Archive of ‘Travel’ category

Cherry Blossom Display – Tysons Corner Center

National Cherry Blossom Festival Display - ©TimeLine Media

Seasonal Displays

Taking a little break from editing dance photos this morning! A few weekends ago, I photographed a beautiful display at Tysons Corner Center. In one of their large atriums, they have put up a beautiful display that is coordinated with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. With the trees just days away from their peak bloom, this is an especially good time to write about the activation. At this time, they feature a colorful cut-paper display that spans both levels of the mall.

Cherry Blossom display at Tysons Corner Center - ©TimeLine Media
Cherry Blossom display at Tysons Corner Center – ©TimeLine Media

At the bottom, there is a large case that holds an amazing art piece made with different pieces of colored paper. The artist has cut the paper into the silhouetted shapes of popular destinations in Washington, DC including the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, the Smithsonian Castle, etc. In addition, there are also representations of the Tysons Corner area with new, towering buildings that are currently under construction that are scheduled to be opened this year.

Paper craft buildings at Tysons Corner Center - ©TimeLine Media
Paper craft buildings at Tysons Corner Center – ©TimeLine Media

Surrounding the display case are large pots with real trees that stretch to the overhead skylight. On the trees are more paper crafts with representations of cherry blossoms. If you are walking towards the display from one of the mall corridors, the blooms look real! This is probably the stage of the blooms at this point. They are just starting to pop out, but not the full light pink blossoms of the peak.

Display of Cherry Blossoms

Paper Cherry Blossom - ©TimeLine Media
Paper Cherry Blossom – ©TimeLine Media
Cherry Blossom display at Tysons Corner Center - ©TimeLine Media
Cherry Blossom display at Tysons Corner Center – ©TimeLine Media

From the floor above, there are very large paper fish hanging from the ceiling. In the light, airy section of the mall, they move slightly with the passing current of air. It makes a peaceful marker for the larger display below. Again using the fisheye lens, it is possible to get a view of the entire area from upstairs. The trees, paper craft display case, and the bending benches, it is a unique representation of the Japanese cherry blossom trees planted around the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington, DC. Maybe next week the peak blooms themselves will show up on the blog!

National Cherry Blossom Festival Display - ©TimeLine Media
National Cherry Blossom Festival Display – ©TimeLine Media

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Tatay and his Camera

My dad and his Nikon at the Grand Canyon

From yesterday’s post, you can see I still like to get in front of the camera sometimes. My father was the family photographer. His Nikon was always around his neck, and he brought it on every special outing. Looking back, I am now much more interested in what he was shooting, what lens, what camera body, perhaps what film he was using. I’m thankful that my dad did not shy away from having his photo taken. It would have been a shame to have so many family photos, and not have many of him on film.

Family Vacation Photos

My dad and his Nikon at the Grand Canyon
My dad and his Nikon at the Grand Canyon

If you are the family photographer, be sure to get out in front of the lens! Spending all your time behind will no doubt make your photos better, but after so many years, family will want to see you in there too. Since my dad only had the big SLR camera, all of these were taken with other point and shoot cameras, or maybe disposables. With these subjects, it really does not matter how they were captured, I’m just enjoying looking back and the times that we took time as a family to visit places away from home, and spend time together.

Parents and the camera on vacation
Parents and the camera on vacation

Just writing this post, I thought of a new assignment for myself. With the evolution of Nikon cameras, they have decided to keep the lens mount the same. I should do a shoot with my modern cameras using only my dad’s old manual focus lenses. They still mount on my cameras, and maybe they will make some different images. Will I be able to tell the difference? I’ll give it a try – see if you notice the difference! Thanks to Tatay for getting good glass that I can still use. I’ll be sure that they don’t rust away on the shelf.

Tatay and his Nikon at home
Tatay and his Nikon at home

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Tidal Basin Evening

Finally had a little break from dance photos to look back and some images that I may put into the portfolio. The winter evenings also brought some opportunities to go out and get some photos of the capitol city. During this evening, I took my gear out to the Tidal Basin. I do not normally visit this area unless it is bursting with cherry blossoms! It is probably one of the most photographed areas in DC during those few early Spring days, but on a week night evening, all the traffic is on the surrounding streets and bridges with commuters heading home for the day.

Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in evening - ©TimeLine Media
Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in evening – ©TimeLine Media

The parking lots are very accessible during this time, and there is not too much foot traffic around the basin. This gives clear vantages to the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and even the White House. The fading light will also give you streaks of lights from air traffic going in or out of Reagan National Airport, and there is a faint glow from the traffic and building lights from across the Potomac River. It is a peaceful time if you are there for photos, and not in your car just trying to get home.

HDR22-Jefferson-Memorial-after-sunset-20140131-0004_5_6_7_8_9

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