52Frames An Activity

This week’s 52 frames photo challenge was “an activity.” That’s certainly a broad enough subject which can be helpful but also makes it more difficult. Since we hadn’t been to the Smithsonian natural history museum for a long time, we took a ride to the national mall since the museum was now open seven days a week. We parked by the American Indian museum and walked over to the other side of the mall. Along the way there were a couple of options - someone pulling tourists on their bicycle and someone walking past the food trucks. But there were more interesting options once we got inside the museum. The huge elephant in the main hall is always a great place for a photo. I liked the activity of everyone walking, talking, observing and babysitting. Then there were the visitors observing the preserved fir added and hippo. But in the fossil hall were two staff members doing what they do best. One was drawing a 75 million year old fossil lizard jaw and the other was looking at a bug/fossil under a microscope. I particularly liked the young visitors intently observing the scientist doing his work. Oh yes - and then there was the smiling mummy! On the way back to the car we walked past the archives where there were lines of people waiting to get in. Not a part of this photo op was the altercation that occurred right outside of the Canadian embassy - hardly a block from the Capitol. Within 5 minutes there were four police cars, a fire engine and an ambulance at the site. The perpetrator was handcuffed and the victim received medical attention. This is not something I care to witness on a beautiful afternoon. We still like visiting DC after living on Capitol Hill for 13 years, but when those things happen I am happy we don’t live there anymore. That would have made an interesting photo, but I didn’t have the stomach to take one.