Month: June 2010

Here is part two of our final months in Washington D.C.

I made this image with the use of two polarizing filters to slow down the shutter, but not overexpose the image.  Kind of an interesting result.

The reflecting pool had actually frozen enough for people to walk on it.  It was pretty cool and doesn’t happen often, so of course I had to get out there and try it myself!

The Lincoln Memorial had a beautiful white blanket over the stairs.  Unfortunately, since the federal government was shut down, the inside of the monument was closed.

These guys are part of the Korean War Memorial.  It is my favorite of the war memorials.  To me, they are the truest reflection of my experience.  On the 19 faces of this squad on patrol, you can read the emotion … fear, anxiety, anticipation, weariness, and maybe even a little excitement.  The day after a major snowstorm seemed appropriate for the subject.

The squad leader with a look that I can identify with.

A fitting dichotomy.

With the sinking of a South Korean ship by North Korea this year … nearly 57 years after hostilities ended, the engraved message on the memorial rings true “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”

The happy snowman was a much more carefree symbol.

These guys are part of the Vietnam Memorial.  The represent the veterans of the war who returned home.  The are gazing at the black marble wall that this their brothers and sisters in arms who weren’t as fortunate and didn’t make it home.

Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors the women who served in Vietnam.

I like the way this lady’s hair and jacket off set the bronze, over-sized Einstein.

This squirrel dug through the snow and came up with a tasty acorn.

Here he is enjoy the fruit (or nut) of his labor.

Another view of the Washington Monument with all the freshly fallen snow.  It was very pretty to walk around.  I spend almost the entire day just wandering and making images.  It was great fun … but meant for an editing nightmare!  🙂

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, with just a thin sheet of ice on the tidal basin.  The memorial was built after the model of the Pantheon in Rome.  It was dedicated in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a 10,000 pound statue of Jefferson was added in 1947.

The stark, white obelisk of the Washington Moment soaring overhead.

A view of the capitol with the snow covered national mall, after kids (young and old) played in it all day.

This is the most recent of the war memorials.  It is the World War Two memorial.  The large pillar in the middle represents the Atlantic campaign and each of the small pillars represent a state or territory of the US.

These next images are from the inside of the National Botanic Gardens.  I had no idea the gardens were so close to the capitol, but they are right next door.

Anna with a little pregnant bump (she was almost 6 months along here).

Anna gliding through the Smithsonian Institute’s American Art Museum.

Well, that about sums up our nearly six months in Washington DC.  Although we tried to see everything, there simply wasn’t enough time to do it all.  So, we hope to one day move back and spend a few years exploring the city.  Who knows, maybe after France!  🙂

Next up will be a few posts on our baby-moon cruise, followed by a short homage to Gabi and Philipp, our dear German friend who’s wedding we had the pleasure of attending.

Until then…

–Jim

Ok, now that the most important event has been chronicled (Alexander’s arrival), I’ll go back and try and catch up on some of my older images.

These next two posts will detail our final few months in Washington DC (Jan-Mar 10). It was a great winter with record amounts of snow. 🙂 Although, Anna was pregnant, she was a trooper and joined me on my long list of activities to do before we left.

This is the Marine Corps War Memorial. It’s over in Arlington, VA very close to the language school we went to, so I had the opportunity to pass it on a regular basis. The scene is of course a huge statue rendering of the famous 1945 Pulizter-prize winning, Joe Rosenthal image of the Marines raising the US flag over Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, Japan. These are truly larger than life and measure a stunning 32 feet tall (9.75m). The casting took three years and was finally complete in 1954, dedicated by President Eisenhower.

The west side of the national capitol building with a bit of ice and snow out front.

This is the ceiling of the Rotunda inside the capitol.

The famous Apotheosis Washington in the Rotunda. This work was mentioned in Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol and shows the deification or exaltation of George Washington. I’ll leave the literal or relative symbolism to you, but it’s an impressive fresco work, 180 feet (45m) above the ground. It was painted in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi. Washington is robed in purple (a regal color), flanked by Victory on his right and Liberty on his left, and surrounding them are 13 maidens. This adds further evidence to the idea that 13 is one of, if not the most American number.

This is the National Statuary Hall. It’s the former home of the House of Representatives met until their new, larger chamber was complete in the mid-nineteenth century. Now, it houses 100 statues from each of the states. Wisconsin’s two contributions to the collection are: Robert M. La Follette, Sr. who was historically speaking perhaps Wisconsin’s most influential politician. He served as Congressman, Governor, Senator and ran for president in 1924 where he received 17% of the popular vote. Both his sons followed him into politics. The second statue is Père Jacques Marquette who was a French Jesuit Missionary who founded some of the first non-native settlements in the upper mid-west of the US and was the first to see the upper Mississippi in 1673. He died somewhere along his journey, but his name has been secured in history and is also the namesake for many places in Wisconsin and Michigan, notably Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The inside of the Library of Congress. The architecture is amazing. It’s my favorite building in Washington D.C.

Another view of the Library of Congress.

Peaking into the main chamber of the Supreme Court. Although I didn’t hear an oral argument this day, it was fun to see. Right before we flew out, Anna and I had an opportunity to hear a case. It’s a fascinating experience and I highly recommend it, if you have a chance. But go early as the seats go fast … especially for high profile cases.

The exterior of the Supreme Court.

These next few are a few more images of the west side of the capitol.

These next few images are some color macros I had fun shooting. Can you guess what this one is?? I’ll give you a hint … you can sit on it. Answer below. 🙂

More cool colors.

OK, that covers the first part of this post. The next post will have more monuments, museums and the snow storms.

–Jim

PS-the answer is: a black metal park bench with the colors of a mural showing through the slats.