List some activities you might like to add to these
Sunrise at monuments
Other memorials
inside museums - Natural history, Air and Space
Library of Congress
Eastern market (people)
White House and park behind
Arlington Cemetary
lots of food
For those outside of Washington, parking is crazy, difficult and erratic.
We should count on parking cars and walking or subway all the rest.
All of these things, except Arlington, are walkable.
What about making it the 20th with a rain-date fall-back of 27th.
As we get close, I will get a 'schedule' together and gather mobile numbers and push out parking info for those who don't know.
more suggestions, please.
plus any 'can't eat' issues.
You have a full agenda already Mr. Lew.
My reactions:
--sunrise at the monuments is good. We may want to pick a couple that are likely to have good sunrises or sun coming up over the Potomac. Were there particular ones you were thinking of Lew?
--not as interested at shooting inside SI, been there and done that. I personally think it's tough to go in to one of the SI Museums for just 30 minutes to shoot something specific--you get sucked in for at least a couple of hours. I know some of those far from DC may few that as two-fer (shoot some cool stuff and also see part of the SI). My advice for those really interested in this is just consider making a separate trip to Udvar-Hazzy out by Dulles (the A&S Extension Museum). Two giant hangers with nothing but planes. The whole Enola Gay. A whole Space Shuttle. An entire Concorde. It's a pilot's (and an aviation photographer's) wet dream. Only thing better is the Airplane Boneyard out by Tucson.
--LC: check (though we'd need special passes to get in to the main reading room OR we'd have to sign up for the guided tour...still nice but sucks up a lot of time).
--Eastern Market: check
--WH and Lafayette Park: meh....won't rule it out but it's not a big deal for me unless there are some funky people demonstrating.
--ANC: check. Especially Section 60 (Iraq and Afghanistan war dead). We can check to see if there are any burial ceremonies scheduled for that day.
More suggestions: The Wall (Vietnam Veteran's Memorial) and the Korean War Memorial are very powerful at sunrise or in fog or light rain. Next to the VVM is the Einstein statue which is cute to shoot. And a block from that is a very nice little garden at the Art Museum of the Americas. 3 of these things are all within 2 blocks plus the Lincoln Memorial. So people can shoot a lot without spending 30 minutes walking from one to the other. Strongly suggest the Jefferson, cherry trees and tidal basin for some good morning shoots, water reflection, paddle boats.
I find the Museum of the American Indian to be cool space (inside and out) especially if it's a sunny day (and how the light plays inside the building). The Hirshhorn (modern art) is close by, is interesting outside and inside, most of the galleries allow photography (without speed light or tripod) plus you've got the sculpture garden next to it which is cool. Union Station is also nice (trains, big open ceilings, lots of people, lots of food...what's not to like). And I'm all for the zoo. And yes, to an earlier poster, it's close to Metro (Woodley Park/Zoo metro station on the red line). And I highly suggest using our feet and the metro to get around b/c (a) mid-Sept in DC should be mighty fine, (b) we can walk off our meals, and (c) do some shooting inside a metro station/escalator.
A couple of photo-related places worth checking out for those of you who don't get to DC regularly:
--National Geographic Society. Always good for at least 2-3 interesting photo exhibits, most of them free.
--The Newseum (devoted to photojournalism and the new). Expensive to get in (about $15-20 unless you've got a press pass) but as a photographer you'll love it. Last time I was there, Nikon had a display table up with gear and a couple of tech people.
--The Wilderness Society headquarters up on "M" St NW has a huge Ansel Adams collection (I believe the largest in the world--just superb).
For those of you from out of town, Lew speaks wisdom when he talks of traffic and parking. Meters are expensive. Do not plan on showing up and finding great parking on the mall unless you planning on being here at sunrise (or earlier...and even then I don't think the parking on the mall is open then). If you're looking for something unique, I'd suggest parking at a VRE (Virginia Rail Express) station and taking the train in...very scenic, most VRE stations have free parking, and it will take you to L'Enfant or Union Station. Or take Metro in (but you'll probably have to pay to park at their lots).
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