The best nonpartisan event in Washington, DC is the annual bloom of over 3,700 cherry blossom trees. The cherry trees were a gift from Japan in 1912 as a commemoration for the 1854 Treaty of Peace and Amity which officially established formal relations between the two countries.
The arrival of the cherry blossoms also marks the arrival of spring to the nation’s capitol. The most photogenic groups of cherry blossoms are located around the Tidal Basin which is a man-made inlet adjacent to the Potomac River. Here photographers can frame the vibrant pale pink and white flowers with iconic landmarks such as The Thomas Jefferson Memorial and The Washington Monument. With the recent addition of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, photographers have yet more opportunities for creative compositions.
Photographers are not the only ones who enjoy the cherry blossoms in the morning. Joggers have a scenic view as they circle around the Tidal Basin. I took this photograph the morning the National Park Service declared the official peak bloom for the cherry blossoms. I used my external flash for fill light on the passing jogger (you may see a hint of her shadow). I composed this composition with the joggers and the path of the Tidal Basin serving as leading lines to the beautiful Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Spring was a little late in arriving into the nation’s capitol so I had to wait an extra week for the bloom. When it finally did arrive, what a grand entrance it made!
Goodbye winter and hello spring!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Showing posts with label Front View. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Front View. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy...
Mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy..., a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
The children's parade (comparsas) at Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Bewitched in Oaxaca City, Mexico!
El Dia del Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is popular celebration throughout Latin America, especially in Mexico. I know zombies are the flavor of the month in today’s popular culture, but that is not what this celebration is about.
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday and is celebrated throughout Mexico. Family and friends get together to pray and remember their loved ones who have passed away. This is not a time of mourning, but rather it is a joyful celebration of life, food, friends and family.
The history of the Day of the Dead is a syncretism of Pre-Hispanic and Spanish customs. The celebration takes place on November 1–2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
In the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, Mexico I was able to take in the sights, sounds and smiles of the Day of the Dead.
On the days leading up to November 1 and 2 (along with celebrating the Catholic holidays, on the 1st, people celebrate the lives of lost children, and on the 2nd they celebrate the spirits of adults) many parties erupt on the streets of Oaxaca. This is another Day of the Dead tradition called Comparsas which is a carnival-like procession of people in costume, dancing and wild music accompanied by a banda band (think Mexican Polka music).
On the morning of October 31, young children, dressed in costumes and accompanied by their parents and teachers, paraded around town on their way to school. The children comparsas circled around the town’s zocalo (public square) which made for a vibrant public spectacle.
Photographing this procession was exciting, but technically difficult at times since there were fast moving subjects in low light. Two keys elements in street photography are preparedness and patience and they surely came in handy that morning.
I remembered a quote from photojournalist Steve McCurry when he learned to watch and wait on life. “If you wait,” he realized, “people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view.”
I waited patiently for a “soul to drift up into my view” and I was rewarded with this bewitching portrait.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday and is celebrated throughout Mexico. Family and friends get together to pray and remember their loved ones who have passed away. This is not a time of mourning, but rather it is a joyful celebration of life, food, friends and family.
The history of the Day of the Dead is a syncretism of Pre-Hispanic and Spanish customs. The celebration takes place on November 1–2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
In the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, Mexico I was able to take in the sights, sounds and smiles of the Day of the Dead.
On the days leading up to November 1 and 2 (along with celebrating the Catholic holidays, on the 1st, people celebrate the lives of lost children, and on the 2nd they celebrate the spirits of adults) many parties erupt on the streets of Oaxaca. This is another Day of the Dead tradition called Comparsas which is a carnival-like procession of people in costume, dancing and wild music accompanied by a banda band (think Mexican Polka music).
On the morning of October 31, young children, dressed in costumes and accompanied by their parents and teachers, paraded around town on their way to school. The children comparsas circled around the town’s zocalo (public square) which made for a vibrant public spectacle.
Photographing this procession was exciting, but technically difficult at times since there were fast moving subjects in low light. Two keys elements in street photography are preparedness and patience and they surely came in handy that morning.
I remembered a quote from photojournalist Steve McCurry when he learned to watch and wait on life. “If you wait,” he realized, “people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view.”
I waited patiently for a “soul to drift up into my view” and I was rewarded with this bewitching portrait.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
A Charlie Brown Christmas from Washington, D.C. 2012
Last year I spent time in Washington, D.C. visiting my sister and photographing the monuments and memorials. I was at the U.S. Capitol to photograph the Capitol Christmas Tree (this year’s White House Christmas Tree was a dud).
Besides the Christmas tree, there are two other temporary changes at the Capitol if you look closely. One, you can see the scaffolding on the Capital lawn preparing for President Obama’s inauguration ceremony next year. Two, the Capitol flags are at half-staff as a sign of respect for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
I will leave it to the Peanuts character Linus to explain the true meaning of Christmas. In this classic cartoon, Linus recites from The Book of Luke to tell Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
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I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Besides the Christmas tree, there are two other temporary changes at the Capitol if you look closely. One, you can see the scaffolding on the Capital lawn preparing for President Obama’s inauguration ceremony next year. Two, the Capitol flags are at half-staff as a sign of respect for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
I will leave it to the Peanuts character Linus to explain the true meaning of Christmas. In this classic cartoon, Linus recites from The Book of Luke to tell Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
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