52Frames_ISO100

The weather was cooperating. It had to be a sunny day. But it was a technical photo challenge last week and it required more than the usual point and shoot with my iPhone. The challenge was to use an ISO 100 setting, and that’s not something that can be done using an iPhone. So I researched how it might be possible and investigated the Camera+ 2 app. Using the app, I could manually set the ISO mode to 100. I had used it once before for the slow shutter challenge, and hoped this would work too. So we headed off to the National Mall to see what we could find. We parked in our old Capitol Hill neighborhood and walked towards the capitol. Since we couldn’t get on to the Capitol grounds we basically had to go the long way around to the senate office buildings, down constitution Avenue, to the National Gallery of Art, back up to the reflecting pool, and then over to the US Botanic Garden. I set the manual mode and never tried to change it since I really didn’t know what I was doing. After the morning walk and photo ops were all done, I hoped at least a couple of the images turned out - I wasn’t really able to check the images while I was taking them for fear of messing up the settings. In the end I had three favorites and decided on the crisp Bartholdi fountain scene over the fountain at the National Gallery or the peony with the ants on it. Some weeks I am lucky to get one decent option. I’m not really a photographer, but I like taking photos and the 52Frames challenges have provided a focus and have made me think twice about how to get better images. It’s also a great diversion and sort of a hobby. This week the challenge is “red.” I’m not sure yet where that will take me. 

Bartholdi Fountain Gardens Starting to Bloom

Yesterday we took a ride to Capitol Hill to visit the Botanic Garden. We used to walk by it almost daily on our morning treks to the National Mall. Now we need to ride in from northern Virginia where we moved ten months ago. I don’t care for metro, so it’s a hassle to find parking in our old neighborhood because we no longer have our visitor pass. We finally found a tight spot, and walked over, first passing through the Bartholdi Fountain gardens. The daffodils and crocus were showing, and the iris weren’t far behind. The vegetable garden still had cabbage and other assorted items. Everything looked so crisp and clean with the sunny and blue skies backdrop. The fountain itself was dry - none of them have been turned back on yet. There was a long line of taxis crawling up Independence Avenue toward the house office buildings. Everything felt different because we no longer live on Capitol Hill. But we are close enough to still visit our favorite spots when we feel like it. 

New Feature Opens at the US Botanical Garden

The construction is finally complete. It seems it has taken a very long time for the new section of the Lawn Terrace to open in the US Botanical Garden. We have been watching the construction over the last many months wondering what was taking so long. This is probably one of our favorite places to walk through and every season brings with it a different variety of plants, flowers, and landscapes. The new feature is on the west side, nearest to the American Indian Museum. Since a lot of folks in the neighborhood do not have yards or patios, this is a great place to come and sit and observe not only nature, but the variety of visitors that pass through. It is very serene and feels like you are far away from anything urban, except when you see the Capitol building in the distance. A pair of ducks usually takes over the pond right in front, and there is a bridge that takes you to a covered area to sit and rest. In Milwaukee, we had Grant Park a couple blocks away that sits on Lake Michigan. It was not man made, but was also a great place to stroll and enjoy the four seasons. The difference is there was primarily one season there, and I am happy to have escaped it. 

Amber Waves of Grain at the US Botanical Garden

Across from the House of Representative Building on Independence Avenue is the US Botanical Garden. We walk through it with great regularity and drive by it even more. The Disabled Veterans Memorial will be dedicated in October - it is being built on Washington Avenue just on the other side of the Botanical Garden. This garden is a great place to see the ever changing flowers as the seasons turn, as well as a rest stop to chat, observe, and even watch the Fourth of July fireworks. Every year is a theme that is incorporated in to the architectural and plant elements.  Last year was a bug theme. This is the year of wheat. Around Bartholdi's fountain, a beautiful array of flowers is generally planted. But this year it is wheat. It is an interesting idea to say the least. Over the last week or two all the annual flowers were planted around the city's landmarks - including wheat. I am curious to see the progress throughout the summer months. It's a cute idea and there is a live exhibit to go along with it. For those who live in the neighborhood and have no green space or patio this is the perfect spot. We had an acre of land in Milwaukee. Luckily we have a small patio here, but we like these spaces all the same. 

American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial

We knew something was being built but did not know what it was until the signs went up a couple weeks ago. Until that happened we thought it might have something to do with water main repairs. Then we saw several large trees delivered to the site and knew it was something more. On Washington Avenue next to The Department of Health and Human Services Building and across from the US Botanical Garden and Bartholdi Fountain will be the new memorial dedicated to disabled veterans. It covers considerable space and will eventually become yet another place to walk through, sit in, and contemplate life. The Capitol dome can also clearly be seen from this vantage point. There is a website that shows the progress of the project, but we drive and walk by it quite regularly every week. Aside from this, the upcoming railroad tunnel overhaul along Virginia Avenue, and the ongoing construction near the ballpark contribute to a lot of building going on around us. Luckily we are far enough away not to be directly involved, but it all potentially impacts available street parking. Then I start to get ornery. But we are not quite ready to give up on our ten year old Subaru. Hopefully we will continue not to notice the disruption - but I have my doubts. I miss my garage and driveway but also enjoy all the neighborhood improvements.