Recent explorations on the streets of Washington, DC.
Category Archives: Washington DC
Skateboard photography with the Nikon D750
Is the D750 the best all around Nikon ever? Maybe. Just maybe. It is for sure a damn good camera that can do pretty much all I need it to.
I shoot a wide variety of subjects. Landscapes, portraits, action, and much more. And for the last few months I’ve put this fine camera seriously through its paces.
Do I have quibbles? Sure. Nothing’s perfect, and I’ll probably tackle some of that on another day. But for now I want to focus (heh-heh!) on the positives.
It is lightweight, has a deep, comfortable grip, and produces amazing files. But what has stood out the most for me is the remarkably fast and accurate focusing system. I have spent most of my digital life with a D200 and D700, both more than serviceable cameras. But the difference with focusing between them and D750 is stunning.
I’ve been doing a lot of skate photography lately. Much of it at dusk and in the evening under less than ideal lighting conditions. But I’m happy to report the hit and miss ratio has been heavy on the hit side. The focus tracking in continuous mode impresses for sure. I tend to use group area focusing most of the time with action, but I’ve used single focus points before and still usually get the shot.
I’ve been using mostly Nikkor lenses: 35mm f2, 17-35mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8. I will note that these are all older models. There are newer, more advanced version of these lenses that no doubt have better focusing mechanisms. But I regularly nail the shots with these old guys.
A few examples:
Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8. Shot at f4 and 1/40th sec. Shoe-mounted SB800. No gel. Dusk.
Nikkor 35mm f2. Shot at f5.6 and 1/8th sec. Shoe mounted SB800 with 1/2 CTO gel attached. Night.
Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8. Shot at f8 and 1/25th sec. Shoe-mounted SB800 with 1/2 CTO gel attached. Dusk.
The focusing system on the D750 isn’t as advanced as the D500 or the D5, but man it’s hard to see where it’s lacking! It more than takes care of my needs.
(Rumor has it an upgrade to this 2 ½ year old camera is in the offing — maybe as soon as July!? — so things can only get even better, right?)
*Fingers crossed*
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Open House.
Skateboarding and opera all under the same roof? Sure! Why not?
On May 27th the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC treated the city to an open house event celebrating the 100th birthday of John F. Kennedy. My wife and I spent the day and a good part of the evening down there taking in all we could. We visited with friends and we soaked up the sights and sounds. Ate good food and made a few photographs. The entire Center was open and in use.
Thousands of people visited throughout the day and were treated to — among other things — acrobats, dancers, DJs and live music — Hip Hop, blues, alt-rock — and of course a killer skate session at the Finding A Line skate park in the front plaza of the Center.
It was an amazing event open and free to the public. How they were able to pull that off I have no idea, but good on them for doing it.
So here’s to more events like this one. And here’s to the the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for being bold enough to blend a great variety of artists and performers with skate culture. As you’ll see below, it worked out pretty well!
Audience participation.
Teaching the Piedmont Blues with the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation.
Jammin’. Washboard, fiddle, and guitar.
Little rebel.
Member of the vertical dance troup, Bandaloop.
Photographing the skaters.
Ben Ashworth. The driving force behind the Finding a Line skate community.
Silhouetted skater gettin’ some air.
The JoGo Project with Donvonte McCoy on trumpet.
Revelers.
Skater chick.
Skater dude.
Jennifer Soto flying.
What First Amendment?
United States Park Police, Mounted Division. Washington DC.
U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ruled that there is no First Amendment protection for recording or photographing police officers unless you are clearly protesting their actions. Weird, I know. But here are his own words:
This Judge thinks observing and recording police is against the law!
This means if you wanted to, say, take that groovy new camera you got for Xmas down to The National Mall and make a video–accompanied by stills–of your hometown for your YouTube friends and followers, and you wanted to include everything you think that makes up the fabric of your DC life experience: museums, Memorials, restaurants, galleries, parks, tourists, cityscapes and yes even police officers, Capitol Hill Police, Park Police riding by on horseback… you know, just observing the daily life of your city… this judge thinks you are not protected by the First Amendment! He thinks it would be OK for the police to arrest you and fine you for the innocuous act of taking their picture or making a video that happens to have them in it.
Is this a great country or what?
Here is the ruling in full. You should read it.
https://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mark-Kearneys-decision.pdf
In and Around the Lincoln Memorial
“…dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Washington, DC. Rain and Shine at the Lincoln Memorial.
A couple days roaming the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Tourist season is just now underway.
Kiko
This is Kiko. The oldest male orang-utan (“Person of the Forest”) at the National Zoo in DC.
Male orang-utans have a home range of approximately 11 sq miles. They can travel up to two miles a day in search of food in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. Habitat destruction and — of course — hunting by humans are the main threats to their survival.
I have a great ambivalence towards zoos. I am equally fascinated and troubled by them. As I was watching this fellow stare out at us from his enclosure I admit a deep sadness began to wash over me. He is an amazing creature and I could sit there all day just watching and observing his behavior… even occasionally try to make eye contact with him. But ultimately I couldn’t get past the fact that he’s in a zoo… in Washington DC.
Far from “home.”
Safe from poachers, but far from free.
Walking Around DC
Looking for life in the city.
Morning in a little backyard cafe.
Jogging along the avenue.
Reflections in the sushi window.
Everybody has needs.
Cousins.
Catching the Orangutan’s high-wire act.
Above the trees.
Washington DC, 2014 Dragon Boat Festival.
Sponsored by the Chinese Women’s League, this two day festival is held on the Potomac River near Georgetown. I happened upon the races while killing time one day back in June. Looked like a blast. Next year I’ll try to cover more of the events over the full two days.
Riding the Rails.
Riding the rails of DC’s Metro. Hands hanging on, shoulder to shoulder, packed. Standing in last car I see stations zip past.