16 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

I am not an astronomical guinness, so when is the best time to do a skyline shot?

Cygnus Studios

Kind of depends on what you are hoping to catch. Most feel that dusk is the best time for skyline shots. The city lights are just coming on, the sky is full of color and you get great lines of light.
If you want the moon above the city, you are looking at a late night.

You realize that your choice of the cemetery is not the greatest spot for the city.
My first choice would be Roosevelt Island or even Johnson Park. Both will give you views straight down the mall.

Photog4Christ

Cygnus Studios wrote:

Kind of depends on what you are hoping to catch. Most feel that dusk is the best time for skyline shots. The city lights are just coming on, the sky is full of color and you get great lines of light.
If you want the moon above the city, you are looking at a late night.

You realize that your choice of the cemetery is not the greatest spot for the city.
My first choice would be Roosevelt Island or even Johnson Park. Both will give you views straight down the mall.

Never been to either of those locations. In Arlington you are up on a hill and can see the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and The Capitol from there. I am not talking about actually inside the cemetery.

Cygnus Studios

Photog4Christ wrote:

Never been to either of those locations. In Arlington you are up on a hill and can see the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and The Capitol from there. I am not talking about actually inside the cemetery.

I lived in the DC area for many years. Loads of great photo ops in and around the city. The Netherlands Carillon is on the northern end of the cemetery and while in and of itself is a great photo op, you could drive a few more miles along the parkway and have much better views of the city.

Photog4Christ

Cygnus Studios wrote:

I lived in the DC area for many years. Loads of great photo ops in and around the city. The Netherlands Carillon is on the northern end of the cemetery and while in and of itself is a great photo op, you could drive a few more miles along the parkway and have much better views of the city.

Okay. Thank you.

Believe it or not... I have lived in the area for 20+ years (Montgomery County for about 20(ish) and Virginia for about 9 years) and there are still ** LOTS ** of places in and around DC I have never been. I have never been to Roosevelt Island.

Cygnus Studios

Photog4Christ wrote:

Okay. Thank you.

Believe it or not... I have lived in the area for 20+ years (Montgomery County for about 20(ish) and Virginia for about 9 years) and there are still ** LOTS ** of places in and around DC I have never been. I have never been to Roosevelt Island.

Really a cool place to hike or bike around with great views of the river and city. I am hoping to visit the area later this year. Of course I have to wait for the heat and humidity to go away . I have been spoiled here on the west coast.

Photog4Christ

Cygnus Studios wrote:

You realize that your choice of the cemetery is not the greatest spot for the city.
My first choice would be Roosevelt Island or even Johnson Park. Both will give you views straight down the mall.

I just checked the NPS website. Johnson Park closes at dusk. Roosevelt Island closes at 10 PM.

I've shot at the US Marine Corps War Memorial before and they don't chase you out after dark. (unless you're doing something you shouldn't be doing).


This is with a P & S a few years ago... Oct. 19, 2003:

Cygnus Studios

You can stop along side the parkway after the parks close. Most of the park police are pretty cool with photographers along the route.

Photog4Christ

Photog4Christ wrote:

I just checked the NPS website. Johnson Park closes at dusk. Roosevelt Island closes at 10 PM.

I've shot at the US Marine Corps War Memorial before and they don't chase you out after dark. (unless you're doing something you shouldn't be doing).


This is with a P & S a few years ago... Oct. 19, 2003:

Like I said... That was a few years ago... I've learned more about photography since then.

That was at night. That's the moon, not the sun!