DC metro

DoctorIt

I was at a conference at the beginning of this week, and did some wandering around at night with my point and shoot. Lo and behold, a pretty cool shot that captures the neat architecture of the Washington DC metro tunnels:



I like this photo, especially since it was mostly by chance. To get a steady shot in the dark, I was just resting the camera on the bench next to me. So the fact that I didn't crop this at all, and the composition is so geometrically cool is a bit of a pleasant surprise!

DoctorIt

It just occured to me why, geometrically, I like this shot so much... there's a perfect vertex in the lower left hand corner. So much so, that its really really cool when you do this:



Look out Escher

wxwax

I agree, that's very cool. Not just the pattern, but also the angle of the lighting and the shadows.

USAIR

Been there a few times very cool shapes in the subway
And if I remember some nice color on that ceiling too have to see if I can find some of those photos.

Thanks
Fred

DoctorIt

USAIR wrote:

Been there a few times very cool shapes in the subway
And if I remember some nice color on that ceiling too have to see if I can find some of those photos.

Thanks
Fred

there was a greenish hue to the light, for sure. but it made the concrete look very yellow - a result of the little Optio's inability to really handle the WB. I felt it detracted from the composition and shadows, so converted to monochrome for this shot.

but indeed, one of the cooler metro systems I've visited.

Richard

DoctorIt wrote:

It just occured to me why, geometrically, I like this shot so much... there's a perfect vertex in the lower left hand corner. So much so, that its really really cool when you do this:
Look out Escher

Very cool. I also like the original shot.

Cheers,

LeDude

You know... pictures are illegal in and on the metro. It doesn't confront me none, but there's a thread elsewhere along these lines... and well, it would be garbage if your camera got taken. Just a word to the wise... be careful :uhoh

(and excellent shot, btw)

oh yes, and I have to hope that conference was brief... else, I'd be expecting a heads up-can't go knockin round my town without prior notice

DoctorIt

LeDude wrote:

You know... pictures are illegal in and on the metro. It doesn't confront me none, but there's a thread elsewhere along these lines... and well, it would be garbage if your camera got taken. Just a word to the wise... be careful :uhoh

Yeah, I saw the sign, but the Optio is uber tiny and has no viewfinder, so it was all from the hip.

(and excellent shot, btw)

oh yes, and I have to hope that conference was brief... else, I'd be expecting a heads up-can't go knockin round my town without prior notice

Thanks - and yes, it was just a 2-day conference and a full one at that, only got in a minor excursion to DC proper on sunday night to see an old friend, then spent the rest of the time in Arlington at the conference hotel.

Angelo

very cool Doc - my kinda shot, and I love how you created the second one. Looks like a star wars docking station

DoctorIt

red leader to gold leader... do you read me?

BenA2

Uncanny
I can't believe it. I just had virtually the exact same experience at 5:30am yesterday morning. I was on my way to the airport, completely alone in the Navy Yard Metro station, and was struck by the contrast between the bright, colorful LED display and the subtle tonalities and geometry of the tunnel. So, I pulled out my P&S and took this one. The same as you, I steadied my shot on the bench. WB was tough. I went with my camera's flourescent preset.



I was a little worried that pictures might not be allowed in the Metro. But, since no one else was there, I figured I was OK. I'm glad I did.

So, you must be the reason it was impossible to get a hotel room in Arlington this week!

Ben

DoctorIt

BenA2 wrote:

So, you must be the reason it was impossible to get a hotel room in Arlington this week!

Only if you were trying to stay at the Westin. Conference wasn't all that big actually.

LeDude

Some Silliness
This is not exactly a great shot, and I'm not tryin' to rip on the guy since he was obviously struggling, but he had a good walk (and if I wasn't so slow on the draw I would've gotten somethin showing his face). Star Wars is cool, but I have been a connoisseur of silly walks since seeing the Python 'Ministry of Silly Walks' sketch. (create your own!: http://www.sillywalksgenerator.com/) I made a point of studying walks when I donned the official title of 'Ass' and played Bottom in Midsummer's ND.

I didn't get a series of shots off either (dAMn!)... but that lady on the right is pretty fit, and that's a consolation.



So, the man depicted here is on the decline of his step. Arms are de-emphasized and hardly swing (this is usually indicative of a step that falls in the dark-comedy genre of silly walks... a subtle nuance not generally associated with silly,but silly-sad counts!, so spread the word). The hunched position and bright yellow cap help emphasize the lurching bounce effect most directly attributable to his (a) general sense of off-kilter, but sound, rythym (think James Brown funk) and (b) heel-to-toe-roll stepping action. To set yourself right for this walk timing-wise, get a slow four count going in your head. When your heel lands that's the one beat. Roll your foot towards your toe and emphasize the two beat at the top (the higher you get on your toe, the better). Remember though, it's all in the legs on this one, so maintain that posture at all costs!

This Man's Walk's Overall Silliness Rating: 5 (not out of 10, not out of anything... a silliness rating has no scale, just a number)
--
I've very few shots taken on this night-or any night-in the metro. The others are of some friends, who are clearly half past half bonked. (bonked: trashed, smashed, blitzed, tipped, ripped, crushed, crunked and crazy drunk; izza for WHAT? er, I, blahhh Fug-edaboutit)

This Post's Silliness Rating: 3.141&9

DoctorIt

LeDude wrote:

This Post's Silliness Rating: 3.141&9

Definitely.

Phil U.

Hmmm.... I guess I haven't seen the no photography signs. Or perhaps my mind blocks them out for me. The metro stations are pretty cool. Here's a couple (also stabilized on one of the concrete benches)

colourbox

I was in the DC metro a few months ago. My first time there, and the stations looked so cool I wanted to take some photos. I didn't know what the policy was so I decided to be very obvious so that I could be warned if needed. I took some photos with my SLR and zoom while easily visible to two of the reflective-vested security people in the busy station. Nobody seemed to care that I was taking pictures. I think one security person even walked right past me. As a result of this thread I checked their web site and can't find a general prohibition on photography.

It doesn't work that way everywhere. In some places I've been asked not to take pictures in stations, and that was even before 9/11.

ScottMcLeod

colourbox wrote:

I was in the DC metro a few months ago. My first time there, and the stations looked so cool I wanted to take some photos. I didn't know what the policy was so I decided to be very obvious so that I could be warned if needed. I took some photos with my SLR and zoom while easily visible to two of the reflective-vested security people in the busy station. Nobody seemed to care that I was taking pictures. I think one security person even walked right past me. As a result of this thread I checked their web site and can't find a general prohibition on photography.

It doesn't work that way everywhere. In some places I've been asked not to take pictures in stations, and that was even before 9/11.

The general rule is that tourists are allowed, while most people aren't.

If you want to sneak photos, bring a person along, tell them to pose, smile, act like a tourist, and point the camera off to whatever you *really* wanted to take the photo of.

Also, you can apply for permits to photograph in subways where it's not permitted. Usually they're pretty nice about it, tell them you're a student of photography (and tell them you study at a private studio, or at the school you used to go to, or currently go to), and it usually works out well.

ScottMcLeod

P.S.

BenA2... that shot is stunning. I it.