trip to DC. suggestions wanted

[eddie]

hi all,

i am going to DC (today for the weekend)with my wife for her B day. i will be able to get in some LF photography.

we will hit the usual tourist spots. where else would you suggest to get some good LF shots. all the monuments and stuff i will shoot with 35mm. what other things would be fun for LF? old buildings, ship yards, factories etc. i will be staying just in maryland in rockville. i have a car.

thanks for the suggestions.

eddie

[John Bowen]

Venture a little south west to Fort Royal and pick up Shenandoah National Park. You'll be glad you did. Your bride will also enjoy the trip!

Have Fun!

[Walter Calahan]

Watch out for the Homeland Security Tripod Police. Shooting LF in DC can be a pain due to all the stupid rules. To photograph anywhere near the US Capitol needs a tripod permit. So too on the Mall. Stick to 35 mm around all the tourist traps, I mean, sites.

I put together a gallery on my web site about DC shot with LF pinhole cameras. Most of the time no or small tripods were used. http://www.walterpcalahan.com/Cheers...ington_DC.html

Front Royal is nice to see, as well as a slow drive through the Shenandoah Park.

Annapolis is worth the trip too. I'm partial to Baltimore for its interesting sites.

Rockville as no redeeming photographic value.

Just let things happen. Don't get too tied up needing to shoot LF.

[eddie]

thanks guys! keep them coming!

i will only use small stuff in the "traps".

walter, i love the Ultra wide angle pinhole! makes me want to bring my zero image....

[eric black]

You will also be a short drive away from Great Falls Park (find info on www.nps.gov/grfa/ ) and the entire C&O Canal which extends up to Harpers Ferry, WV. Lots to see and do there as well- again not the greatest time of year due to high tourism but if you get up early enough, you can avoid major crowds (and the high heat and humidity)

[z_photo]

annapolis? just a short drive. sailboats, old brick streets, bay bridge

[Walter Calahan]

Eddie

If you have a Zero Image Pinhole camera, bring it with a table top tripod. It's worth it.

I own a few of their cameras. So well made.

[BarryS]

A tripod is no problem on the Mall. In the monuments, it's at the discretion of the park service staff--in the late evenings they seem pretty reasonable. I agree with the Great Falls and Harpers ferry suggestions. Great Falls is close to Rockville and I definitely advise going to the Maryland side. One nice spot is the National Building Museum--one of the most beautiful interior spaces in Washington. If you're coming into town for just the weekend, there's enough stuff close in to enjoy without wasting gas and time.

A few suggestions--

Old Town Alexandria-- this is close in, right on the water, and has some great old architecture. There are good restaurants and the Torpedo Factory--a huge cooperative art gallery.

Georgetown along the C&O Canal-- A very beautiful area with lots of photo opportunities and restaurants/shopping nearby.

National Cathedral--beautiful architecture and photography/tripod friendly.

[bigdog]

National Cathedral--... photography/tripod friendly.

Really?!! Good to know. I've been there many times and taken pictures (hand held), but a tripod would be, um, ... "heaven".

[jshanesy]

Really?!! Good to know. I've been there many times and taken pictures (hand held), but a tripod would be, um, ... "heaven".

I've been photographing both inside and outside the National Cathedral with tripod mounted view cameras for more than 15 years and have never had anyone even question me about what I was doing. I've even photographed from the back of the nave during services.

I'm partial to the small chapels in the basement and outside I like the Bishop's Garden.

The Catholic cathedrals are also very tripod friendly, although they will shoo you away about 1/2 hour prior to either closing (in the case of the Franciscan Monastery) or mass. Check the schedules.