Dgrin Does DC

schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
edited April 27, 2008 in Journeys
This weekend just a few out-of-towners came this way for some good old-fashioned shooting and sightseeing. Of course I had to join in on the fun, even though I ran out of steam about 8 hours into the 10 hours of walking. :D

I arrived a little early at the meeting site, the courtyard at the Smithsonian castle. I've never seen this part of town so quiet as it is at 7:30 AM on a weekend. I took some time to photograph the tulips in the Enid Haupt garden while the raindrops were being kissed by the rising sun:

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Muench star over the African Art gallery:
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After Ann, Christina, Winston and Cassis arrived, we headed for a hike down to the tidal basin to see what was left of the cherry blossom carnage. The trees were all bare, looking kind of like they'd sneezed and left all their petals on the floor. :lol3

A lot of this residue had collected in the quieter parts of the water, mixing with yummy pollen and city scum. The ducks don't mind, of course, and cut their own path:

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We crossed back to the WWII memorial to meet Eyal while the clouds were
shifting and seething above us. We saw so many lovely godbeams, and many opportunities. At one point we were running full tilt to get to a spot to catch them:

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Carnation at the monument:

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From there we walked to the Lincoln memorial. Because it was raining off and on, there were many tourists congregating for shelter inside, including several groups of dashing military folk.

In the sun:

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In the rain:

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While walking around the outer perimeter of the monument, we came across a young couple who were taking photos of each other with the Washington monument in the background. They were examining their shots in-camera... quite a moving moment for them, no doubt, because he had just proposed to her. I thought she'd looked awfully happy about how those photos turned out. :lol3

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The rest of the day was pretty good with quite interesting sights, but I didn't get any keepers from them. If the rest of our group has anything to add, the floor is open! :D

Thanks for a great day, folks! I had a great time, I really do take the proximity of DC for granted and it's really nice to be able to see it properly.
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Comments

  • CuongCuong Registered Users Posts: 1,510 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Nice series. I'll make it to DC one of these days.

    Cuong
    "She Was a Little Taste of Heaven – And a One-Way Ticket to Hell!" - Max Phillips
  • aktseaktse Registered Users Posts: 1,928 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    clap.gifclapclap.gifclap

    I love the ducks photo!

    And I can't wait to see the rest of the group!
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    clap.gifclap.gif

    I have just had a quick peak, and I think I got some really nice shots! My eyes are burning so I won't be doing any quick processing tonight. But I will get some photos up here, I promise.

    BTW, good thing schmoo started the thread cuz I was going to title it:
    "canadi-ann does DC".... rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
  • eoren1eoren1 Registered Users Posts: 2,391 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Wow Schmoo - great shots!
    I especially like the composition and dof of the carnation. Great midshipmen captures as well.
    Great meeting you.
    E
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    I was able to retrieve some of my shots!!! clap.gif Will process and post tonight when I get home from work...

    Late in the afternoon we were sitting at the base of the Capital building... I was totally fried by then, I had put a long lens on camera to capture some candid street shots... don't really know what happened? but I think I was reviwing and deleting a shot or 2, not something I normally do... headscratch.gif anyway I must have formatted the card by accident... Thanks to Schmoo and Travis encouraging me to look for a recovery program I was able to get most of the shots back...

    Schmoo, nice shooting, running for the God beams to get the right angle paid off! I love it in BW!

    My Daughter Cassis and I had a great time meeting and shoooting with everyone...

    More to follow, with pics.

    Winston
  • zweiblumenzweiblumen Registered Users Posts: 369 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    I was able to retrieve some of my shots!!! clap.gif Will process and post tonight when I get home from work...

    Late in the afternoon we were sitting at the base of the Capital building... I was totally fried by then, I had put a long lens on camera to capture some candid street shots... don't really know what happened? but I think I was reviwing and deleting a shot or 2, not something I normally do... headscratch.gif anyway I must have formatted the card by accident... Thanks to Schmoo and Travis encouraging me to look for a recovery program I was able to get most of the shots back...

    Schmoo, nice shooting, running for the God beams to get the right angle paid off! I love it in BW!

    My Daughter Cassis and I had a great time meeting and shoooting with everyone...

    More to follow, with pics.

    Winston

    Whew!!! Glad you were able to recover the data. It was a pleasure meeting you.
    Travis
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Winston I'm so glad you were able to get your shots back! You were imcredibly calm. I wouldn't have been so calm if I had been in that position... lol3.gif

    I hope everyone got home safely and that the weekend was worth the trek! Even though the blossoms were all on the ground, I think the day was absolutely beautiful. Thanks for making it happen, guys! thumb.gif
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Amazing series great photos !
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • OsirisPhotoOsirisPhoto Registered Users Posts: 367 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Very nice!

    "godbeams" - excellent, another word to add to my mental dictionary :D
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Very nice!

    "godbeams" - excellent, another word to add to my mental dictionary :D

    lol3.gif I don't take credit for that - I'd heard that one from Marc!
  • javierplumeyjavierplumey Registered Users Posts: 131 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Very nice series. Our capital is a wonderful place full of color, architecture, and great opportunities for photos.
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    My Daughter, Cassis and I arrived at about 0700 we wandered around... completely missing Schmoo... we waited at the metro stop for Anna and Christine to arrive...

    Christine arriving...

    279650516_RUEiV-L.jpg

    Once introductions were made we picked up Schmoo and made the monument circuit...

    Jefferson and Cherry blosoms...

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    The end of the cherry blosoms...

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    We met up with Eyal at some point and continued on...

    Lincoln memorial from the WWII memorial

    279636167_YsEi3-L.jpg


    God beams...

    279639253_P63uC-L.jpg

    Lincoln reflection...

    279637027_efMBt-L.jpg

    Lincoln...

    279642134_5tayY-L.jpg

    First year Midshipmen from the Naval Academy looking at Lincoln’s back…

    279641157_5UWHY-L.jpg

    Vietnam memorial...

    279644427_7vnRy-L.jpg

    We ate lunch at the American Indian Museum...

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    And of course... not complete without Dgrinners who I managed to get shots of...

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    These are potential Dgrinners :D

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    Cassis really has the best images... She hasn't processed them yet...

    link to the gallery... http://vxphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/4723320_e37gB/2/279650516_RUEiV#P-1-15

    Winston
  • eoren1eoren1 Registered Users Posts: 2,391 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Great shots Winston. How could you not post this one though???
    279644976_HysF7-S.jpg

    We'll have to do this again...this time in Boston.
    Eyal
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    eoren1 wrote:
    Great shots Winston. How could you not post this one though???
    279644976_HysF7-S.jpg

    We'll have to do this again...this time in Boston.
    Eyal

    Because Cassis has a way better one with the guys Wife looking directly at him, I'll get on her to process them and post a few...mwink.gif
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    279649982_SQPka-S.jpg
    They may look innocent enough but that's trouble heading your way lol3.gif. Looks like you all had a fun time. How could anything else happen with that great group of people. I'm jealous!
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • PhyxiusPhyxius Registered Users Posts: 1,396 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    279651132_AxeCH-S.jpg

    You caught the famous Canadian Crouch!
    Christina Dale
    SmugMug Support Specialist - www.help.smugmug.com

    http://www.phyxiusphotos.com
    Equine Photography in Maryland - Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Great series, Winston!! clap.gif You covered a lot of ground with your shots, and I'm glad you did. I can't wait to see Cassis' work :D

    I also love seeing other Dgrinners at work, too.

    Nick, we'll see what we can do... :uhoh
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    schmoo wrote:
    Great series, Winston!! clap.gif You covered a lot of ground with your shots, and I'm glad you did. I can't wait to see Cassis' work :D

    I also love seeing other Dgrinners at work, too.

    Nick, we'll see what we can do... :uhoh

    Thanks Schmoo!

    Being Dad, I have cracked the whip! so you should see some results from Cassis... when she gets around to it... She did capture a great shot of you! :D

    Winston
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    (Mostly) Great shots, Winston.....

    Guess I should have looked in the mirror at some point that day!!! Left Christina's with wet hair and added wind and humidity and look what you get! And you can all see what little progress my interpretation of ETL has made! Sheeeeeesh, think I'll need to change my sig now!

    In all seriousness, Winston, good work and I am looking forward to Cassis', and everyone else's shots. My first cards worth are uploading now but I'm not sure I have much different to show.


    ann
    (not so hot, still having flashes!)
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    Okay, my turn.
    The local DGrinners laid out the red carpet for me:
    279708243_WSEHd-M.jpg

    Special Nikon instructions:
    279710124_H6gva-M.jpg

    We considered being wedding (photo) crashers:
    279711947_fSUDn-M.jpg

    Some blossoms were still attached
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    Duck, duck, goose:
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    My version of godbeams:
    279715944_57UtF-M.jpg

    A great morning for a stroll:
    279716888_eJqUB-M.jpg


    "Jenny":
    279717667_KMt6a-M.jpg

    Larger than Life Einstein:
    279722087_EmYJu-M.jpg

    Many Einsteins:
    279723336_WrVa9-M.jpg

    and I have another cards worth!!!

    Thanks for the great day everyone!
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    You folks have taken some really great shots.
    Kate and I really enjoyed seeing everyone again, and can't wait til Utah to pick on, I mean see everyone again.:D

    We got home OK, my legs feel like they want to fall off, but hey, no pain, no need for pain relievers.:D

    Here are a few shots from after you folks abandoned us.
    All with a Panasonic point and shoot.

    Washington at night. (OK, I used a tripod, sue me)
    The air/sky was very orange on this night, I don't know why, but I like what it did to my shots.

    279788056_jXoRE-XL.jpg

    279787938_8RJM4-L.jpg

    279786906_3kGHh-XL.jpg

    We went to Arlington Cemetery also. we got there in time to catch
    the tail end of the changing of the guard.

    279787985_73NEx-L.jpg

    279788023_Mv96L-L.jpg

    More to come, but it's late and I'm tired.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Card II, at the arboretum:
    279777968_XF8Z6-M.jpg

    The Capital Building:
    279780135_p5Zro-M.jpg

    Parade Day Costumes:
    Patriotic:
    279779285_tiWE2-M.jpg

    Japanese:
    279781693_dCcwR-M.jpg

    Minnesotan:
    279782235_rUSvr-M.jpg

    What would a trip to a political capitol be without some political statements:
    279784575_2LTEj-M.jpg

    279785535_AKUwk-M.jpg

    Even the squirrel had an opinion:
    279786387_xwqnK-M.jpg

    Evening reflections (by this time, it was just the Minnesotans and Christina and I, and us girls were absolutely beat but absolutely unwilling to surrender!!)
    279787192_mPY2t-M.jpg

    279788063_2a2Lr-M.jpg

    A muench star
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    And a glorious sunset pan (4 handheld images, stitched with CS2 photomerge)
    279791574_N8XfF-L.jpg

    Christina and I had dinner with Adam, Kendall, Dave and Kate. It was a great day and I am thankful that each of you were there!

    ann
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Ann, I can not tell you how good of a shot your pano is of the WWII Monument.

    My dad fought in that war, and lets just say, that monument means a little more to me than the others.

    Great shot.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • devbobodevbobo Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,339 SmugMug Employee
    edited April 15, 2008
    davev wrote:

    279786906_3kGHh-M.jpg

    Dave,

    I have always loved this memorial, the way you have captured it is amazing. The aspect, movement of the flag and colour of the sky, only add to the sense of drama depicted.

    Cheers,

    David
    David Parry
    SmugMug API Developer
    My Photos
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,249 moderator
    edited April 15, 2008
    Great shots all around! thumb.gif

    Looks like it was a fantastic, fun and successful trip. Good to see you folks getting together for a shoot.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • PhyxiusPhyxius Registered Users Posts: 1,396 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Everyone has posted really great shots already, Davev...now I wanna go back to DC at night. Maybe I can get some local photogs to come up there with me.:D

    I don't have anything really processed yet, these are pretty much straight out of camera.

    279777963_cG3dg-L.jpg
    After lunch we caught a little bit of these exhibition dances infront of the capital reflecting pool. A little mini thunderstorm came so we went inside the botantical gardens.

    279164988_PciSp-L.jpg
    I had never really played with the 50 1.8 AT 1.8, so this was interesting.

    279778178_xHVSA-L.jpg
    The MPD we're following the Minnesotans around. ne_nau.gif

    279778735_tLi6G-L.jpg
    A little birdie chilling at the castle while I was watching some camera bags on a bench.

    279779584_sRSVP-L.jpg
    My godbeams. I'm hoping I can make them a bit more dramatic in post and I think my pointy thing (Washington Monument) may be crooked.
    Christina Dale
    SmugMug Support Specialist - www.help.smugmug.com

    http://www.phyxiusphotos.com
    Equine Photography in Maryland - Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Okay, my turn.
    The local DGrinners laid out the red carpet for me:
    279708243_WSEHd-M.jpg

    Special Nikon instructions:
    279710124_H6gva-M.jpg


    Thanks for the great day everyone!

    Great shots Ann, can't wait to see the rest! Looks more like a pink carpet... And I see you have captured my double chin profile... I guess the camera never lies...rolleyes1.gif any way, Nikon rules... Thanks for joining us, you are welcome any time...

    Winston
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    davev wrote:
    You folks have taken some really great shots.
    Kate and I really enjoyed seeing everyone again, and can't wait til Utah to pick on, I mean see everyone again.:D

    We got home OK, my legs feel like they want to fall off, but hey, no pain, no need for pain relievers.:D

    Here are a few shots from after you folks abandoned us.
    All with a Panasonic point and shoot.

    Washington at night. (OK, I used a tripod, sue me)
    The air/sky was very orange on this night, I don't know why, but I like what it did to my shots.





    279786906_3kGHh-XL.jpg

    If this was shot with a point and shootbowdown.gif I can't wait to see what you captured with your SLR! eek7.gif
  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Phyxius wrote:
    Everyone has posted really great shots already, Davev...now I wanna go back to DC at night. Maybe I can get some local photogs to come up there with me.:D

    Nice shots Christine... Cassis and I will do a DC night shoot with you any time... thumb.gif

    Winston
  • eoren1eoren1 Registered Users Posts: 2,391 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    Awesome shots everyone! It really did turn out to be a great day. In spite of having visited these monuments countless times over the past few years, it makes a world of difference to do it with other photographers...especially when they happen to be Dgrinners!
    Thanks for letting me join in and sorry I had to run out early!
    E

    Coming up from the metro
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    Those Godrays again
    279868757_dmrrd-M.jpg

    The midshipmen
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    Lincoln
    279869179_u3ULh-M.jpg

    Memorial Bridge from the back of the Lincoln memorial
    279869430_DuSx9-M.jpg

    Those ominous clouds over the Capitol
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