Around Town (Washington DC) @ Christmas

Phyxius

Since this was just a metro ride into town to meet up with friends so we could see the National Christmas tree I didn't think this belonged in Journeys. But, if I'm wrong let me know

Well, even though it's certainly not a walkabout lens I used my new Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8 VR. Yay! I babied it on the metro, it was in it's case, wrapped in a Maryland Terripans sweatshirt and placed in my backpack. (I'm not getting my Tamrac Exped. until Christmas :rolleyes.) I had my camera and other lenses in my Lowepro and I was dressed all in black and felt quite urban.

So, I hopped the Metro in New Carrollton and was supposed to meet my friend Mark at the Air and Space Museum. Of course traffic was horrendous and he was way late so I spent a few mintues taking shots of the Capitol building from the National mall at 7th St.

This first shot is with the Nikkor 70-300 4-5.6 lens.

Ick...then I switched lenses, yay!


and some people walking around...


I turned to go in the the A&S Museum and I noticed this...

So I took a quick snap before rushing off.

So I met up with Mark and we hopped the metro to Farragut West and walked to Sarah's office over looking Lafayette Park. We walked over to Lafayette and saw the simple, but pretty White House decorations.


Walking around the White House on our way to the Ellipse I noticed this shot of the Capitol, taken down Pennsylvania Ave from 15th street. Yikes, traffic!


O' Christmas Tree


And, then they have little trees for every state (and Guam).


I thought, oh Hmmm....how 'bout the White house, tourists, and some of the trees? Mark thought otherwise and popped up in the shot.


I decided to try the tripod which I have very little practice with. Of course I abuse it and over do the exposure...


Oh well, Merry Christmas!!

Dee

Hey, these are neat!
I really enjoyed looking at these. I didn't know there trees for each state and Guam! It was nice to see the spirit at our nation's capital. Thanks for posting these.

Skippy

Phyxius wrote:

Since this was just a metro ride into town to meet up with friends so we could see the National Christmas tree I didn't think this belonged in Journeys. But, if I'm wrong let me know

Well, even though it's certainly not a walkabout lens I used my new Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8 VR. Yay! I babied it on the metro, it was in it's case, wrapped in a Maryland Terripans sweatshirt and placed in my backpack. (I'm not getting my Tamrac Exped. until Christmas .) I had my camera and other lenses in my Lowepro and I was dressed all in black and felt quite urban.

So, I hopped the Metro in New Carrollton and was supposed to meet my friend Mark at the Air and Space Museum. Of course traffic was horrendous and he was way late so I spent a few mintues taking shots of the Capitol building from the National mall at 7th St.

This first shot is with the Nikkor 70-300 4-5.6 lens.

Ick...then I switched lenses, yay!
and some people walking around...
I turned to go in the the A&S Museum and I noticed this...
So I took a quick snap before rushing off.
So I met up with Mark and we hopped the metro to Farragut West and walked to Sarah's office over looking Lafayette Park. We walked over to Lafayette and saw the simple, but pretty White House decorations.
Walking around the White House on our way to the Ellipse I noticed this shot of the Capitol, taken down Pennsylvania Ave from 15th street. Yikes, traffic!
O' Christmas Tree
And, then they have little trees for every state (and Guam).
I thought, oh Hmmm....how 'bout the White house, tourists, and some of the trees? Mark thought otherwise and popped up in the shot.
I decided to try the tripod which I have very little practice with. Of course I abuse it and over do the exposure...
Oh well, Merry Christmas!!

Ohhhhhh what a great walking trip I can't imagine what real traffic is like I'm used to smaller towns with one or two lanes one way, and one or two lanes the other......

I wont even drive to Melbourne that's how traffic savy I am NOT!

Would you normally have snow at this time of the year ???
I'm sure it must look so pretty with all the lights and Christmas trees on display ...... thank you for sharing .... Skippy (Australia)

Jeff Fillmore

Wow- I love the Capitol shot with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground. Close-up shot of the White House is very nice also. Good work.

BPCooper

The second shot of the Capitol is classic, as is the lesser-seen side of the White House. Great series!

I just did this last week as a matter of fact. We drove three hours while waiting for this launch in Wallops, to see the NASM and photograph the monuments at night. I need to go through those photos. This is the perfect time of year for shooting them as the sun goes down early.

kygarden

Nice shots and have fun with the new lens. I'll be in DC near the end of next month for work, but I doubt I'll get out to take photos. I was there in November and got all the pictures I want. There's lots to take pictures of in DC. That's for sure.

Phyxius

Dee wrote:

I really enjoyed looking at these. I didn't know there trees for each state and Guam! It was nice to see the spirit at our nation's capital. Thanks for posting these.

Thanks Dee! DC isn't the greatest place to visit, (though crime is way down) but it is simply wonderful at night. I live in a rural county south of DC, but I don't get up to visit nearly enough. The christmas spirit is all around and the federal buildings surrounding the white house were all decorated, but the secret service people give you strange looks or maybe I'm just not good at playing tourist. The sharpshooters on the surrounding buildings all have their little areas decorated with colorful lights and trees too.

Skippy wrote:

Ohhhhhh what a great walking trip I can't imagine what real traffic is like I'm used to smaller towns with one or two lanes one way, and one or two lanes the other......

I wont even drive to Melbourne that's how traffic savy I am NOT!

Would you normally have snow at this time of the year ???
I'm sure it must look so pretty with all the lights and Christmas trees on display ...... thank you for sharing .... Skippy (Australia)

Thanks Skippy!!! Traffic is horrible and since I drive a BIG truck I refuse to drive in DC, the one time I took it into DC for a function I had to get it valet parked and I was so sure it'd come back dented and dinged (it was fine though). So, while a little more work/time it's truly easier and more cost effective to walk/metro. Besides you get to see all kinds of good stuff and get some exercise!

The Washington area is home to very strange weather. We're coastal and tend to stay warm, with VERY humid, HOT summers. Temps in the 90s and the occasional low 100s with humidity over 90%. We get droughts and floods, hurricanes, torandos, and "blizzards" (2+ feet of snow is a blizzard here). Spring and Fall equal lots of rain and we've had snow on a day when people were out wearing shorts and sandals and I've done a Christmas parade in 90 degree weather.

Generally though it doesn't snow here for real until January or February. I don't remember our last "white christmas".

gdad wrote:

Wow- I love the Capitol shot with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground. Close-up shot of the White House is very nice also. Good work.

Wow! Thank You. Postive reponses on this thread!

BPCooper wrote:

The second shot of the Capitol is classic, as is the lesser-seen side of the White House. Great series!

I just did this last week as a matter of fact. We drove three hours while waiting for this launch in Wallops, to see the NASM and photograph the monuments at night. I need to go through those photos. This is the perfect time of year for shooting them as the sun goes down early.

Thank you! I heard about the Wallops launch and I saw that there was a post here, I'll have to have a look at it! I'd love to see your monument pictures. The American Horse Council is going to have me go around and shoot some of the statues in town. Thanks again!

kygarden wrote:

Nice shots and have fun with the new lens. I'll be in DC near the end of next month for work, but I doubt I'll get out to take photos. I was there in November and got all the pictures I want. There's lots to take pictures of in DC. That's for sure.

Thanks, it's a heavy lens but it sure is nice! I hope you get to have a bit of fun while you're in town. One thing I really want to get out to photograph is "The Awakening" on Hanes Point.

Awais Yaqub

great series thanks for sharing

Phyxius

Awais Yaqub wrote:

great series thanks for sharing

Thank you Awais! I followed your lead and added geography to a couple of the shots in that album. Now, I really want to do a DC tour and get lots of shots of DC sites.

Thanks again!