Field Trip: Monuments at Night

If you missed our Fall 2020 trip to visit the Monuments at Night, you’re in luck.  Our April field trip will return to the monuments at (or just after) peak cherry blossom season.  Lots of photographers visit this time of year, but what many don’t know is that the monuments are best viewed after sunset.  This is a wonderful trip for all levels of photographers, especially beginners.

What:

The cherry blossoms will be well underway and Spring will be in the air.  We’ll visit the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorials, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and other nearby sites.  Feel free to see and do as much as you want.  There really is too much to see in one night.

Please note, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will be in full swing.  In fact, there is a parade on the morning of April 9 (10am) along Constitution Ave.  There is also a street festival on Pennsylvania Ave between 3^rd and 7^th St. until 6pm.  Our activities will not be impacted, but this could impede your chances at getting the perfect parking spot.

Tripods inside the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial are prohibited.  Tripods are allowed in most outdoor areas, however, if a park ranger asks you to move or pick up your tripod, it will be because you’re set up in a high traffic area.

Sunset is at 7:40 p.m. (EDT)

Equipment:

• Sturdy tripod
• Leave your super telephotos and fast glass at home.
• Remote shutter or cable release will be useful to prevent camera shake.
• Graduated filters are optional for sunset shots.
• Flash and or flashlight is optional.
• Your best walking shoes.

When:

Saturday, April 9, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p. m
Rain date on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Where:

We’ll meet at the World War II Memorial for what we hope will be a wonderful sunset behind the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool.  When that’s done, we’ll travel West along the Reflecting Pool to visit the Vietnam War Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Memorial.  We’ll also go behind the Lincoln Memorial to view the newly rehabilitated Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Rosslyn skyline.

If there is enough interest, Steve will be willing to lead another another group from our meeting spot at the WW2 Memorial to the Tidal Basin visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, FDR Memorial, and finish at the Jefferson Memorial.

Metered parking is in effect from 7am-8pm on Ohio Dr. SW.  The cost is $2.30 per hour with a three hour maximum ($6.90 total).  Please note that the cherry blossom festival will still be going on so the parking lot at the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats will probably be filled with equipment and closed to the public.  The parking lots A, B, and C along Ohio Dr just past the 14 St. overpass should be an option.  The metro blue and orange lines will also service Smithsonian and Foggy Bottom which are the nearest stops to our field trip.

We hope you can join us!

Rena Schild and Steven Glintz
Field Trip Coordinators 2021-2022

* Photographs of the monuments courtesy  Rena Schild and Steven Glintz.  Additional examples and inspiration available on NVPS galleries.

Field Trip: DC Monuments, Sep 2020
Field-Trip: DC at Night, Dec 2014