Visiting Washington D.C. on Friday, what should I see?

Sully75

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Hi all,

I'm passing through Washington D.C. on Friday, this is a pretty rare occurrence for me.

Just saw the note about the Timothy O'Sullivan show, but what else would be worth seeing? I have no idea what the normal photographic things to do in Washington are, rarely make it past NYC. So I'd like to make a big photographic day of it.

Someone told me that there was a show of historical photography, all different kind of processes, but I'm not sure where that is. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Paul
 

keithwms

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I'll be going up on Friday and will be hanging out with the DC photoposse. No word yet on what we might do.

These links might help you:

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/darkroominfo.shtm

http://photography.si.edu/Exhibitions.aspx

Photographically speaking, the mall is pretty blah to me unless there are some nice big protests or such The downtown area close to the mall is worse than blah for me, personally, but there are many interesting neighborhood scenes beyond. Who knows, you may find inspiration anywhere. It's a bit early in the season but the woods along the Clara Barton Hwy can be very nice. And I'd love to get access to the mormon temple which isn't far from Bethesda. The nat. cathedral is also quite photogenic... it lacks history, but there are many interesting scenes.

The insanity that is the National Cherry festival is less than one month away!
 
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Sully75

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Thanks Keith...for the record I probably won't be taking many pictures, just want to see some.

The darkroom exhibit was what I was looking for, thanks! Looks like I made it just in the nick of time.
 

keithwms

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P.S. Stop for lunch in the cafeteria of the museum of the native americans. Unfortunately, apart from that and the atrium of the building, there isn't much else there of note (as a Cherokee descendant I was hoping to learn a lot more there). That cafeteria rocks! Best food on the mall, bar none.

P.P.S. Walt? Baltimore? Really???!
 

TheFlyingCamera

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There's a fantastic show over at the Museum of American Art right now. The Timothy H. O'Sullivan western expeditions.

http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2010/osullivan/

In my opinion, the American Art museum has been doing a MUCH better job with their photography exhibitions than the NGA has. NGA exhibits are usually relegated to a two-to-three room chamber in the basement of the museum. At the American Art/National Portrait Gallery, they often have multiple photo exhibits running concurrently, spanning three to five rooms each, and covering a wide spectrum of photographic history.
 

keithwms

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eddym said:
Yes, and speaking of insanity, my wife and I are going to be there for it. Could you please arrange for the snow to be over and maybe some warmer weather? Coming from the tropics, we'd really appreciate it...
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The snow will be gone, no worries there. But do bring good walking shoes and a packed lunch and drinks- you're in for a good hike. You'll very likely need to park a mile away or so. My advice would be to stay in Arlington and get shuttled.
 

eddym

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keithwms said:
The snow will be gone, no worries there. But do bring good walking shoes and a packed lunch and drinks- you're in for a good hike. You'll very likely need to park a mile away or so. My advice would be to stay in Arlington and get shuttled.
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Oops... we're staying in the Madison Hotel. Flying into Dulles from San Juan.
 

c6h6o3

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TheFlyingCamera said:
Stay anywhere BUT downtown and take the Metro. Closest stop would be Smithsonian, followed by Federal Triangle and Archives/Navy Memorial.
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The closest stop to the Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery is Gallery Place on the Red/Yellow Line. (The museums are directly over the station.)

The closest stop to the NGA is Archives/Navy Memorial on the Green/Yellow Line. Walk across Pennsylvania Ave. from the station over to 7th & Constitution and enter the West entrance of the West building on 7th St. NW. (The NGA is comprised of two buildings. Photography is in the West building.)

I intend to follow Scott's advice and see the O'Sullivan show at MAA. The process thing at NGA was not particularly impressive as far as I'm concerned, although as I remember Barry seemed to like it a lot. It's probably worth your time if you have it. The best part of it for me were the 18th Century albumen prints, especially the Roger Fentons.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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When I said closest is Smithsonian, I should have been clearer that I was referring to visiting the cherry blossoms (which are not out yet).

I'll second Jim's comments about the wet darkroom show at NGA - the early stuff (daguerreotypes, wet collodion, albumen and salt prints) were the reason to go see the show. Once you got out of the 1880s, the show loses traction quickly. The NGA is capable of putting on a good photo show (the Kertesz exhibit 2 years ago springs to mind), but they have not kept up with the MAA by a long shot.
 

c6h6o3

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eddym said:
Oops... we're staying in the Madison Hotel. Flying into Dulles from San Juan.
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You're really close then to both museums. Walk over to Connecticut & L and get the Red Line at Farragut North. It's only two stops from there to Gallery Place. Switch trains at Gallery Place and it's only 1 stop over to Archives.
 

eddie

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Great Happy Hour, at The Bottom Line (1716 I St NW), not far from your hotel.
 

c6h6o3

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c6h6o3 said:
The best part of it for me were the 18th Century albumen prints, especially the Roger Fentons.
Click to expand...

If they had actually shown 18th Century albumen prints, it really would've been one helluva show since photography wasn't invented until well into the 19th Century and Roger Fenton was born in 1819.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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In the end, go see both shows if you have the time- the beauty is that they're both FREE admission. About the only time you have to pay for any exhibit at the Smithsonian is when it's one of those traveling blockbusters.
 

c6h6o3

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I just looked on the NPG's website and found that the Boochever Portrait Competition is still up. Killer show. Don't miss that whatever you do. It's in the same building with the O'Sullivan one.
 
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Sully75

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Thanks for all the help! Leaving in a little bit. Looking forward to it!
 

lightwisps

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One thing of interest to me being a Nam Vet is the Wall. Very dramatic. I will be in the area next week, maybe we could meet up
 

jeffreyg

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Check out the fish market on Maine Street. If you are HUNGRY - Phillip's Restaurant.
 
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Sully75

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Just got back to Boston after the visit. Saw the O'Sullivan exhibit, which honestly I wasn't that excited about. Small prints, too many of them, not that different from looking in a book. The Darkroom exhibit was really awesome, great selection of pictures, processes aside. Really enjoyed the Portrait Gallery in general, and would make a trip back to D.C. just to visit it. Thanks again...
 
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