There were probably at least 2000 photographers on the tidal basin for sunrise on Saturday. It was reported that 1 million people came down to see the trees that weekend.
Posted by Laurie Wendt on April 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Mel, The trees look beautiful. You really had some nice light. I've always wanted to visit DC during the Blossom Festival but don't think I'd like the crowds of people much. I'm wondering, how far in advance did you plan this trip? Was it difficult to find a place to stay?
Posted by Mel Ladewig on April 7, 2009 at 12:01 PM
1) We planned the trip 2 weeks in advance when we knew the peak bloom dates. The national park service maintains the bloom information and updates it if they believe the peak will shift.
2) It was not hard to plan. We stayed at the Marriott Metro Center, which is an excellent hotel and a great base station for this event. We flew into Washington Reagan Airport, and hopped on the metro from there to the hotel. All in all, it was very easy. I would try to schedule your travel so that you do not fly on Sunday evening or Monday morning or Thursday evening or Friday. Those are the busiest business travel days.
The crowds on the other hand were interesting. We heard that there was a 4 hour line to get on the Metro at the Smithsonian station and I would believe it.
Glad someone got to see them! I lived in the DC area for six years, and every year went in to town to see them. Sometimes the actual festival, which I never went to (events they have) doesn't match up with the actual bloom. Some years the colors are more white than pink, but in pink years it looks like cotton candy on trees. Usually you have about a 3-4 day window if it doesn't get windy to see them. Mel is right, best to go during a weekday than a weekend. But DC is very tourist friendly when it comes to the Metro line. There are all kinds of things blooming...tulip trees, golden rod...etc. It really is beautiful in spring down on The Mall in DC.
Mel, these are beautiful shots, love the backlight effect and the paths winding through. I've wanted to do that for a long time but coordinating travel with variable blooming times with a narrow window is a big issue when you have to plan around other people as well. Maybe when I'm retired.........
Looks like a great place to be Mel. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 8, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I'm heading to D.C for a technical conference I'm presenting at the 23rd through the 26th. I was hoping I'd have some time for photography and wondered if the cherry blossoms would be on. Guess I'll have to play it by ear. When we lived out there it was always a beautiful time of year.
Looks like they're tough to shoot with the crowds and restrictions on where you can go. Thanks for sharing your trip!
Posted by Mel Ladewig on April 8, 2009 at 11:37 AM
One thing I learned too late is that there is a golf course just south of the Tidal basin with another 3 miles of dense planted cherry trees like those planted around the tidal basin. I learned this on Saturday evening after high winds on Saturday had battered the blossoms. If I go out there for the festival again, I'll certainly try to shoot down there instead. The tidal basin is of course the most famous location and the focal point of the festival, but the same cherry trees extend south away from the monuments, where I could have found much less crowded locations.
At the same time, I don't mind the people in the photos. Its a part of life and certainly realistic not only to this festival, but the cherry blossom festivals in Japan.
These are only a couple of quick snaps from the LX3. I shot 14 rolls of film on this trip and I shot more seriously with my SLR. I should have the film back early next week to start scanning.
Discussion
11 replies2) It was not hard to plan. We stayed at the Marriott Metro Center, which is an excellent hotel and a great base station for this event. We flew into Washington Reagan Airport, and hopped on the metro from there to the hotel. All in all, it was very easy. I would try to schedule your travel so that you do not fly on Sunday evening or Monday morning or Thursday evening or Friday. Those are the busiest business travel days.
The crowds on the other hand were interesting. We heard that there was a 4 hour line to get on the Metro at the Smithsonian station and I would believe it.
Looks like you had nice light.
Looks like they're tough to shoot with the crowds and restrictions on where you can go. Thanks for sharing your trip!
At the same time, I don't mind the people in the photos. Its a part of life and certainly realistic not only to this festival, but the cherry blossom festivals in Japan.
These are only a couple of quick snaps from the LX3. I shot 14 rolls of film on this trip and I shot more seriously with my SLR. I should have the film back early next week to start scanning.