reflecting on a great photo hunt

Often when I can't fit the subject into my viewfinder, I search for a reflection to do the work my focal length can't. Case in point. I'm getting better at bringing the right lens when I know what I'm shooting, but sometimes 18mm isn't enough either. My eyes are beginning to pick up the reflections without thinking about it. They often turn into better than expected photos.
(ISO 800, f/7.1, 1/30s)

cafe lunch

I can't wait to retire so I can have lunch wherever I want on workdays. According to the state, I only have 23 years left.

(ISO 800, f/7.1, 1/30s)

bronze eagle

Upstairs was where I lost the crowds and found some photographic peace. The only people I ran into were the nice people who worked in the museum. Before walking into the shot I was framing one woman asked, "Do you want me to wait for you to take your picture?"

"No, thanks," I replied, "You're working. I'm just playing. Take your time."

(ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/30s)

arched symmetry

So much for "standard" photos at the building museum!
(ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/50s)

arches from above

Arches were first used by the ancient Romans. You can find them all over the city, including here. I believe I've found a new photograph to use in my classroom instruction, if only I can find a work-around for the county block on this blog.
(ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/4s)

national building museum

Back when we went to Festa Italiana in June, we stopped in the National Building Museum to make use of the restroom. I was stunned by the beauty of the building and knew that I needed to make a trip back for more shots. Last week, I did just that. Today, the first impression. Columns of marble divide the building into thirds. They are beautiful, but often photographed by visitors to the museum.
(ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/20s)

escalating

Taken at the Judiciary Square Metro exit.
(ISO 200, f/9.0, 1/100s)

the line of duty

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived."

The National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial is located outside of the Judiciary Square Metro station. Yet another beautifully-designed memorial in a city teeming with them. I wonder how many commuters, lawyers, and defendants pass through it without giving it a second glance.

(ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/400s)

nose to nose

It was pretty neat to get up close and personal with some of the planes I grew up learning about. There was an SR-71 Blackbird, a Concorde, the Enola Gay, and a space shuttle. You could get up close and personal with some of them, but no touching. Too bad!
(ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/40s)

the planes, the planes!

Rainy Sunday. Perfect for heading out to a museum. We've been waiting for years to go to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It's the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum with a lot more space. Located out by Dulles International Airport, we'd postponed going there for years. We were saving it for a visit from my uncle. He would have really enjoyed it. We miss you, Bob.
(ISO 800, f/4.8, 1/15s)

adrenaline-fueled fun

Quite often at Great Falls, visitors will see brightly-colored kayaks racing and pausing in and around the many waterfalls. Before I moved here, a climbing buddy of mine who kayaks told me I needed to get a kayak and try my hand at it. After seeing the falls runners' skill and precision, I think I'll need quite a bit of practice and mentoring before I'd even undertake such an awesomely perilous rush.
(ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/20s)

going back

I'm going to head back to Great Falls, for sure. I've been reading up on motion blur techniques beyond my current skill set. Looking at 565 wedding photos taken by an expert tends to inspire creativity. For this one, I'd've loved to be there much later in the afternoon or early morning so I could have a multiple-second exposure to smooth out the ripples in the raging tributary. As Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." I must be getting close to that total by now!

(ISO 100, f/20.0, 1/4s)

just stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to

A little more detail of yesterday's vantage point. I did have to crop it a bit to get rid of the vignetting from stacked filters.
(ISO 100, f/13.0, 1/3s, 0.6 ND & polarizing filters)

don't go chasing waterfalls

Inspired by fellow photograblogger SCJack, I convinced my better half to go for a walk in the woods at Great Falls last weekend. We'd been to the Virginia side before and hiked around on the Maryland side, but I'd never been satisfied with any photographs I took. This time, I was armed with a tripod that I left in the car and a stacked set of filters to slow down my shutter speed in the bright afternoon sun. As usual, it was a mob scene, but we managed to find a secluded trail before braving the crowds on the overlook boardwalk. I managed a few good ones that I'll post in the coming few days.
(ISO 100, f/13.0, 1/5s, 0.6 ND filter, polarizing filter)

sculpted by cherubs

Attention grabbed, a friend and I puzzled over this sculpture for a few minutes. At first, it seemed as though the two cherubs had decapitated someone and were posing eerily with the head. Upon further deliberation, we figured out that the two were artists, one with paints and the other with sculptors' tools. It's still a bit odd, and I'd really like to know more about it.
(ISO 800, f/4.0, 1/50s)

national gallery of art

For all the free museums in D.C., I've yet to go to a couple of them. Sure, I've lost count of how often I've been to the Portrait Gallery and Natural History. I think Native American is the next one to visit. I went to the National Gallery for the first time this week. It certainly warrants a return trip. I could spend a while just photographing the building's architecture. It's quite beautiful.
(ISO 400, f/9.0, 1/80s)

bistro de paris

No, this isn't another Parisian post. This is my first attempt at making Cuban coffee. A friend of mine tried to teach me last week. He always does such a good job, but I have much to learn. It tasted right, but I wasn't able to get the sugary froth on top. Practice makes perfect.
(ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/80s)

national press club

On Monday night, I got to go to the National Press Club for dinner. I arrived a little early and had to wait for my better half. I amused myself with my camera, but forgot to get any pictures of the two of us, as usual.
(ISO 100, f/8.0, 3/5s)