Cherry Blossoms, Washington, DC

Any comments or ratings are appreciated!! :-)

Yeah, I couldn't resist. I was going through the "rate recent" this morning, and saw SEVERAL shots of the cherry blossoms. I was jealous, so I dug out some of the shots that I took a couple of weeks ago on a early morning walk.

 

By the way ... you would NOT believe the number of people in downtown DC during the peak of the cherry blossoms. I got to Ohio Drive (near Potomac Park (near the Lincoln memorial)) around 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday. I almost didn't find a place to park. People were waiting in long lines just to park. Taking pictures was difficult because of the crowds. AT SIX THIRTY IN THE MORNING!!!!!! ON A SUNDAY!!!!!!

Very nice. I like the use of the tree for natural framing. Maybe a lower angle would have given the monument a little more space and enabled you to catch the whole reflection. Very nice though.

Thanks, Matt! I was wondering if anyone would comment on the partial reflection. Actually there was more of the reflection (although, not an entire reflection!) BUT ... when I got home, I realized that the image was rather crooked (I used a tripod, but was on crooked ground). In straightening, I needed to rotate and lost more of the bottom of the reflection.

This is a very beautiful postcard. I mean that in the nicest way. The lighting is wonderful.

Thanks, Kim! That's the lighting you get early-ish in the morning! :-)

 

By the way ... I would like to point out an earlier discussion about "originality" ratings. I bet it would be very easy to find several identical images to this on PN ... and I have personal (non-PN) friends who have taken this same photo ... this year, even. Yet I've got several 6's and a 7 for originality. Not that I don't appreciate good ratings ... in fact, I do, and do so most humbly. I just don't understand what's so original about this image and not about "others".

 

[sigh....]

I like this, Lou Ann - it's not your typical Washington Monument photo. Very nice; thanks. About the tilt from the tripod - I put a spirit level on the tripod mouunt where the camera goes and level the tripod before mounting the camera. Some cameras with a standard flash mount permit mounting the level directly to the camera and make it easier. My camera does not, so I have to do it this way. Thanks for posting this shot. Regards.

Lou Ann,

 

Impressive and enjoyable composition.

Extraordinary composition, and a very beautiful scene.

Well done Lou Ann. Like the composition.

Lou, I think I understand what you mean about originality. You see countless images of certain mounuments at times and obviously due to the volume, it's hard to be original. I think when you add a different set of elements, angles, an otherwise typical image may seem rather atypical.

Very pretty shot, Lou Ann. Does look like a postcard. I'll have to show this one to Ed - he was in your area in early March and had snow.

Great framing, color, and reflection, Lou Ann. Makes me want to pack my bag and head out to DC right now! ^_^

Nice shot with the cherry blossoms, good work. Cheers, Sondra

Very impressive image...!

Nice light on the cherry blossom. We have a tree out in the road absolutely smothered in it at the momnet. It will all end up on my car, I expect! The reflection is a tricky one as including the whole thing would change the proportions.

Cherry blossom seasons always attract crowd, no matter where & when. Beautiful capture of the cherry blossoms against the lake & using them as a natural frame is exquisite.

Lou Ann- I didn't have time to read the comments. This is lovely. Your composition is terrific, those cherry blossoms are a personal favorite of mine. The only change I might make is warming it up a bit so the blossoms on the shore line are more noticeable. Maybe a warming filter? Did you ise a polarizer? The sky and reflection are beautiful.

I DID use a polarizing filter (I love what they do to the skies!!) ... but didn't think about warming it up. In fact, in the original image, the trees on that distant shoreline were VERY dark, and I used the shadows/highlights tool in PS to balance them out. But what I did certainly didn't bring out the color like your idea of using the warming filter. Thanks!! :-)

That's a wonderful way to make the city merge with nature. Excellent composition: a flowery gate.

A classic! Perfect composition. Someday I will be down there for the cherry blossoms!

@ Sarah: promises, promises....

:-)

Very nice, Lou Ann. Did you get any with the Jefferson Memorial in the background?

Hi Lannie!! No - there were too many people around, and the sun wasn't the right angle, and I didn't want to walk any farther around the Tidal Basin. :-) I have some older pics, though. See this ... from two years ago: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1475942 ... it didn't do quite as well. Interesting!! :-)

Lovely postcard image. Great colors and reflection.

I only wished the blossoms did not touch the Washington Monument or it would have been perfect.