Library of Congress Main Reading Room

I think the Library of Congress Main Reading Room has the Most Beautiful Ceiling in DC  So much exquisite architectural detail - it's a bit overwhelming and hard to take it all in

If you would like to see more - take a look through this Library of Congress Image Gallery :

Library of Congress Image Gallery

Washington DC Architecture

Feel free to view more Images of Washington DC Architecture here in my Washington DC Architectural Elements Gallery.

National Building Museum / HDR

It's taken me a while but have finally discovered HDR Photography - or at least how I might apply it to my work.  I've basically avoided using HDR until now mainly because most examples I have seen appear a bit overdone and perhaps a little to cartoonish for my taste.  I guess I shyed away from using it thinking that some of this HDR look might be faddish and appear dated in a few years.  But - I've seen other work by a few photographers that have used it tastefully - so I've given it a try with the idea of applying HDR and hopefully maintaining a somewhat "real" look.  Here's a sample of my first attempt using HDR - one of my favorite interior spaces in Washington DC - The National Building Museum.  You can see more images from this shoot towards the end of my Washington DC Architecture Gallery included in my Collection of Washington DC Photography.

US Capitol Washington DC

Washington DC Stock Photography Licensing

Here's another example of licensing images from my archive of Washington DC Photography.  This image of the Jefferson Memorial was chosen for the cover of Washingtonian Magazine's Welcome Guide. Image selected from my Washington DC Architectural Details Gallery included in my Collection of Washington DC Stock Photography.

Licensing Washington DC Photography

I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to license images from my collection of Washington DC Photography for such a wide variety of print and electronic media.  Here's an example of an image I just licensed for the cover of the Jan/Feb issue of Modern Luxury Magazine.  This image was selected from my gallery of Washington Monument Photos - taken on a drab drizzly dreary day in Washington DC through the columns of the Lincoln Memorial.

The iPhone Camera is your Friend

Glen Echo Park   iPhone w/Hipstamatic

Whenever I'm out shooting architectural details I naturally snap a few with my iPhone.  Many times afterwards I find, with certain images, I prefer the "quality" and "aesthetic" of several iPhone images over the the dslr images.  Here's a piece recently written by PhotoShelter co-founder Allen Murabayashi, included in Wired Magazine, that touches on this very topic.  Allen was kind enough to include me in the piece - it's funny to read the comments by readers.  I don't understand why so many appear to be dead set against ( afraid of ) the use of any and all the wonderful tools available in creating images.  The point is not to get hung up on the equipment or method - to me it's more about creative self expression - however it might be accomplished.

Here's the piece:  Why Instagram is Terrible for Photographers, and Why You Should Use It

Washington DC Photography Licensing

I am fortunate to have images from my Collection of Washington DC Stock Photography licensed for use in such a diverse range of Print and Electronic Media.  Many times this use includes licensing images to publishers for best selling authors book covers.  Here's one I've just seen the final layout on - John Gilstrap's new book - Damage Control - due out in June from Pinnacle Books.

Postcard from this Week

If interested you can see more here, all shot one morning last week:
St Elizabeth's Proof Gallery
A creepy wonderful place - so much fun - so much to see - I thought my head was going to explode! These are just proofs - yet to be truly post processed. Basically just a quick run through Lightroom- some basic global overall adjustments and out to a web proof gallery. I can't wait to work on some of these! Almost all inside shots were with an 85 1.2L - most at 1.2. That lens just yields a certain quality that makes me happy.

Washington DC Architecture

I love the architectural details of Washington DC buildings and am constantly shooting more images than I can deal with and adding to my collection of Washington DC images. Had a nice little shoot last week at 12th and Constitution and afterwards took advantage of the wonderful gloomy weather to shoot some images of patterns and shapes that make me feel happy inside. Bad weather makes good images. I love the soft effect of dreary overcast light on interesting architectural details. Here are just a few from my stroll around the block. See a little gallery of all the images shot here: Gallery of New Washington DC Architectural Images.
(click images to enlarge) All images are either of the Old Post Office Pavillion or the EPA Building. You can always view my main gallery of DC architecture on dcstockimages.com here: Washington DC Architecture