DC Aids Walk, 2012

Got up early Saturday morning... made my way downtown... no real plan in mind... just needed to shoot!

Walking up toward Freedom Plaza I noticed people gathering. White tents. Loud speakers on scaffolding. More and more people. 

Turns out I happened upon the Whitman-Walker Annual Aids Walk. I love events like these. Good cause and good crowds. At the end of the day I always leave inspired. This day was no different. 

Farm Fresh In The City

There's just something about strolling through a produce stand on a crisp Autumn day. Watching the customers as they carefully examine the various tubers, fruits and vegetables. The murmur of neighbors and acquaintances "What are you preparing for tonight? Is that a squash? What is a gourd, anyway?"

The colors and textures, as well, attract me.

Now I'm hungry!

Chinatown in B&W

To appreciate the energy that comes from the multicultural milieu that defines this city, one has to get out and walk around. Take it all in; in every way. Hear it, feel it, smell it, taste it. You can't just look from the comfort of a rolled up car window. There's too much to experience. So much is missed when keeping to the obvious tourist areas. Visit them, yes. They're worthy. But don't pass up the neighborhoods. The vibrant streets.

Shooting Washington, DC's street life can get under one's skin. Impossible to not get excited rushing to grab that next shot. You see something unfolding up ahead and just have to get there before the scene falls apart. Anticipating. Keeping your head on a swivel. There's a photograph here somewhere! Looking and looking and looking. 

Today it was Chinatown. Who knows where tomorrow (or the next day) will take us? 

More to come.

The City At Night

Washington, DC. Beautiful city. Especially at night.

If you've never had the opportunity to walk around the Tidal Basin at sunset or take an evening stroll down the tree-lined paths of the National Mall, you are missing quite a lot.

In the coming weeks I plan to piece together some scraps of this little burg on the Potomac; try to layout on this lightbox-as-a-blog a collection of images worthy of this fine city.

For now, just a couple from my wanderings the other night.

Tourists photographing the Washington Monument.

Washington Monument at dusk. Washington, DC.

Street Performer, DC

Found this guy at the metro entrance in Woodley Park. Very impressive. If you find yourself in the area stop and have a listen (and maybe drop a couple bills in his case).

Coming into DC's National Airport.

Different perspective.

So I was making photographs out on the landing light pier just south of the airport. Earsplitting passes overhead of jets on their final approach. The sun was at a good angle, casting the planes shadows right next to the pier. Took two attempts to get a good clean shot. (boy, are they really moving!) 

Underneath The City.

In darkened, inapparent places. Maintenance to be done.

A Little Light Reading.

Late afternoon in Dupont Circle, Washington DC.

Capital Scenes

From Rock Creek Park to the White House to Chinatown, and so much in between.

A Little Weather

An inclement January day in the city. Down to the diner to fuel up. Will soon be searching for images. Resolute. Need to show how it feels. 

A bone-chilling mist sets the mood.

Contrary to all appearances, there is life. Active and aware.

Contemplating Spring.

Happy MLK Day.

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is John McCaskill, National Park Service historian at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. He's been with the NPS since 2008. I introduced myself and we got to chatting. Well, mostly I listened, he educated. Hearing about his experience of witnessing former Civil Rights leaders approaching the King sculpture was quite moving. Watching as they took in the Memorial for themselves. Sharing their emotions, their lives. Pretty heavy. I highly recommend introducing yourself to the man if you happen to catch him there. He has much to share.

One Day. What To Do?

You've got one day. One free day in the DC region. What's there to do? Much!

First things first... breakfast. Get up early and head for the Market On The Boulevard in Potomac, MD. Good coffee and bagels. (They've got excellent specialty sandwiches for lunch, too.)

From there you can zip right up the road to the C&O Canal N. H. P. Wildlife viewing, good hikes, peace and quiet. Inspiring.

As the morning begins to give way, grab your things and head back down the boulevard toward the city. This particular day as I made my way to Georgetown, I slipped over to Rosslyn and continued a little further south to Gravely Point near National Airport. Watching jet liners landing just overhead is really quite a rush. After the plane passes the air above continues to swirl from the jet engines creating a weird hissing sound above for a few seconds. Took me a while to figure out what was going on. Very cool!

OK, what's next? Well, what would a trip to DC be like if you didn't visit at least one museum? My favorite is the National Gallery of Art on Constitution Ave. All the greats represented. Rembrandt, Manet, Degas, and more.

By now you're probably getting hungry. Lunch trucks are a big thing in DC these days. At Farragut Square NW there are several to choose from. Tacos, sandwiches, ice cream. Much variety. I picked the Mojo Truck, owned by Damian Dajcz. He makes Uruguayan sandwiches called "chivitos." They're huge and tasty! I had chopped steak topped with a fried egg on a toasted roll. Amazing. It was an unseasonably warm January day, so I found bench in the park and planted my already weary body and enjoyed the meal.

Rest up. More to do.

After lunch I hopped back in the car and headed across the river to Rosslyn, VA. There you'll find the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery right next door. The Lee House, JFK's Eternal Flame and many famous and not so famous men and women lost in war. Pierre Charles L'Enfant is also buried there. And from this vantage point you can take in a spectacular view of his city. In fact, I'd say this is one of the most recognized images of the District of Columbia. You've probably seen it yourself, so many photographers have made it before.

As the sun begins to drop below the horizon, I can think of no better way to wrap up the day then with a pint of Guinness at my favorite DC pub, Ireland's Four Fields (formerly Four Provinces, or "4 Ps", as the locals still call it). Great atmosphere and the best pour in town. A decent selection of Scotch, too! The neighborhood is Cleveland Park. Good restaurants and a great old theatre. Always worth the trip.

(Check out the map below for locations visited. This was actually how I spent the day. All photos were taken the same day in general order of appearance.) 

View One Day in the DC Region. in a larger map

Thanks for hangin' with me today.

This is obviously just a small sampling of things to do and see and eat in the Nation's Capital. I'll try to bring you more as the new year rolls on. See you again soon. Happy New Year!

-MK