Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., is truly one of our must-visit destinations. It’s an awe-inspiring city by day or by night. Combining our nation’s history with a myriad of architectural styles, and the many and varied monuments and memorials, makes D.C. a playground for the intellectually curious and visually motivated.
Tour Gallery
Tour Details
April 22-27, 2021 — Completed
This is a 5-night, 6-day tour. Your adventure begins early afternoon on Thursday, April 22, and ends after a final slideshow on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 27.
$1,750 + applicable taxes. Register below.
Skill level
Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals.
Group size
14, with 2 instructors — 7:1 ratio
NPS website
National Mall and Memorial Parks
Tour Leaders
Registration
THIS EVENT HAS PASSED. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST!
| • Deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot at the tour. |
| • Balance of $1,250 is due on January 22, 2021. —> Pay balance here. |
| • You may choose the “Pay in Full” ticket if you desire to pay all at once. |
| • Last day for a cancellation request is January 21, 2021 (see cancellation and refund policy). |
| • The tour fee does not include lodging, food, airfare, or transportation to the hotel or to our nightly shoot locations. |
The D.C. Experience
The overarching goal of this trip is to fully experience and capture this unique city. The tempo will be relaxing but active. We’ve chosen the somewhat unusual starting day of Thursday so our week together will culminate with the full moon rising over our capital city. Throughout the week the moon will play an important role for both our evening and night photographs.
Unlike many of our trips, there will be no classroom time on this photo tour. Instead we’ll spend our afternoons, evenings and nights exploring the capital’s museums, cathedrals, memorials and monuments. We’ll photograph the neoclassical colossus of the Capitol building and the modern interior of the National Gallery of Art. We’ll explore the heartbeat of the city, the underground Metro system, and we’ll photograph the moon rising over the US Marine Corps War Memorial. From the sobering rows of Arlington Cemetery to the building many say is the most beautiful in D.C., the Library of Congress, each location we visit will provide both visual beauty as well as historical significance.
Given the proximity of our shooting locations, we’ll be making use of taxis, ride-sharing, the Metro system and, of course, our feet. There will be no need for a rental car at this tour. For those interested in urban night photography, capturing architectural beauty and a deep immersion in our country’s history, this tour is for you.
What You Should Know
This tour caters to photographers with intermediate and advanced skill sets. Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals.
The primary emphasis of the tour will be on creating images rather than learning new techniques. We’ll give room to explore, but not leave you on your own. Each participant will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Tim and Lance in the field.
If you would like to attend this tour but are unsure whether you have adequate night photography skills, we can offer pre-trip tutoring to get you ready for your adventure with us. Alternatively or additionally, a few of us have written books that may be productive pre-trip reads. You may also be interested in watching Tim’s video Lightroom: Library and Develop Modules, which is designed both for beginner and intermediate photographers.
What You Will Learn
We hope to push you to step outside your comfort zone—to test the limits of what you and your camera can do. You’ll go home after the tour with a solid grasp of night photography in an urban environment.
TOPICS COVERED WILL INCLUDE:
how to photograph at night in an urban environment
how to shoot and process HDR imagery
how to scout for your images using PhotoPills and other available resources
and more …
Night Conditions
Travel
Given the difficulty of driving and parking in Washington, D.C., we’ll be walking and making use of taxis and trains. There will be no need for a rental car. You are responsible for airfare and arranging transportation from the airport to the hotel. The price of taxis and trains is not included in the tour fee.
Nearby Airports:
Ronald Reagan Washington (DCA) — 15 minutes from downtown
Washington Dulles (IAD) — 45 minutes
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) — 1.25 hours
Food & Lodging
You are not required to stay at the official tour lodging, though doing so does make it easier to meet with the group each day. Lodging info and group code will be sent after registering. If you are interested in sharing accommodations, let us know and we will try to connect you with someone like-minded in the group.
Over the last decade, Washington, D.C., has risen in the ranks of food destination cities. While this is not a culinary tour, there will be some time to sample very fine food! Our philosophy is to arrange our meals around the best shooting times. This means we may experience shorter or off-schedule meals. We trust that coming home with the best pictures will outweigh the inconvenience of not having a routine meal schedule.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own meals and accommodations.
Weather
Expect daytime temperatures in the high 60s F, and evenings in the mid-40s.
Recommended Attire
April weather in D.C. can vary dramatically from day to day. Be prepared for anything. Think springtime city. Light pants, long-sleeve shirts and a light coat will get you through most days. At night, a medium-weight jacket will likely be useful, and a base layer might not be a waste of packing space. Bring a rain jacket, rain pants, gloves and warm hat just in case. Layers are good. Comfortable shoes are a must.
Considerations
No vigorous activity will be required during the tour, but please consider your physical abilities prior to registering as there will be plenty of daily walking throughout the trip.
Please read our FAQs section for more information about skill and gear requirements, and other information that pertains to all our workshops.
If you have questions, please contact us—we're happy to talk it over with you.
Moving into History ...
“I reveled in what the city had to offer. Never before had I seen such a density of architectural beauty.”
My hometown lies in an area of New Jersey where our cemeteries dated to the early 1700s and George Washington seemed to have slept in every barn, house and tavern. Our town’s main attraction was a mill built in 1810 that still stands today. I grew up surrounded by our country’s history.
After a brief stint of 20 years in Montana, I moved back to the east coast and landed in Alexandria, Virginia—a suburb of Washington, D.C. After living in Montana for so long, moving to a big city was definitely a culture shock. It was also a coming home of sorts. I was back in the old stomping grounds of our country’s forefathers.
While I struggled with a busy schedule, busy roadways and busy people, I reveled in what the city had to offer. Never before had I seen such a density of architectural beauty. The monuments and memorials, the gardens and federal buildings, all combine to make our nation’s capital a must-see experience.
I didn’t live in D.C. for long—only about four years. But during that time I tried my best to soak in the visual beauty and experience the abundance of recorded history. Four years wasn’t nearly enough. Since leaving, I’ve always looked forward to returning. This year I’m looking forward to returning and sharing my adopted home with you!
