After returning from Poland and Germany, I had a week at home before setting off for the East Coast with my kids to visit our very good friends in Loudoun County, Virginia. We went a bit later in the Summer this year, which meant that the mall in DC was free of all of the crazy fencing that is usually up for the Forth of July. I kept an eye on the weather while I was out there and ended up making about four trips in to DC at 4:15 AM in order to try to get some color in the sky. This particular shot was taken on my second attempt at the World War II Memorial as the sky in the East lit up behind the Washington Monument. On my previous trips to the Mall, this hadn't been an option due to the barricades.
As the sky lit up, I tried the Rokinon 12mm fisheye and found that I was able to pull in the Pacific and Atlantic arches on either side. There are so many incredible places to shoot around the Mall area in DC, but the World War II Memorial is now my favorite spot after my last trip, edging out the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Having just come back from Auschwitz in Poland and after watching Band of Brothers on HBO after returning, it really is sobering to walk along the perimeter of this memorial which was long overdue to honor those who gave their lives on their way to becoming America's greatest generation.
This tends to be a spot that is generally overlooked by photographers as there was only one other photographer nearby as I was shooting. I shot the Lincoln Memorial on my way back to the car, and found it to be swarming with visitors. I would highly recommend adding the World War II to your list on your next visit to DC.
William McIntosh Photography
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