joe_willmore

<p>I'm joining the dance late but here's my contributions on DC:<br> Keep in mind that in DC proper, there are building height requirements so there is nothing like the NYC or Chicago skyline. Best skyline shots of a stereotypical city would be of Crystal City and Rosslyn (Virginia just across the Potomac). Also, it's tourist season now with many schools out of session so expect the Mall (where the Smithsonian and many monuments are located) to be a disaster...tons of buses, people wandering. Okay, those caveats noted:<br> 1. Arlington National Cemetery: rolling hills with uniform headstones and maybe the best panoramic view of DC from the steps of the Lee Mansion looking across Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial and DC.<br> 2. Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial plus the Cherry Trees (the older trees are more interesting...gnarly misshapen trunks).<br> 3. USAF Memorial (also in Virginia but a nice overlook of DC) also has a good vista and is a unique landmark.<br> 4. Go to the base of the Washington Monument. It's on higher ground than the rest of the Mall area, the circle of flags and the vista...nice view.<br> 5. National Cathedral is scenic and also in one of the higher areas of ground in DC (DC was basically built on a swamp).<br> 6. The Kennedy Center (outside on one of the plazas) has some nice panoramic views. Catch a free concert at the Millennium stage while you're there. <br> 7. Walk across Key Bridge in Georgetown and shoot down the Potomac River.<br> 8. One last idea: there is a big ferris wheel at National Harbor (in Maryland on the Potomac). I bet at the top of the wheel would provide a splendid vista.<br> 9. Shot ideas that are less about vistas/panoramas and just nice shots: Albert Einstein statute, Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall"), Korean War Memorial in fog or rainy weather or snow, the atrium at the National Portrait Gallery, Iwo Jima Memorial, US Institute of Peace, the rotunda of the Library of Congress main reading room, Tomb of the Unknowns and the changing of the guard, US Botanical Gardens, Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden (especially near sunrise or sunset so you get the shadows from the sculptures), shadow and light patterns inside the National Museum of the American Indian, the Newseum (anyone interested in photojournalism needs to go there plus multi-stories with a glass front and interesting stuff to shoot), Meridian Hill Park (considered by most DC photographers to be one of the best photo parks in the City).</p>