Washington DC - Large PICS

Phil U. · April 19, 2005

I spent my day off yesterday in and around DC. You may have already seen a few pics in a couple other threads:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=10000
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=10011

Let's start out this thread with an everyday building - found this one in the so-called Chinatown. I found out yesterday that DC's Chinatown is kind of lacking. I had high hopes, but they were dashed...

Next up, we have a building that is a little less ordinary but quite a bit more recognizable:

On a somewhat funny note - when I was at the White House, I noticed there were a whole bunch of TV cameras and such setup. They were all covered and there were just a couple guys milling around. I figured something was going to be happening, but I wasn't sure and I didn't want to wait around all day. I moved on and while I was shooting the birds in the thread I linked above, in comes the presidential helicopter. Ugh.

Anyway. I spent a lot of time around the new WWII Memorial. I really like it. I decided that what I really wanted to do was shoot it at and after sunset. So I played around and looked for shots I wanted while I was waiting for it to get dark.

Here is one of several metal carvings implanted in the walls - done in B&W. I liked how the light was hitting it showing off the 3D nature of it.

I saw this guy posing for his girlfriend and thought he looked kind of cool. I had just barely enough time to snap this off before he moved. Again - gotta love late evening light...

Now for the ones I was wanting to take.

Sunset: It wasn't a great one, but I did what I could with what I was given. This is looking across the WWII Memorial.

This was stacked for noise reduction and also for dynamic range. (oh, on a different note, they are STILL doing construction around the Washington Monument - apparently the normal lighting system isn't working too well at the moment)

If only the blue would stay in the sky longer after sunset... (stacked as above)

This one I have titled "Wall Of Lost Souls". As I understand it, the stars on this wall are to represent the soldiers' lives lost during the war. The way I see it, the coldness of plain B&W (untoned) is the only way to show this. (Side note: I had to keep waiting for the stupid ducks to get out of the water and for the water to settle down so I could get a decent reflection - I almost gave up.)

Ok, and now my finale'. My first ever panorama attempt. I'm calling this a semi-serious attempt because it was almost an afterthought as I was preparing to leave the area. Another reason to call it semi-serious is that I didn't take the time to do the extra exposures for dynamic range stacking - I REALLY REALLY wish I did now that I see the result. It would have been MUCH better if I had. Oh well - there's always next time right? (here again, you can see there are several light bulbs that need replacing)

Please feel free to view the much larger version of the panorama here:

http://PhilU.smugmug.com/photos/20061358-O.jpg

I hope you enjoyed your tour. Any feedback or critiques you have are very appreciated.

wxwax · April 19, 2005

This one's a winnah.

Eric&Susan · April 19, 2005

wxwax wrote:

This one's a winnah.

GREAT SHOT!!!

Eric

rahmonster · April 19, 2005

thumb

thumb

They are absolutely fantastic!!!

Phil U. · April 19, 2005

wxwax wrote:

This one's a winnah.

Great! I'll be looking for the cash - or at least the beer :slurp

Thanks waxy!

Phil U. · April 19, 2005

Eric&Susan wrote:

GREAT SHOT!!!

Eric

Thanks Eric - I appreciate it!

Phil U. · April 19, 2005

rahmonster wrote:

thumbthumb

They are absolutely fantastic!!!

I'm not sure about all that - I guess I'll just have to take your word for it. Let me send one your way.

System · April 20, 2005

wxwax wrote:

This one's a winnah.

wow, no kidding... awesome shot, phil!

i love it... this one and especially the other night shots. great work

sash

Shima · April 20, 2005

Awesome photographs... I need to get back to DC for a visit again, i haven't been there in about 3 years

Phil U. · April 20, 2005

sash wrote:

wow, no kidding... awesome shot, phil! i love it... this one and especially the other night shots. great work

sash

Glad you liked them - thanks!

Phil U. · April 20, 2005

Shima wrote:

Awesome photographs... I need to get back to DC for a visit again, i haven't been there in about 3 years

Thanks! Yea, I know what you mean. I'm only about 1.5 hours away (that's with no traffic) but I've only made it there 4 times since I've lived here.

Take the trip and share the pics!

MuskyDude · April 20, 2005

Excellent series Phil, all unique.

AJ

KevinKal · April 20, 2005

Well done...
Hi Phil,

Great series as everyone has pointed out...I also find myself captivated by your wall of stars shot - fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Kevn K.

USAIR · April 20, 2005

Phil
Killer photos well done

The pano is awesome too

Thanks
Fred

Phil U. · April 20, 2005

MuskyDude wrote:

Excellent series Phil, all unique.

AJ

Thanks dude - I was hoping to have a different take on things.

Phil U. · April 20, 2005

KevinKal wrote:

Hi Phil,

Great series as everyone has pointed out...I also find myself captivated by your wall of stars shot - fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Kevn K.

I have to admit that when I was doing my first scan through the take, I liked that one but it wasn't on the top of my list. It grew on me through post though. I still have trouble spotting potential I guess. Thanks for your comments.

Phil U. · April 20, 2005

USAIR wrote:

Killer photos well done

The pano is awesome too

Thanks
Fred

Great! I was wondering if anyone would mention anything about the pano. Thanks Fred.

trippy64 · April 22, 2005

My favorite is the post dusk shot of the Washington Maonumnet, with the fountain in th eforeground. Just deautiful.

Andy · April 22, 2005

i thoroughly enjoyed these shots, you should be proud - well done!

Phil U. · April 22, 2005

trippy64 wrote:

My favorite is the post dusk shot of the Washington Maonumnet, with the fountain in th eforeground. Just deautiful.

Thanks - I also like night shots the best with the blue in the sky. Unfortunately the window of opportunity is small and it's gone before you know it.

Phil U. · April 22, 2005

andy wrote:

i thoroughly enjoyed these shots, you should be proud - well done!

Thanks! I'm glad you liked 'em.

Yep I am a little proud of these. There's nothing quite like flipping through the take and finding out you've got a batch of keepers.

Harryb · April 23, 2005

Outstanding Phil

The Wall of Lost Souls shot is classic.

Phil U. · April 23, 2005

Harryb wrote:

Outstanding Phil

The Wall of Lost Souls shot is classic.

Thanks Harry - I'm sure that one especially will find it's way on to my wall.

PeterGar · April 23, 2005

Beautiful! Makes me want to visit D.C. The panorama was amazing!

ian408 · April 24, 2005

Very nice Phil. Especially the Wall of Lost Souls. The reflective surface adds
to the feeling one gets looking at the image.

ian

Phil U. · April 24, 2005

PeterGar wrote:

Beautiful! Makes me want to visit D.C. The panorama was amazing!

Thanks Peter. The idea that the photos would make you want to visit is quite a compliment

Phil U. · April 24, 2005

ian408 wrote:

Very nice Phil. Especially the Wall of Lost Souls. The reflective surface adds to the feeling one gets looking at the image.

ian

Thank you very much Ian.

SusanB · April 25, 2005

Cool tour of DC, thanks for sharing these images. I especially like number 8.

Susan

Phil U. · April 25, 2005

SusanB wrote:

Cool tour of DC, thanks for sharing these images. I especially like number 8.

Susan

Thank you Susan - I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Washington DC - Large PICS

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