Washington Monument Sunrise

Okay, I'm not thrilled with this image ... I'm just wanting some input. I went downtown a couple of weeks ago on a day that I figured would have a nice sunrise. My goal was to shoot the new(ish) WWII memorial (you can barely see it at the end of the reflecting pool), but as I was walking from my parking spot (at the other end near the Lincoln, if you're familiar with the area) and saw this behind the Washington Monument & Capitol Dome, so I decided to set up the tripod a grab a couple of quick shots.

 

I left the shutter open for 2 seconds (see details) and am somewhat happy with the colors I got. I had to rotate the horizon a little bit. I'm just not so sure that I like the result, and I really want some input ... any ideas that you have about anything to do with this photo would be greatly welcome. (Except for comments about any kind of high dynamic range techniques, which I'm not ready for yet...) I know that this stuff in DC is shot over and over and over again, but I want to be able to do some of even the classic shots well. And I don't think that I'm there yet...

The original image, pre-PS....

I'm looking for technical input on this image. Any comments or

ratings will be greatly appreciated! :-)

Lou Ann, I like the shot - nice and atmospheric. I would keep your original crop as to me the foreground works quite well but is a little dark. I have also slightly straightened the monument up by using transform > distort. I like the original sky colour so have just raised levels slighttly there. It will be interesting to see what others make of it. I tend to go for sunsets myself - not being an early riser!

Hi Colin - interesting that you kept the foreground. I think that I am emotionally opposed to it because there were so many BUGS around the reflecting pool that morning it was all I could do to keep from being COVERED by them ... and cropping the foreground almost felt like I was defeating the bugs! Conqueror!! :-)

 

Thank you for the input ... I, too, look forward to what others have to say. :-)

Hi, Lou Ann,

 

As one who has been at this location many times, and a couple at about that time in the morning, it's hard to get a color balance that is attractive.

 

JMO, but here the colors in the sky are pretty good, but the thing that is bothersome is the color of the monument. That's due to the long exposure, no doubt.

 

I hope you had a few bodyguards with you if you were there at five in the morning. Next time, get an assistant with a couple of large Metz flashes to go up to the monument and point them straight up the side. Fire them at any time during the two second exposure. The monument will then, perhaps, look more natural :) Or maybe not.

 

I think you did well with what was there, and I like your crop. I spent a couple of years in DC, and have been there at other times on numerous occasions. One thing about being there - there's always something going on. And don't you just hate those bugs? They cover the whole pool at times.

 

Best Regards,

 

Barry

Can't see the bugs from here. But I can see that might cause foregroundophobia

Wow are those bugs around the reflecting pool? If so I agree with your crop. Guess you need to take a broom and sweep them into the water. I like the colors.

No! Sondra - those are not bugs on the sidewalk. That's cut grass. The bugs are the teeny little icky bugs that you find around stagnant water (there is no motion in the reflecting pools, and in August the weather is SOOOO muggy (you know all about that, right?) that the little tiny icky bugs swarm all around the water and anyone walking near the water. Too small to catch in the image........

Nice shot. Good colours, and comp. The sky are great, but I have to agree with the earlier comments about the monument. I think it would be better with more lightning. But that is my opinion, and it is still a very nice shot. Best regards!

Nice view, well composed, and beautiful sky. I find you have done a good work from your original shot, good levels, good contrast, well saturated colours. Better, in my opinion, than the Colin's suggestion, which is a bit too bright for my taste. I like very much the crossing of the vertical column with the horizontal clouds lines.

I've never been to see this so I don't know what color it is, especially in this light. If the color of the monument is a problem you might try selecting it and then doing a color balance on just the monument. It could be that your dissatisfaction with the image is that it's still not vertical and needs additional adjustment; even Colin's work left a bit of a tilt. The foreground works for me in both crops and I love the colors.

I have very fond memories of getting raucously drunk in DC (and being ejected from a couple of bars), amongst those memories are the fireflies around the whole area :)

 

This is picture postcard perfect Lou Ann.

Thanks, Ben & everyone - I appreciate the input!

Well your image certainly generated some interesting comments, from getting booted out of a Bar to sweeping bugs into the pool. I think I like your version of what has been posted on this page the best. I like the foreground a little darker so I'm not distracted by it, the sky colors are very lovely and the tower seems to be lit up about right, the elements of the image all seem to blend together nicely yet each have their own distinct "look". Love the "red eyes" in the top of the tower. I'll leave the really technical stuff to the pros and just give you my "thumbs up" for this one.

... you forgot the coinage of a new term: "foregroundophobia". :-)

 

Susan, the Washington Monument is the tallest building in Washington, DC (I believe that there's a law that says that no other building in the District can be taller than the Capitol). The red "eyes" are to warn off aircraft... :-D

i love this one. personally, i like the warm golden tone of the monument. the sunrise is really stunning. i like the suggestion of sweeping the grass out of the way. i can just imagine you carting camera, tripod and broom!! :-)

I could not have done this better LAA... I tried, here is the result, but now you can see you did do already a goooooooooooood job...... and remember enjoy photography and your friends, much more important then........ ahhh you know

 

Els

Ah! The early morning light... which we both love... Beautiful job, Lou Ann

I know you don't want to hear this, Lou Ann, but think of it this way: a few seconds longer to grab a few bracketed shots will give you the option to do the HDR thing later (even if you're not ready for it at this time).

 

The trouble with this kind of lighting is the resulting compromise no matter what you do, compared to HDR that will give you what you're after, every time.

Okay, Michael. You got me! :-) I had a feeling you'd stumble on this shot one of these days. LOL!! In fact, for some reason, I missed the whole "HDR" discussion until only a couple of weeks ago ... after I had already taken this shot. I plan to do some sunrise shooting again this week or next. I'll be sure to do a bunch of bracketing! :-D

Here is my solution

There's the PERFECT solution for my foregroundophobia!! :-) Thanks, Gordon. I really like your solution!! It really calls attention to the water in the reflecting pool ... making it nicer than it really is. ;-)

Lou Ann, I really like what you posted originally. I too, am familiar with the monuments, and they can be a real bear, but I think you've got the Washington about right. I love the sky and the reflection off the pool. The last option, i.e., dealing with 'foregroundaphobia' by cropping neatly does the trick too. I hope you got out in the Maryland countryside and along the Chesapeake for the fall colors. Regards, Chris

Outstanding ! Lou Ann.