Posts Tagged ‘Washington DC’

Assisting Saturday

©TimeLine Media - wedding photography

I am hoping it will be a beautiful Saturday! My assignment today is to be a second shooter and assistant on a wedding today. This is one of the best jobs as a photographer. You have to use all your photographic skills in technique and composition while trying to manage different environments, and lighting situations but from a slightly different perspective. When assisting, my first thought is not what looks best from behind my camera, but from the camera of the primary photographer. Do not be in his shot first and foremost! Then think what different lens you could use to capture the same scene so that they have a variety of photos to choose from when editing the whole day.

Second Shooting

©TimeLine Media - wedding photography
©TimeLine Media – wedding photography

With the gear you are carrying, make sure you keep your eye on it – the primary photographer may unexpectedly be running to keep up with the bridge and groom! You do not want them to worry about where their things are and missing shots because of that. Finally, during posed portraits, I do not have a camera in my hands. The less cameras pointed at a group during that time, the more likely that everyone will be looking at the primary photographer’s lens. This part will take much longer than anyone, including the photographer, wants it to take.

©TimeLine Media - wedding photography
©TimeLine Media – wedding photography

During this time, I will see if an extra light or reflector will help, or I will try to figure out family members that need to be in photos are ready when it is their turn. It is still a busy day even if you are not the main photo person in charge! Hope you have a great weekend!

©TimeLine Media - wedding photography
©TimeLine Media – wedding photography

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DC – Washington Monument

©TimeLine Media - Washington Monument HDR

The Washington Monument needs some work. Back in August 2011, there was an earthquake that was centered in central Virginia that shook the entire region. I am a native to northern Virginia, and we have emphatically never experienced anything like that! Thinking back to that day, I remember sitting in my living room editing photos. Then, the house started to shake! I could hear the plates and forks in the cabinets shaking, then running to the deck to see the divider between our neighbors really swaying like it was windy outside.

By the time I ran out the front door, I saw two of our neighbors out there already – we discussed the quake for a little while before returning inside. I could still feel edgy for a good hour afterwards. Following the quake, I can see why they have drills for them in areas that have them more often. I clearly had no idea where to go in those few seconds. Luckily, we didn’t have any damage unlike the large obelisk in downtown Washington, DC.

Repair Scaffolding

The Washington Monument sustained some damage from the shaking. There is dramatic video from inside where tourists where in the observation deck at the time of the earthquake. Following the quake there were inspections by engineers both inside and outside the structure which also made for some amazing photos as they rappelled up the exterior checking for weakness in the stonework.  Recently, and scaffolding was erected around all the sides of the monument to allow workers to easily repair the damage. Last week, lights were illuminated inside the scaffolding to restore a familiar yet altered scene to the landscape. We took some time to go down one evening to see how it looked. I was impressed!

©TimeLine Media - Washington Monument HDR
©TimeLine Media – Washington Monument HDR

The design of the repair structure was definitely taken into consideration. It is very clean, and it mirrors the monument very well. This is as close to the monument as you can get right now – luckily, there was a little break in the fencing that was just enough for me to get my camera lens through to get a clean view!

©TimeLine Media - Washington Monument
©TimeLine Media – Washington Monument

They even added the red blinking lights at the top to warn the many aircraft that fly in the area to the outside of the scaffolding. Seeing as how I can barely get to the top of my roof, this is the closest I will come to seeing what it is like up there. It will only be about a year before the repairs are complete.

©TimeLine Media - Washington Monument
©TimeLine Media – Washington Monument

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

DC – World War I Memorial

©TimeLine Media - DC WWI Memorial

There are so many memorials scattered throughout Washington D.C.’s streets. The most memorable are easily recognizable from their appearance on currency, movies, and TV shows. However, the smaller World War I Memorial is dedicated to the resident of the District of Columbia that fought and died in the Great War. It was recently restored by the National Park Service in 2011. Overall the work was done very well. The memorial glows out of a section of trees along Independence Avenue. It is a short walk from the larger World War II Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. Although it was not the final destination for the evening, it was a really pleasant surprise to see. Since it was a little off the path, it was easier to get clean photos without other people in the area.

©TimeLine Media - DC WWI Memorial
©TimeLine Media – DC WWI Memorial

At this time the improved lighting under the dome made for a nice setting apart from the nearby trees. When I edited these photos, I pushed the white balance sliders much closer to the blue side of the scale than normal. Without any people in the frame, it is much easier to play with this setting. Most people look better warmer in photographs – more to the yellow side of the slider. But here, the blue makes a nice contrast with the light under the dome, and it emphasizes the time of day.

©TimeLine Media - DC WWI Memorial
©TimeLine Media – DC WWI Memorial

It’s nice to play tourist in your local area sometimes. We’re just lucky to be close to such a photogenic place! I’ll have more from other stops on this photo walk. Have a nice weekend!

©TimeLine Media - DC WWI Memorial HDR
©TimeLine Media – DC WWI Memorial HDR

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

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