Apr 16 2009
most photographed places-washington d.c.
I recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. to visit colleges and in-laws. I go there often enough, but I’m normally not in either a tourist or shooting mode and I end up squeezing in some shots in-between other activities. Even with those restrictions the freshness of the city allows me to see the Capitol in ways that haven’t been recorded before. As an example the mystery to me is why no one else has taken this photo already? All the way over from the Jefferson Memorial I spotted the flags surrounding the Washington Monument and I knew that I want a wide angle shot from the ground. To me that was the shot.
Flags surrounding the Washington Monument
I had two reasons to visit the National Gallery of Art. One was to see the Robert Frank’s Americans exhibit. and the other was to see the East Wing designed by I.M. Pei. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet both artists and do a formal portrait of I. M. Pei when he was working with his sons on the new UCLA hospital.
Lobby of the National Gallery of Art designed by I. M. Pei
Sometimes the surprise seeing a familiar landmark from a view that you have never seen before – and wondering why this view hasn’t shown up in a movie or TV show yet. On a Christmas visit years ago I was shocked to see a greenhouse so close to the Capitol Building. It is a great visual and could be used to talk about government transparency.
Capital dome behind the greenhouse windows of United States Botanical Garden Conservatory
Much of the time I’m simply a tourist as well viewing the sights. I just have a bigger camera and a trained eye and and see to shoot above the crowd for a classic view of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln Monument with classic window lighting
Washington D. C. is full of statute and domes, yet I had never seen this configuration until I took the shot.
What every Capitol needs domes and statutes
One more time looking into the sun at the Washington Monument experimenting with the video capabilities of my new camera.
Click here for other examples of photos from other “most photographed places” – Moulin Rouge, Joshua Tree National Park, Angkor Wat, New York’s Central Park, Monument Valley,Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower.
Mark Harmel
A wonderful light shared between the capitol and the ‘greenhouse’.
I find the photo taken in the National Gallery of Art a strangely riveting picture. Part of me thinks ‘what a waste of space’ and part of me thinks it isn’t empty space at all. And I keep peering into the photo and trying to decide how such emptiness is really full of shape . . . and what would happen if pictures were to be put on the walls. (It would be ruined!)
Lucy Corrander
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