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Posts Tagged ‘sunrise’

Event, Photography, Travel | 1 Comment

2014 DC Cherry Blossoms – Part 1

Jefferson Memorial and Cherry Blossoms - ©TimeLine Media

Counting on the predictable weather in the Washington, DC Metro area is not a good business to place your bets. There are so many factors that the meteorologists will say contribute to the fickle nature of weather in this area. Predicting the peak bloom for cherry blossoms is also an annual ritual that can be difficult to time correctly. We have invited many out-of-town guests to come for the occasion, but the window for their best viewing is only a few days at most. This year had to have been some of the best blossom-viewing time I have ever witnessed. After a LONG winter, we had warm mornings with no precipitation. The winds were kept to a minimum so the fragile blossoms stayed on the trees for as long as they could. I took advantage of the luck, and made a trip to the Tidal Basin early before sunrise, and in the middle of the day just to see the blooming trees, the flowers, sun, the crowd, and all the activities.

Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms Washington, DC - ©TimeLine Media
Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms Washington, DC – ©TimeLine Media
Peak Cherry Blossoms Washington, DC - ©TimeLine Media
Peak Cherry Blossoms Washington, DC – ©TimeLine Media
Jefferson Memorial and Cherry Blossoms - ©TimeLine Media
Jefferson Memorial and Cherry Blossoms at sunrise – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Photography, Technology, Travel | 0 comment

Air Force Memorial – Early Morning Photos

Air Force Memorial - single exposure - ©TimeLine Media

With announcements that the cherry blossoms are very close to peak bloom, I am anxious to go out to the Tidal Basin in downtown DC to make some springtime photos! Until I get out there, I am looking back on other recent photo walks around town. The images on this post was from a particularly COLD morning at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. I remember how numb my hands and face was after this shoot even though I was bundled up! At least one advantage is the cold keeps the crowds away, so I was mostly alone at the Memorial except for a group of school kids that quickly took some photos, then hurried back to their waiting motor coach.

Arlington, Virginia

From this high overlook, you have a panoramic view of the Pentagon, and Washington, DC below. This also brings the high winds which makes trying to keep the camera steady difficult. A tripod was definitely necessary this morning, and it allowed me to slow down and really position the camera right where it needed to be for these photos. With the tripod steadying the gear, I also took multiple varying exposure for making high dynamic range photos. Here is a comparison of a single exposure with the metered settings, and an HDR image of 7 combined images, 1 stop apart.

Air Force Memorial HDR - ©TimeLine Media
Air Force Memorial HDR – ©TimeLine Media
Air Force Memorial - single exposure - ©TimeLine Media
Air Force Memorial – single exposure – ©TimeLine Media

The edited single exposure is preferable to me. The dark part of the sky ends up in a different area in the HDR image, and I find it more pleasing in the single image. With HDR images, they bring out more of the shadow areas which did not come out as well in the HDR as a default. I could edit this more in Photoshop, but the single image was pleasing as it is, so I have decide to just keep that version instead of investing more time in the HDR file.

Air Force Memorial with sunburst - ©TimeLine Media
Air Force Memorial with sunburst – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Photography, Travel | 0 comment

Masonic Temple at Sunrise – Alexandria, VA

Alexandria Virginia Masonic Temple - ©TimeLine Media
Alexandria Virginia Masonic Temple - ©TimeLine Media
Alexandria Virginia Masonic Temple – ©TimeLine Media

I have read from landscape photographers that the key to getting great images is to photograph in great light. Most of the time, that means going to sites when the light is very low on the horizon. In this case, the early morning just before and after sunrise, or in the evening just before and after sunset. This “Golden Hour” in the morning or “Blue Hour” in the evening does make for some nice backgrounds for photos. The early sunrise in the winter months makes it easier to get out of the house at a semi-decent hour to get these photos. The extremely cold temperatures also help. It keeps cars and other people to a minimum. Who wants to be out here unless you really NEED to be out here at this time?

Masonic Temple

Alexandria, VA - ©TimeLine Media
Alexandria, VA – ©TimeLine Media

This particular morning, I made the trip to the outskirts of Old Town Alexandria. I did not have any trouble finding street parking at this hour – another benefit of such an early shoot, and walked the few blocks to the Masonic Temple. This beautiful structure can be seen from most of the major freeways and highways in the DC Area. It is familiar to anyone that has driven in the area especially if you are traveling across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, or flying into National Airport. I have never been inside, but have put this on my list to photograph once I figured that this would probably be situated perfectly for a sunrise shoot. With it’s East-facing position being the preferable angle, it made for a very easy subject to lineup and photograph. After only three attempts, this day’s attempt was the best from me. I will definitely be back to see about going on a tour. It should have a nice view in to Old Town Alexandria to the Potomac River and Maryland beyond.

Alexandria Virginia Masonic Temple - ©TimeLine Media
Alexandria Virginia Masonic Temple – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

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