I’ve always considered Washington, D.C. a very tourist-friendly city as so many of the sights are accessible with a good pair of walking shoes and time to explore. It’s a straight shot from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the U.S. Capitol Building with many places to visit in between. Washington, D.C. and the National Mall and Memorial Parks have a rich history, but admittedly I’m more intrigued by the aesthetics themselves of the monuments, buildings, and parks throughout the city. I love photography-specific excursions but many more of my encounters come from simply walking around as any tourist would do. Many ideas for photos come during family outings downtown. I also garner inspiration simply by commuting to/from work in Virginia. Whether biking through Georgetown and Key Bridge or driving over the Roosevelt Bridge, I can honestly say I never get tired of the views of the iconic monuments or simply witnessing the changing light of sunrise or sunset. While many a dramatic sky has made me grit my teeth in frustration when I'm without my camera, I appreciate the experience regardless of the circumstance.

I had the idea for this photo for a long time but knew the weather had to be just right for it to work out. I always check the weather in anticipation of a colorful sunrise and ideally one without wind. In January, I originally shot two images a day a part and the slight change in weather and temperature changed the end results completely. With the flexibility made possible by living in DC, during a stretch of cold weather in mid-November with leaves still on the trees I decided to attempt this more complex version of my original images. The obvious composition at the Reflecting Pool might be a centered Washington Monument. I prefer the captivating perspective from the edge which includes views of the U.S. Capitol Building and the World War II Memorial at the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool.

This VAST Photo was made by stitching 10 images, each a blend of 3 exposures for the increased dynamic range, and of focus stacked results to achieve focus from the immediate foreground to the U.S. Capitol Building, nearly two miles away. Needless to say, I had to move fast with the changing light. My 200mm Nikon Macro lens, easily the sharpest lens in my arsenal, struggles to auto-focus in low light and I had to go with instinct manually adjusting the focus. Sunrises in Washington, D.C. with the quiet peacefulness as the city awakens make a special time to experience these sights. Capturing four of the most visited symbols of DC together with the tranquility of sunrise make this photo one of my favorites.