<p>I don't want to come across as an old curmudgeon, and I know this is only a personal opinion, but if someone here recommends a great / famous view to you, you can be absolutely sure that there already are hundreds, possibly thousands of nearly identical photos taken from that exact spot on the web. For example, go to Google Images and enter {DC "from arlington house"}. Do you really want to add another virtually identical shot to that list? Is your shot really going to be better than what you can find on the web? different?</p>
<p>The way I get around this dilemma is to either:</p>
<p>a) photograph people and events at these locations that aren't likely to ever be exactly repeated (eg, your own family or do some street shooting in that area); or,</p>
<p>b) familiarize yourself with the results of such searches and try to avoid simply reproducing what's already out there by selecting different angles, small details likely to be overlooked by others; or,</p>
<p>c) take your shot under unusual weather or lighting conditions, with uncommon lenses, with a plan to eventually post-process whatever you take in your own style, etc.;</p>
<p>d) go to spots in DC or NYC that aren't iconic views overrun with tourists carrying every type of camera from cell phones to doctors sporting top of the line equipment that they rarely use. ;-)</p>
<p>Just my $0.02,</p>
<p>Tom</p>
