Washington D.C. around Xmas.

Robert Kennedy · Aug 14, 2004

So, I am going to see my sister who lives in Arlington/DC for Christmas and was wondering if D.C. is even a viable place to take ANY pictures any more.

Since we had the harrassing of a photo student up in Seattle at a place listed on the tourist brochures and that has guided tours, I am thinking that it could be worse in D.C.

Nobody gives a damn where I live now oddly enough....

I would be shooting exclusively with a small RF. So I won't be too obvious.

Now, if this is a valid option without spending a few years in prison, does anyone have any suggestions for the must see places to do some street work in D.C./Va./maybe even Baltimore.

Aggie · Aug 14, 2004

A rib Joint called "Red White and Blues" They have some great blues bands on the weekends.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 14, 2004

Man, just check your camera at the beltway.

Today in New York I was taking a photograph from the same spot that Robert Polidori took a photograph published in _The New Yorker_ two weeks ago (just a record of the location, because I liked the Polidori photograph, and I've photographed in that area many times before) and had a couple of Park Police hovering around me. I ignored them and they moved on when I finished, but paranoia is running high. The 1950's 6x9 folder must have raised suspicion as something "out of the ordinary."

c6h6o3 · Aug 14, 2004

Robert Kennedy said:
Now, if this is a valid option without spending a few years in prison, does anyone have any suggestions for the must see places to do some street work in D.C./Va./maybe even Baltimore.

I've got tons of them. Give me a shout when you're down here and I'll give the PPPB reading for that week. (PPPB=Park Police Paranoia Barometer). I average about 1 confrontation with them in any given month.

photomc · Aug 14, 2004

Off topic, but I have been out the past three weekends with no problems - in town. Now the local law enforcement types have passed by, but nothing. Locations, power plant, water treatment plant, convention center area, church next door to Federal Courthouse. It's not bad every where, and I am thankfull it's not here in N.Texas.

c6h6o3 · Aug 15, 2004

photomc said:
It's not bad every where,

but it's downright totalitarian most places in Washington.

Robert Kennedy · Aug 15, 2004

That is the rub. It seems to somewhat random.

IIRC there was a warrant out for some guy in Texas City who was seen shooting refineries from the highway. He did this at 5pm BTW. Not 4am or some ungodly hour.

I mean from what I know about Texas City you can't NOT shoot a refinery there!

In my city, Tucson, I have never had a problem. Except with the cops during protest marches, but our PD has some serious ummmm...."problems".

dr bob · Aug 15, 2004

Robert Kennedy said:
Now, if this is a valid option without spending a few years in prison, does anyone have any suggestions for the must see places to do some street work in D.C./Va./maybe even Baltimore.

I would suggest caution in dealing with any enforcement types in these areas - be polite and answer questions sensibly. A range finder should be adequate.

In Wash., any of the monuments should be available. In Balt. the harbor and Dundalk area will offer opportunities. I highly recommend Annapolis city. The PD there is pretty laid back and it is quite quaint with lots of waterfront activity year round.

And BTW, my neighbor in good standing, John is head of the Park Police on the Balt-Wash Parkway (Southern Div.), so if anyone desires to get into trouble there, let me know in advance and I'll feed forward some warning John made national headlines a while back when he drove the tractor out of the reflection pool . (My apologies, John.)

dr bob · Aug 15, 2004

Aggie said:
A rib Joint called "Red White and Blues" They have some great blues bands on the weekends.

Aggie: do you mean the "Red Hot & Blue"?

titrisol · Aug 15, 2004

Annapolis is beautiful, downtown Alexandria offers a few ops too.

I guess Police Paranoia will be back to normal levels by Xmas, it'll still take some time for law enforcement to adjust to the "suspicious" people

Aggie · Aug 15, 2004

It was Red White and Blues when I was there. It is on the West side of town. Other than that I have no address, and I let others drive in that crazy mess of traffic.

M. Walter Lyon · Aug 20, 2004

I must be the fortunate one I shoot in and around the DC area all the time not one encounter with enforcement types. And yes it is Red Hot and Blue. But if you wonder the a suburb called Anandale( about five miles out) there is a place called Ribsters blows Red Hot and Blue away! For ribs anyway.
I didn't realize how many "Beltway" folks were in here. We should all get together for a beer at Whitlows sometime!

dr bob · Aug 21, 2004

Speaking of ribs, in Annapolis, there is "Adams Ribs" in East Port - a portion of Annapolis across Spa Creek - which has the best ribs I've encountered anywhere including some infamous places in Texas and AZ (pardon please), but no live music. If you need a guide-....

veriwide · Aug 21, 2004

I spend alternating Thanksgiving/Christmas's at my girlfriend's parent's home in the DC area, and I love to shoot there. I always end up on the Mall. I love the sculpure gardens, and if you want great views take the elevator to the roof of the Old Post Office (bring a polarizing filter). It will be windy and VERY COLD up there so a windbreaker is a must.
I have never had a single problem with the LAW, no matter what camera I am shooting. My only suggestion is if you are shooting an old wooden LF, be prepared to answer many questions, not from the police, but many interested by standers. If you are going to the Mall at Thanksgiving or Xmas, remember that everyone who lives in northern Virginia has family home for the holidays, and they WILL go to the Mall, take your patience, and plenty of photos.

Konical · Aug 21, 2004

Good Afternoon,

Is it accurate to say that a permit is required for tripod use in the mall area in DC? I seem to recall that it once was, although there was no charge to get it.

Konical

c6h6o3 · Aug 21, 2004

Konical said:
Good Afternoon,

Is it accurate to say that a permit is required for tripod use in the mall area in DC? I seem to recall that it once was, although there was no charge to get it.

Konical

Yes, quite accurate. I was told this by a park ranger at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

However, if you go to the Interior Department's website and inquire as to the procedure for actually obtaining one, you'll come away totally bewildered with no useful information whatsoever. Apparently every National Park or US Historical Site has different requirements, permits and fee schedules.

So I've just given up. I only use a handheld camera unless it's a site (like the C&O National Historical Park or Glen Echo Park) where I know that the Park Police will continue to let me work on just my word that I'm not a commercial photographer.

The Department of Agriculture, which administers the National Forests and the National Arboretum is, in my opinion, completely hopeless. Don't even think about setting up a tripod on one of their properties.

c6h6o3 · Aug 21, 2004

M. Walter Lyon said:
I didn't realize how many "Beltway" folks were in here. We should all get together for a beer at Whitlows sometime!

Any time. 301-758-6418. What the hell is "Whitlows", anyway?

c6h6o3 · Aug 21, 2004

c6h6o3 said:
Any time. 301-758-6418. What the hell is "Whitlows", anyway?

Dead Link Removed

Maybe a little rowdy for my taste, but I'm game. I can think of a lot of good places in this area, too. (Maryland suburbs. The Annapolis area is even better.)

mobtown_4x5 · Aug 21, 2004

Baltimore is also represented here- I can say with certainty you would have less trouble with "Homeland security" type issues here, and more interesting local character than DC, which I find a bit boring photographically-

Ribs? The Corner Stable on York Road, but you should really get crabs while you are here...

Matt

Robert Kennedy · Aug 21, 2004

The Department of Agriculture, which administers the National Forests and the National Arboretum is, in my opinion, completely hopeless. Don't even think about setting up a tripod on one of their properties.

Now, now...deep in the Coconino National Forest, if it is dark, and the wind is right, you can set a tripod up.

c6h6o3 · Aug 22, 2004

mobtown_4x5 said:
which I find a bit boring photographically-

I've yet to find a place that's boring photographically. "Wherever there is light, one may photogaph." --Alfred Steiglitz

But Baltimore's certainly a happening place. Little Italy is my favorite part of it.

Washington D.C. around Xmas.

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