What I did not expect was to find a gallery of photographers pointing their cameras almost directly at the sunrise. Sure, there were some neat shots of the Jefferson Memorial to snag, but it seemed like such a waste - after all, the sun rises even when the blossoms aren't in bloom! Admittedly, I tried to grab a nice silhouette shot, as well, but it was more fun to look 90 degrees away from the sunrise to get great shots!
One of the things that made this little trip so much fun was seeing how everyone else took pictures around me. It challenged me when I saw a neat idea, and it made me think a little more before I pressed the shutter, so that I could keep people out of shots, or to be just a bit more creative.
I borrowed a friend's macro lens, which was a first for me. It didn't autofocus with my camera model, which made for an interesting additional challenge! In looking at my shots with this lens, it is very apparent that macro photography is meant to be done with a steady hand - a tripod makes for the best image.
Equipment Used
Nikon D3100 Camera
35mm f/1.8 lens
105mm f/2.8 macro lens (a borrowed lens)
55-200mm f/4-5.6 lens
Images
The silhouette-type shot that the hordes were looking for. It wasn't as nice, since the blossoms on the opposite bank remained mostly closed.
This was the light at sunrise. Notice all of the people looking into the sunrise.
I bumped into two friends around this time, one of whom wasn't a fan of the camera. Even still, the warm light makes for great color in the portrait.
An intrepid photographer at the banks.
Your first real picture of blossoms. Enjoy!
One of the macro shots that I was actually pleased with. The amount of blurry photos that I'm not showing you was a real learning experience!
One of the statues dedicated through the basin, facing into the morning light.
Cherry blossom time is a VERY popular time for portrait photos. Now and again, the fun photos from these don't come from the session!
This picture really shows the pleasant stillness of the morning, before every inch of the park became filled with sightseers.
This was taken later in the day. All around me were people talking, walking in tour groups, and generally enjoying the day. Seeing a moment of quiet was really special.
One of my friend's was also taking photos downtown, and he described an image that he was looking for. This was my attempt at putting the blossoms in focus over an out of focus water background.
It's not just a day for artists with cameras at the Tidal Basin.
Yes, spring may, in fact, be here. Urban bird photography is interesting. No need for stillness or blinds - the birds are so used to people that they just go about their business!
With so much pink around, you sometimes forget that there are, in fact, other colors.
Not everyone was sightseeing. Early morning crew practice for George Washington University.
Another macro attempt. This one looks more like a painting, to me. Not really what I was going for, but a neat end result!
My favorite photo of the day. There are animals with their owners all over the place, romping and having a great time. There was only one cat. There was only one cat in a sweater. The cat did not enjoy the commotion, but loved the sun.
