Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in the country, both traditional and modern. The traditional architecture is rich in its symbolism of the nation’s history, and the city’s modern architecture draws upon the past as it creates unique new structures. On this 2 and 1/2 hour photo safari, professional architectural photographer and Washington Photo Safari director E. David Luria takes you to six of the most iconic memorials and monuments in Washington, DC, early on a Sunday morning when the light is soft.
We begin the safari at the intersection of 3rd St and Madison Drive NW on the National Mall, with a brief orientation by Mr. Luria on exterior architectural photography technique. We then photograph the US Capitol, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe and a team of 3 other architects, with construction starting in 1793 and finished after the Civil War in 1868. We also photograph its reflection in the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
We then move two blocks to photograph the beautiful modernistic East Building of the National Gallery of Art, designed by famed architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1976.
Our safari takes us next to the third stop, the famous White House, formerly known as the President’s House, whose construction began in 1792 and was completed in 1800. Its architect was James Hoban. Like the US Capitol, its construction was done almost entirely with slave labor.
From there, we drive to our fourth stop, the east-facing Lincoln Memorial, resplendent in the morning sun, designed by Henry Bacon, with construction completed in 1922, and the Lincoln statue sculpted by Daniel Chester French. Turning around, we photograph the lovely view down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the US Capitol two miles away to the east.
Our fifth stop is the Tidal Basin, from which we photograph the iconic Jefferson Memorial, reflected in the waters of the Tidal Basin. This memorial, commissioned by President Franklin Roosevelt, was designed by architect John Russell Pope and completed in 1938. At FDR’s request, the Jefferson statue has a direct line of sight right into the White House.
Our sixth and final stop is the exterior and interior of Reagan Washington National Airport, which began as a small airfield known as Hoover Field in 1936 and grew every year, with the final construction of $300 million Terminals B and C building completed in 1997 and designed by Cesar Pelli and associates. Pelli drew his inspiration for the terminal’s vaulted domes from Thomas Jefferson’s home (Monticello) in Charlottesville, VA. The airport now handles over 20 million passengers a year.
At each stop, Mr. Luria will assist you with composition, white balance, ISO, aperture, and shutter settings to get the best images while shooting in manual mode. After completing this safari, you will no longer have to buy postcards of Washington, DC. You will have taken your own postcard-perfect pictures.
Equipment Recommendations:
Any camera is fine, including smartphones. But for the best results, we suggest a DSLR or mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses, wide-angle, medium, and telephoto lenses. For this safari, bring a camera body, all lenses and polarizing filters, no tripods.
Safari ends at Terminal C, Reagan Washington Airport Metro entrance. Fee includes transportation from site to site.
What to Bring:
- Camera
- Lenses
- Extra memory cards
- Extra charged battery
- Accessories such as filters
- Weather-appropriate clothing
Where to meet:
Meet at the intersection of 4th Street and Madison Drive NW. Free parking is available on Madison Drive NW and adjoining side streets. Closest Metro is Federal Center on 3rd Street SW, which is on the Blue/Orange/Silver line. Metro opens at 8 am Sundays.
