52Frames Fashion Photo Challenge

We hadn’t been down to the National mall for a couple of weeks due to jury duty. So we headed out last week in search of something about “fashion” for the 52Frames weekly photo challenge. We thought in front of the Capitol might be a good spot to catch someone that fit the bill. However, on the way to the east front, we were walking along the reflecting pool. A huge number of out of town visitors were walking past us and one caught my attention with her accessories - particularly the white heeled boots, purse, head scarf and hat. She looked like she was walking the runway so I did a burst of twenty photos to catch just the right swagger. We also found a young woman and her dog sitting in front by the fountain and an engaged couple sitting in the National Gallery of Art amidst the grand masters. My husband preferred the single image of the hat lady. I preferred the multilayered sequence and transparent walk, which has become my signature product. It’s been a long time since I posted a single shot that is simply edited, although a few different colors and tones were tried. Someone from England has begun to try my layering technique and I am so thrilled he noticed. Our friend who introduced me to 52Frames has also been trying this technique with excellent results and comments. I really prefer making the weekly photos a project since my expertise is digital art - not photography. And this is a way to make the best of both worlds. 

Duck Pairs at the Capitol Reflecting Pool

It was really nice to finally be able to drive in to and park in our old neighborhood on Capitol Hill and walk near the Capitol and to the reflecting pool. There was still fence up around the Capitol but you could at least now walk through the botanical gardens and our other favorite walking places. We spent a lot of time at all of these places over the thirteen years we lived in DC. Nothing has seemed the same any more for quite some time since the pandemic and the riots. But the one thing that has remained the same were all the duck pairs floating about on the Capitol reflecting pool. We went there to try and get a fast shutter shot of the birds for my weekly photo challenge, but they weren’t cooperating. So we just walked around the whole perimeter and checked out the water foul including a few seagulls. Eventually the ramps will be put up for all the ducklings that aren’t able to navigate and climb the pool ridge. So from every corner the mallards were in large groups, smaller groups, and most often pairs. It was a beautiful day for the drive in and a morning walk, and for taking photos. Hopefully one of these days things will get back to “normal.” But I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. 

52Frames Fast Shutter

Last week’s 52Frames photo challenge was slow shutter. Because an iPhone doesn’t have a slow shutter I needed to download a camera app, study it up, and try to meet the challenge. This week the challenge was fast shutter. That process is something an IPhone can do and I have used it a few times before. You just hold down the shutter button for the time the object is in motion, go back and look at all the frames and select the ones you like. You can also take videos and take screen shots of the video at a spot you like, but the photo quality isn’t as good. We were so happy to finally be able to visit the Capitol reflecting pond last week since the fence surrounding the perimeter was taken down and Independence Avenue and the US Botanic garden once again became accessible. I was hoping the ducks returned to the pool and wanted to get a photo of them doing something. Well, the ducks were all over the place, but not within a reasonable range. The IPhone telephoto lens doesn’t exist, and the close ups are very pixilated. A couple of seagulls were in my range but weren’t moving. So my husband walked in a bit closer to get them to fly. I really didn’t think I was able to capture anything. I got the tail end of the first one. But the second one was very cooperative. I was able to get decent shots of the bird thinking about taking off, starting to take off, taking off, and flying. The most unexpected aspect of the photo was the beautiful background of the pool water that shimmered in green and blue. I’m not really a photographer and my iPhone is the only camera I have. But I was really pleased with my winged friend’s image. 

Capitol Reflecting Pool Pigeons and Seagulls

Growing up in Florida seagulls were a very common site. It seems they can be found anywhere these days. While walking by the Capitol reflecting pool last week we noticed a bunch of pigeons jammed up in the northeast corner. Someone had to have left food for them to congregate there. The crows and seagulls soon joined them. Ultimately they all dispersed as someone ran at them and startled the bunch. The crows flew off to the garbage cans and the top of Botanic Gardens building. The seagulls all landed on the west side of the reflecting pool lined up in a row. If you’ve ever seen “the Birds” movie it might get make you a bit jittery. But having been this way so many times before we really didn’t think about it - much. So we passed by all the seagulls as they strategized their next move. The Capitol building and Grant statue looked more interesting in the reflection on the overcast day. There was also a lot of garbage floating around. It was surprising because they just emptied and cleaned the pool. But the whole Mall looks very unkempt now. The birds probably prefer it that way.   

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