Washington, D.C., Early Morning, Part IV --The White House

This is the last part of my early morning DC Trip last week.  My trip ended near the White House.  There always seems to be something going on there and even early in the morning, it's amazing to realize your standing right there!

On Pennsylvania Ave, looking North East, above the Renwick Gallery.

A man photographs students with the White house fountain in the background.

These old call boxes at Jackson PL and Penn Ave.  These used to contain phones for police and firemen.  They remain throughout the city.

I had to laugh at these shirts because I just knew these guys hated wearing them! But it got better.....

As I walked away, this women rushed toward them yelling "Sanders, Sanders!!!" That was the name on the shirt.  She was trying to get their attention and they seemed to be ignoring her-- so she got louder!!!!

The circle in the foreground is where the White house Christmas Tree goes.  They keep being destroyed or dying from disease so there is currently no tree there...

This statue sits atop a war memorial (The First Division Monument) just tothe SW of the White house. 

Front facade of the Corcoran School of Art.

Wrought iron fence along the Southern boundary of the White House grounds.  

I GOT to get me one of those snazzy hats!!

I hope you enjoyed the DC pics. The city always has something new to see and do. I've been here a couple years now and am always finding new things to experience. I highly recommend a trip at least once to see it for yourself!!

Washington, D.C., Early Morning, Part III -- NE Projects

This is part 3 of my early morning trip to DC last weekend.  After leaving the Anacostia Park, I headed toward RFK Stadium, former home to the Washington Redskins.  

On the way to the stadium, right nearby, I passed Eastern High School.  I'm sure I've known many former students or 'should have been students, but dropped out' in my career-field.  Anyway, this is a pretty cool looking school...

RFK Stadium which appears to now be the home of a soccer team.

The projects seem to be a nice, quiet, safe place at 7am!!!!

Saw just a little bit of razor wire and just a few bars on windows!!

Like playing Monopoly!

Inter-spaced with the public housing there are little pockets of really nicely kept townhouses.

I took this pic driving by and as I passed, I noticed a guy jump up and look at me.  Looking at this pic, you can see him to the right watching me taking his picture!  Oh well, if your yard looks like this, you should expect people to look at it and take pics. 

Again, there are some really nice houses in this area too...

Washington, D.C., Early Morning, Part II -- Anacostia Park

These shots were taken in and around the Anacostia Park which is across the river from the Navy Yard. (YES, the hookers are in this part!!!)

USS Barry at the Navy Yard.  This destroyer took part in the Cuban Quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis!

Anyone thinking about getting a dog, Rescue Greyhounds are awesome and are great with kids!!!

Nationals Stadium from across the Anacostia River.

Grafitti under the Frederick-Douglas Bridge (South Capitol St. SE)

Frederick-Douglas Bridge.

Sadly, the water of the Anacostia River appears worse than that of the Potomac.

I always look for shots of the sunrise and sunset.

Railroad drawbridge over the river.

This is just sad.  Welcome to our nations capitol......

This is actually the same river with minimal visible garbage.  It was hard to find a trash-free area to get this shot.

Goose brawl!!


OK, I just had to do this...........

A duck walks into a pharmacy and says, "Do you have any chapstick? "

Yeah, then what?!?!

When the pharmacist hands it to him, the duck replies, "Thanks, just put it on my bill." 

You quack me up!!!!!!

Hookers at 6am!!! There is nothing near here and the area is quite isolated. I saw a few people walking and a couple cars, but nobody who looked like the type who would frequent these ladies (IF they were in fact ladies!!!!)

Next up will be the projects and misc stuff, then on to the White House...........

Canon T3i, Converting to an 18-270mm Tamron Lens

As much as I'm enjoying this new photography thing, one thing that consistently frustrates me is the need to change out lenses.  I hate carrying a bag with a spare lens so more often than not, I've been finding myself just dealing with whichever lens I have on the camera. 

Not anymore!  I decided to break down and get an "all-in-one" type lens.  I got a Tamron 18-270mm, which came complete with lens hood, UV filter and polarizer.  Previously, I had 18-55mm and a 55-250mm lenses so right off the bat  I get a little more zoom.  Additionally, the previous lenses were 58mm while the Tamron is 62.  It has Vibration Compensation which is Tamron's answer to Canon's Image Stabilization.

Below are my first couple shots, at 18mm and 270mm to show the difference.

This lens can focus on objects 19.3 inches away.  I can get much closer than with a Canon lens.

So far so good, but time will tell........