My Washington DC
By Dave Taylor
4 Dec 2007
My first and only visit to Washington DC was at the end of May 2006, a gift to myself for my impending 50th birthday.
At the Harrington Hotel, where I stayed, there seemed to be school groups from every state in the Union, each featuring their brightly coloured t-shirt uniforms, strict itineraries, harried teachers and exhausted moms and dads. Sort of like a metaphor for the city itself.
My itinerary was a little haphazard, though I was on a mission to cram in as much as I could in the five days that I had, unexpected heat and humidity notwithstanding.
I found Washington to a photographer's paradise. D'oh.
From the obvious attractions from the White House and the Capitol, the monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, to others which I was lucky enough to stumble across along the way. A store called "Political Americana", the fountain in the square at Dupont Circle; the memorial to Japanese-Americans interned in World War II; marines jogging along the National Mall. My Canon EOS got them all. And some of these images are here to share with you.
At the National Holocaust Museum I took shots of not only the striking interior but also the flame of remembrance and, honestly, it was only upon exiting the building that I saw the "no photography without permission" sign. I was startled to see that the Smithsonian Museum of American History opted for a "no guns" symbol at the entrance instead. Sadly, most of my photos from that particular Museum are blurred from too much excitement. The shooting script from the pilot episode of "The West Wing" and President Clinton's nuclear briefcase were just two of many photos ruined from just a little tiredness and too much hand-shaking.
The National Gallery of Art was like a film set, with it's classical and oddly modern elements competing with the actors teaming through. The National Sculpture Garden nearby was an unexpected national treasure.
I was detained by Military Police when I took a photo of the silhouettes of two soldiers talking to each other as I was descending the escalator at the Pentagon. I pleaded ignorance to their post 9-11 photography restrictions but they still politely made me delete the photo. Luckily they stopped at the one picture, luckily I was using a digital camera and luckily I was dressed that day in a shirt and tie!
My Washington is a city of pride and sorrow, beauty and contrast, meaning and emotion. In the early summer it was a joy. I know it would be absolutely magical under snow. I can't wait to see it then
