Photographers, get your batteries charged and your memory cards cleared! The cherry blossoms are in peak bloom along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, we know you're dying to get that perfect shot. Unfortunately as I gaze out the office window, the sky looks boding and the weatherman has predicted a rather schizophrenic forecast through the weekend. But don't despair, just get down to the National Cherry Blossom Festival now to see the beauty of the trees! Although in my three springs in DC I have yet to really nail the perfect cherry blossom photo, I do keep trying, despite an ongoing battle with the weather and my own hectic schedule! So check out our complete list of photo tips for getting your perfect cherry blossom photo. Full list after the jump.
- Come early or stay late. The beauty of hundreds of trees draped in white blossoms is no
secret,
so to avoid crowds and get the best light (assuming the sun comes out),
arrive early and stake out your shots before dawn or dusk on a weekday. - Bring a tripod. Photographing on the fringes of the day makes for beautiful light, but
slow shutter speeds. In order to reduce camera shake and go for longer
exposures, be sure to bring a tripod or a monopod.
- Patience is a virtue. You'll not only encounter other photographers vying for position down on
the Tidal Basin, but lots of tourists whose main focus will be on the
blossoms, not on getting out of your shot or avoiding your tripod legs.
- Embrace the clouds. Overcast skies can make colors more intense, so use the blown-out white sky to your advantage to compose a shot, or cut it out completely and focus on the details of the blossoms. But don't forget to keep an eye on the sky, because if it becomes turbulent the looming stormclouds can create a moody landscape.
- Let it rain. Rain can be a
special challenge for photographers, but as long as our equipment can
safely stay dry, go hunting for monument lights and streetlights
reflected on wet pavement. I also find umbrellas a fun subject in
themselves.
- Get creative. Once you've done the standard shots of the Washington Monument or the Jefferson Memorial framed with blossoms, try something new! Shoot low or high (try hoisting your camera in the air on your tripod and using the timer to trigger the shutter). Play with motion and blur from passing people or branches moving in the breeze. Try using your flash in a new way.
- Light colors trick your camera's meter. Shooting a scene full of pale cherry blossoms will throw off your
camera's meter and cause your image to be underexposed. To offset
this, set your camera's exposure compensation meter to overexpose and
then watch your histogram. Many point-and-shoots also have a setting
for photographing in snow which should give you similar results as
manually adjusting the exposure.
- Explore beyond the basin. Don't forget to explore the blossoms from other angles, even crossing the Potomac River, to photograph back towards the city. Also, one of my favorite gardens on the National Mall is the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle...as of last week the Japanese magnolia trees were be-decked in pink. If you want to explore further from the crowds there are the National Arboretum and the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Last weekend I discovered a weeping cherry tree in the gardens of the National Cathedral which was great to use for framing shots of the spires.
Photos by Krista Rossow, Associate Photo Editor
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Washington DC is at its best during springtime. National Cherry Blossom Festival & National Shamrock Festival, both come in the month of March and are worth visiting. The Shamrock Festival compliments the St. Patrick's Day celebration whereas the National Cherry Blossom Festival to mark the beginning of spring season. The springtime festival turns the whole of Washington DC into a hub of spectacular and fun evoking events. A must visit place during springtime. The whole of Washington DC looks photogenic, you can's stop admiring it & capturing into your camera
Amazing !! Really these photographs will surely add a value to your memories..