Cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Monument
PENTAX *ist DS 
Aperture 80/10 ISO 200 Shutter 1/350 Focal Length 88/1 
District of Columbia, US
Nov, 2016Views
380
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Awards
People's Choice in Flowers in the City Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
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Top 30 rank week 2Categories
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Behind The Lens
Location
This shot was taken in Washington, DC, near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which forms the subject of the photo.Time
Mid-afternoon.Lighting
It was a warm, sunny day, with no clouds, so there was plenty of light, which was actually a bit of a challenge in this shot, as it bleached out some of the color from the cherry blossoms on DC's famous cherry trees.Equipment
I was using my trusty Pentax *ist DS camera, using a Pentax DA 55-200 mm zoom lens.Inspiration
My daughter and I were walking around the Tidal Basin area during the peak of the cherry blossom season, looking for photo opportunities. As we came around towards the Jefferson Memorial from the east, I caught a glimpse of the memorial roof above the trees, and I thought I would try capture a different view of the memorial. I specifically wanted to capture the cherry blossoms that make this a popular destination in the spring, and highlight how they surround the memorial.Editing
I did not do any post-processing on this image.In my camera bag
On this particular day, I was traveling light, with just my camera and the longer zoom lens. My daughter was carrying an identical camera and lens combination, and we were just enjoying a day out together.Feedback
When photographing famous landmarks, it is often tempting to capture the same view that everyone else does, because it is familiar. But to really create your own work, you should consider looking at the landmark from different angles, and try to find a unique point-of-view or an unusual framing for your shot, so your photos stand out from everyone else's.
