Washington DC and Virginia Location/Lens Advice

I am going to be in Washington DC and Virginia in a few weeks and will have 2 days of down time while there, any advice about the best times and locations to get great shots that arent filled with crowds? Secondly, I plan on taking my 70-200L and 24-105L would these lenses be sufficient or should I take a macro lens along too? Ill be using the 5DmkII.

Thanks

There are always crowds in D.C. but no big deal. Photo opportunities are everywhere. Two days won't be nearly enough. My wife and I spend almost a whole day at George Washington's estate in Mt. Vernon alone.

I have heard the "mall" area of monuments is a good place for night photos, have you had any experience in that regard? I wonder about lighting and safety issues.

I'd advise you not to bring a tripod onto the Mall area and try to set it up. It is likely you will be approached by security/park police. Tripods are not allowed in the monuments, themselves. So if you do any night photography, you need to find another method to stabilize your camera. You could try a monopod, but you still may be approached by security/park police and told to move on. People I know who teach photo classes on shooting the monuments still get harassed even though they have done so for many years.

The one exception seems to be around the Tidal basin, especially during the cherry blossom time (now about over) where it's a given that photographers congregate with tripods.

Other than that...have at it!

Oh, the only other thing that makes them nervous is "loitering" around one location for too long a time. Paranoia? You bet!

--dennis

A little bit off the beaten track is the National Arboretum.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/

If you will be here in the next 2-3wks, the azalea collection is supposed to be something special.

I was just there this past weekend. See photo's here:

http://davidmphoto.smugmug.com/Family/National-Arboretum/

I shot most of the pictures with my Canon 7D sigma 50-150mm F2.8 and Canon 10-22mm UWA.

There are so many places in the DC area that are just dying to have their pictures taken.

First do bring a sturdy tripod. The monuments are great at night. The area around the mall is safe in the early evening. I would not go past about 9:30, however. There are "no tripod zones", but do as the natives do. Frame your shot, set the exposure, set up the tripod quickly and when told to take it down, play dumb and follow directions after you get your shot. The monument enforcers are private security people and very polite. The area around the White House is a no tripod zone and crawling with security people. Don't even try. The area around the old Executive Office building is also a no tripod zone unless you go across the street. But sometimes you do have time to set up your tripod and get a few shots before the Secret Service not so nicely tells you to move on. Autobracketing is a life saver in these situations.

One place I like is the National Cathedral. Beautiful grounds and magnificent interior. Tripods are allowed when sevices are not being conducted.

Have a look at some of my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt to give you a better idea of where to shoot.

Lenses--hate to say this, but my favorite lens for Washington is my 24 mm TS-E. This lens on a full frame camera comes into its own in this city.
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Jim
http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt

Is there a site where I can get more information about the "no tripod" zones? I'll admit that the vast majority of my shooting takes place in secluded areas (wildlife and landscape) where no one is around so I have no experience with this issue and dont want to wind up as a news story everyone here gets to laugh at

You don't have to take that much time with the tripod. If your quick, you should have the right shot and crop later. Also, the area downtown and the Mall (and sceneries) need a wide angle lens, because of the landscape scenery, this isnt a telephoto 70 200 location, nor a 24 -105, but at 24, shots should be okay for narrow landscape grass and tidal basin, also narrow scenery. No on the 17-40. The time I recommend is early in the mornign or late in the afternoon. But in the weekend, oh no take the subway, or bus.
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Could not disagree more with the previous poster. One of the best spots for photographing the Lincoln Memorial is from the wall of the WWII Memorial. For that you need a telephoto. One of the best spots for photographing the White House is from Lafayette Park away from the White House--Telephoto Lens. There is a great vista of the mall area from the Iwo Jima Memorial--telephoto lens. Take a close look at the faces of the soldiers in the Korean Memorial. Rmember these are young men, but they look like they have been through a war--a great opportunity for a telephoto lens--400 mm works great. There is some great detail in some of the statues in the National Gallery of art--telephoto lens, and what about the stained glass windows in the National Cathedral--telephoto lens. And don't forget the National Zoo--definitely telephoto lens territory. I could go on and on, but I will stop here.
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Jim
http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt

Yeah I forgot the Lincoln Memorial and the Zoo. Yes your lenses are great. (There.)

But then again there is nothing like a WA when you have to get close to avoid clutter from passing cars, lamp posts, ugly signs. The only problem is that you have to point your lens upwards, which is why I love my TS.
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Jim
http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt

Should be lenses are great there.

CBAlexQ said:

Yeah I forgot the Lincoln Memorial and the Zoo. Yes your lenses are great. (There.)
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Lovem' model pics.