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Night Photowalk DC

Last weekend, as you’ve seen me mention a few times before, Sherri and I attended Shawn Duffy’s Night Photowalk DC.  I was really excited about this one as it was a route I had not taken before and was curious to learn where he took some of the great shots I admire on his site.  His skyline photos of Rosslyn, VA at night from the Memorial Bridge have stunned me before and I couldn’t wait to try it out myself.

We arrived at the Lincoln Memorial a bit early and took some shots inside before looking for the group. I had only met a couple of the people that had signed up so was a little worried about finding them.  Our direction was to look for people with cameras.  Well I think I might have seen three people on the steps WITHOUT a camera.  Luckily Shawn was set up at the base of the steps and was already surrounded by around 20 of the group.  After checking in we waited another 15 minutes for the rest of the group to show up.  Eventually we were 40 strong.

Forty people gathered with cameras in hand (most 40D’s or better), large lens, Manfrotto or better tripods, and bulging photography bags can gain some attention.  A Japanese tourist approached us and asked who was coming.  I believe she had a fleeting hope that President Obama was going to stop by and we were the press corps gathering to record it.

We had a great time on this photowalk.  Shawn provided a unique route and the organizational skills of a professional tour guide.  He and many of the photographers present made themselves available for sharing information and providing tips on how to take certain shots.  It was a great learning experience as Sherri and I both believe we took some of our best shots yet that evening.

You can find more shots on the blogs of Shawn Duffy, Mark Anderson, Patty Hankins, Bill Lawrence, Geoff Greene, Michael Palmer and the Night Photowalk DC Flickr group.

Thanks to everyone that showed up and especially to Shawn for putting it together.  I can’t wait for the next one.

I can’t post this without telling on myself and sharing a lesson learned.  If you go out at night and take your new 28-135 IS lens expecting much better photos with it, be sure and turn off the IS when you put it on the tripod.  I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why my long exposures with this lens were coming out blurry but much clearer with my cheap 50mm.  On Tuesday it hit me the mistake I made.  DOH!

Related posts:

1. UPDATE – Early Morning Cherry Blossom Photowalk 2010
2. Wrapup – Photowalk DC at National Archives and Chinatown