Fall Workshop Washington DC
Hey everyone! Its been a while since I've written a blog sorry for that but we had our yearly fall workshop with my photography club (Goldsboro Area Photography Club) a couple of weeks ago and I'm just getting caught up with Honey do's and work stuff. Let me start by saying that our trip to Washington DC was Fantastic and we had a blast. There is so much to see and do there and I think we just scratched what the photo possibilities could be there. For street photography this is truly a target rich area and you could have spent a whole week just shooting street scenes . There is a lot of touristy things to see and do and history stuff too. We were hoping for some more fall colors but we didn't get any and it seems like the fall colors have been a couple of weeks late this year. But the excitement and hustle and bustle of a large city more than made up for it.
We had 10 people that went to the workshop we had 12 scheduled to go but some family crisis kept two home and they were sorely missed. Most of our days started before the sun came up and ended well into the evening . We rented an Air B&B house that was one block from the Metro and a couple of blocks from a Drug store and Grocery store. We made a couple of meals at the house but mostly ate out which could be fairly costly. I have been doing a lot of preparing for this trip for it was very different than most of the trips we take. Being lightweight and nimble as possible was the goal when packing clothes and Camera equipment. In all of our other workshops we drive to our destination so what to carry with us on a day to day basis was pretty easy, you bring everything and leave in the car what you don't need. But here we were traveling by Metro (subway) and were hauling everything on our backs, to include rain gear, coats, sweaters, and of course camera equipment. And going all day with what we took that morning so planning was a must. What I used on this trip and the packing of my gear will be another blog because I just have too much to say about the trip itself for this one. We were very lucky to have a couple of members that used to live in DC that gave us a great resourse of what to do and where to go and honestly it would have been way more difficult to just go on our own without our in house tour guides.
Our trip began with a train ride. I like half of the members have never used the train (Amtrak) to travel before and was very curious on how the trip would be. We decided on this mode of transportation because of the traffic and no parking situation in DC. And I think we made a good decision. Except for a few hour delay at the beginning (because of state fair stops) the train was a wonderful way to travel. Plenty of room , you could get up and walk around and the dining car was really a great way to travel. The conductors were nice and courteous . There was no problems with luggage or carry on bags. It took us about 4 hours of travel and we arrived in Grand Central Station Washington DC. We collected our bags and made our way to the Metro side of the station bought weekly passes and got on a Metro for the first time. It was a chore with the luggage and making sure everyone was together but we made it to our station got off and found our way to the house we had rented. This was the most difficult time on the Metro it was easy and all down hill after this initial trip. We got settled in and went out to eat a couple of blocks from the house with a recommendation from a couple of DC's finest. And let me say we stopped many times to talk to the local police and they were very courteous and friendly and helpful.
We had all of our days planned out on what to do and where to go and we stuck to the itinerary for the most part making decisions on the fly if there were any changes to be made. Like where we were going to eat. The first day we spent at the east mall area to include the Eastern Market, National Arboretum, Capitol Hill, Supreme Court and then that night we went to Old Town for a Night shoot. It was a off and on rainy day but not too bad.
Monday we were in for a treat. One of our members used to work at the White House and had connections to get us a tour of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Grounds. We had to have a background check weeks before and there was a lot of coordination between our guy Robert and the people in the EEOB. Everyone had to dress up with guys in sports coats and gals in business wear and of course it was raining in the morning when we had to go but we didn't get too wet we had breakfast at a bagel shop and went through security of the White House to get in. And it was pretty Awesome. The guys that gave us the tours were very informative about the building and all of the stories behind the different rooms we went into. We got to see the White House from a view that most people don't and even got to see Marine one come and pick up the President. We presented a photo from a photo contest that we had to thank the guys at the White House. This part of our trip surprised me the most and I really enjoyed it. After that we had lunch visited some more sites and went to the house. We made Supper and had a former White House Photographer David Bohrer come and have dinner with us. Very nice guy and told us his story on how he became one of the White House Photographers and stories about the job.
Tuesday was Arlington Nation Cemetery and Sunrise and Sunset at the National Mall and as you can guess this was a long day. We started well before sunrise and went to the Vietnam Memorial and shot sunrise at the Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. We went and had breakfast and went to Arlington National Cemetery a very moving place to be with acres of tombstones and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Got lots of good shots at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Later that day we Went back to the National Mall with the intention of shooting sunset and night time of the monuments. But there was something we weren't expecting and that was bus loads of Kids coming to the Mall with their schools. I shot a little at the Lincoln Memorial but then went to the the other end with the WWII Memorial and Washington Monument where there wasn't as many people. Did get some good shots though.
The Next day was the Georgetown area where we shot the downtown area had lunch and then went to the National Cathedral. This was my first experience with UBER and UBER drivers. And I must say all the UBERs that I took on this trip were pleasant rides no problems at all. The National Cathedral was huge! I have been to smaller Cathedrals like Duke Chapel in Durham NC. But compared to the National Cathedral is was tiny. Lots of great art and a good view from the top 7 stories high of the Washington DC area.
Thursday was Museum day Now I din't mention it before but Sunday with the
rain that we had we did go to one Museum and it was the Natural Science Museum which was awesome! The first stop this day was the Library of Congress. And let me say that this was one of the top places on my whole trip. Lots to see from architecture of the building to all of the exhibits that are on display th ere. A must see if you are in DC. Museums in DC are Fantastic and you could spend a couple of weeks just looking at Museums So we just picked out a couple for this trip because some of
our members aren't museum people. But I certainly am! This day we went to the Art Museum and the Portrait Museum and both were stunning with lots to see. But of course there were bus loads of other people there too. That night we went to China Town to shoot and to get us some good food and we got loads of both. It is a small China Town but it is very colorful and full of good restaurants ! We had a good night there and got some good photo's.
Friday was our last full day in DC and we decided to shoot the National Zoo and then we could split up and shoot whatever. Some of our group went back to Arlington National Cemetery and to the Marine Corp Monument. Others like myself went back to town to the Newseum. The Newseum was the only Museum that we had to pay to get in but it was well worth it . And it's a museum about News. It covers all types of news from Print, Radio and TV . Pulitzer Prize winning photographs and their story behind them are there also. This is a very powerful and moving place. They have an observation deck that you can get a real good photo of the Capitol Building.
The last day before we got on the train home a few of us took an UBER
to the City Center and photographed around that area then we came back just in time to go with the others to catch the Metro to Grand Central and an Amtrak home. We did a lot of walking and the average weekly mile/steps between everyone's fit bits was about 50miles walked and 140,000 steps taken. So when you go wear comfortable shoes. I had been to DC a couple of times before but it was always for work and I hadn't really seen the sights before and I really enjoyed this trip. If you haven't been to our Nations Capitol please do so you won't be sorry. I can't wait to go back! There is a link below to a Video of our trip by Robert O'Sullivan its Awesome please watch.
