Field Trip: Washington DC’s National Cathedral

NVPS January 2024 Field Trip

Washington DC’s National Cathedral is a great destination at any time of year.  The building’s Gothic revival architecture and nearby garden offer a variety of subjects.  On a sunny morning in the Winter, when the sun is low in the sky, the cathedral’s nave and arcade light up in a dazzling array of colors.  The South arcade will be the most brilliant in the early morning.  The North arcade doesn’t get as much light, but the other sides more than make up for that.  You will also find the rose windows light up over the North, South, and West entrances.  The light shining through the stained glass windows lasts well into the early afternoon and is constantly moving.

We’ll meet on a sunny Saturday morning to tour the facility.  After paying our admission, we’ll explore the nave, high altar, and Southern arcade where most of the light will shine.  Our group will hunt down compositions for a few hours and then take a break at the Open City at the National Cathedral cafe (https://www.opencitycathedraldc.com/).  Inside, we can relax and enjoy a warm beverage or snack as we chat and share what we’ve  witnessed.  (Be sure to keep your ticket stub for re-entry.)

As this is a working church, please be respectful to others who may be there on business.  Shy your camera away from parishioners to respect their privacy.  Sometimes, the cathedral offers a noon time service.  If there is a 30-45 minute service and you are in the nave, you may be asked to stop taking pictures.  This is normal.  Try exploring the crypt downstairs.  Take the elevator up to explore the South and North towers.  Explore the architecture outside, or have a beverage or snack at the cafe.

General Admission tickets cost $15 if purchased in advance and $18 if purchased onsite.  Advance tickets can be purchased online through the following link:  https://cathedral.org/calendar/?filters%5Bmodality%5D=&query=&filters%5Bdate%5D=2025-01-25#events_results

Equipment:

• A 24-70mm should easily capture most indoor shots, however, a telephoto (300mm) can be useful to reach the finer details higher up.

• Tripods are allowed, but caution is recommended.  The church asks you not to place your tripod in doorways, stairways, or any other location that blocks traffic.

When:

Saturday, January 25, 2024 from 10am – 12pm (rain, snow, or shine)

Where:

We’ll meet at 9:45am outside the northwest corner of the cathedral near Wisconsin Ave. next to the elevator to the underground parking.

If you don’t find free parking along Wisconsin Ave., you can pay $9 for underground parking at the cathedral.  (https://cathedral.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garage-rates-mar24.pdf)

We hope you can join us!

Rena Schild and Steven Glintz
Field Trip Coordinators 2024-2025