Iwo Jima Memorial

Iwo Jima with Moonglow

The lead soldier in the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial silhouettes the rising full moon with his helmet. The moon appears to give an angelic halo. Or maybe it just looks like a mercury-vapor street lamp?

#10216: Canon 1Ds, 70-200/2.8 lens at 140mm, ISO 100, f/8 for 10 sec

Capitol North Side

Peeping Sun

Near the fall or spring equinox, the sun rises due east and can be included in this shot from Virginia. On this extraordinarily clear day, the sun is visible right at the horizon. Look closely to see the edge of the sun peeping over the treetops. This is a two-exposure composite, taken in quick succession. One is focused on the Capitol and the other on the statue. #18902: Canon EOS-1Ds, 500/4.0 lens, f/16 for 1/10 sec

Windy Run Overlook

Washington from Upriver

I love this view from the George Washington Parkway, with the January ice clinging to the shoreline and Three Sisters Islands. It is reached with some difficulty, to put it mildly. Stop at the first overlook (parking area) and walk back downstream half a mile, trading off the hazards of walking near oncoming rush-hour traffic versus dodging gopher holes and slipper cliff edges off the shoulder.

To see over the foreground tree growth, I used a giant tripod and short stepladder. The camera was operated from a laptop computer, since I could barely reach the camera even standing on the ladder. Another trade-off: use the hood to protect the lens from car headlights, or leave the hood off to reduce buffeting movement caused by the cars. I used the hood. #12675: Canon 1Ds, 200/1.8 lens, ISO 100, f/13 for 10 sec