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DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> Washington, DC GTG??
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07/19/2006 10:31:46 AM · #1
Just polling for interest...

Anybody out there? We could meet up, get some grub, and go shoot the monuments.

Ya know, the WWII memorial makes for some great night photos.

07/19/2006 10:38:22 AM · #2
I keep thinking that the DC Night Tour will resurface, but haven't seen anything on it yet. I'd probably be up for a trip to DC again soon though. :-)
07/19/2006 10:43:57 AM · #3
DC July "07
I know this is in the works for next summer.

07/19/2006 10:51:02 AM · #4
LOL... quite a plan!

I was thinking more of a local thing, an impromptu "hey, let's get some coffee, shoot the shit and then go take some photos" kind of thing.
07/19/2006 11:07:38 AM · #5
Every weekend Alexandria has an ethnic festival - have been thinking of going...
July 22 - African-American Heritage & Cultural Festival 1-6 p.m. Sat. at Market Square , 301 King St.
August 5 - Irish Festival noon to 7 p.m. at Waterfront Park, at the foot of Prince St. (going to this - men in skirts...)
August 27 – Cambodian Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Duke St. (just posted this - might be interesting)

Definitely going to this if anyone is interested:
September 16, 2006
VIRGINIA SCOTTISH GAMES*
New date & location! The traditional games plus music, Highland dancing, Scottish dogs, balladeer Alex Beaton and Celtic fusion band Rathkeltair, with more than 50 vendors. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fort Ward. $15 with discounts for students and seniors. www.vascottishgames.org

Seriously considering doing this:
Commemoration of the 144th Anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Mountain
Cedar Mountain Battlefield General Winder Road and Route 15 Culpeper, VA
August 5 and 6.
07/19/2006 11:07:47 AM · #6
Originally posted by SJCarter:

I keep thinking that the DC Night Tour will resurface, but haven't seen anything on it yet. I'd probably be up for a trip to DC again soon though. :-)


It's too damned hot to even ponder scheduling the darned thing again. :) Seriously though, the key reason for not scheduling Night Tour yet has to do with ongoing issues with robberies on the Mall at night.

I'm hoping they get the problem sorted out sooner rather than later. :/

But I'm always up for a casual shoot day. :)
07/19/2006 11:54:54 AM · #7
Color me ignorant, but what are the odds of one of us getting robbed if we all stay together? One or two lone photographers on the mall might be in danger, but if we're in a group of six of bigger, a robber would have his work cut out from us. If he held a gun on one of us, another of us could clock him in the head with our camera.

But, I agree that right now it is too damn hot.
07/19/2006 12:18:43 PM · #8
The robberies have been very brutal and rape is involved. We went a few weeks ago at 4am and got in some nice early morning shots and then went to eastern market. That time is safer than 10pm.

We also did some checking and the sunrises perfectly on the equinox in September.

I am game for some of the day events but I wither quickly in the heat.




Message edited by author 2006-07-19 12:19:14.
07/19/2006 01:19:28 PM · #9
Originally posted by ragamuffingirl:

Color me ignorant, but what are the odds of one of us getting robbed if we all stay together? One or two lone photographers on the mall might be in danger, but if we're in a group of six of bigger, a robber would have his work cut out from us. If he held a gun on one of us, another of us could clock him in the head with our camera.

But, I agree that right now it is too damn hot.


Given that these guys are attacking groups of people- including a family of 4 at a non "dangerous" time (around 8pm) I don't consider it a good plan to have 30+ people milling around at 2am given that people do tend to wander off a bit. :) Not to mention we are gonna be "money" targets. Expensive gear and the preoccupation that goes with setting up shots.

This kind of violence on the Mall is rare- but it is serious.

Message edited by author 2006-07-19 13:20:39.
07/19/2006 01:27:49 PM · #10
I feel safer by myself than I do as a group...

But I generally take slightly bigger risks than most; I explore abandonments for kicks!
07/19/2006 02:00:21 PM · #11
Clara,

I don't mean to minimize your fears, (and it's probably easier for me to say this as a man) but I don't know if these robberies are worth staying inside for.

This kind of crime is not new to the district, and the fact that there hasn't been such a serious attack since May is another factor to consider. Plus Park Police say they have beefed up patrols significantly and pledge to continue to do so until the robber/rapist(s) have been found.

Robberies and even rapes happen in DC, but I feel kind of like if you let that keep you inside then you have let them win.

I guess that is kinda a long winded way to say I'm up for a night tour whenever. :) I don't have the time to plan/organize it, but if a bunch of people want to go shoot monuments, count me in.

---A
07/19/2006 02:20:54 PM · #12
No problem at all. As a guy, you are more than welcome to go stand out at 2am with a couple K in camera gear. ;) I spent 6 years as an EMT in the DC area. I'm not paranoid by any means. But I do advocate use of some common sense.

I've lived here 10 years. I don't live my life saying woe is me and I don't hide indoors. :) I will often walk by myself back down the mall late at night. Right now I won't. This is a very unusual series of assaults. It's been YEARS since this kind of problem has hit the Mall.

There were three assaults in June, including the attack on a family of tourists. Also let's not forget the early evening attack on the British citizen in Georgetown of all places where his throat was cut. That's two weeks back.

One way to avoid becoming a statistic is to use some common sense. These attacks are violent, and result in serious injury in most cases. This isn't your typical "gimme your wallet" confrontation.

Typically on Night Tour people start falling off at various points in the evening starting around 1:00-2:00 am. It is not wise or sensible to create a situation right now where people are at higher than normal risk.

This is an odd, and unusual situation. I'm keeping an eye on things, and hope to get Night Tour pulled together again in September.

The bigger issue is that 1)it's too darned hot to go galivanting around in any case. Clara refuses to get heat sick again this year. :) 2) I have upcoming vacation- so it's gonna be September at the earliest for this to come together. Weather should be a bit cooler, and the skies a tad clearer. :)

07/22/2006 10:47:21 AM · #13
We agree with Clara on this, September is a much better time, the weather has cooled off, as I said in a previous post the sunrise will make for some spectacular pictures. Not to mention some of those pesky tourists will have gone back home.

The weekend of the 23 is the weekend that sun will rise at 90 degrees and the shots of the Capital will be pretty but the chance of getting that shot of the sun shining in on Lincoln which cause incredible shadows from the columns, and the reds and orange cast from the sun.

Another cool shot is from the Iwo Jima at Sunrise.

I can say that we will be shooting that day unless it is raining..
07/22/2006 11:29:13 AM · #14
I'm lucky in that I carry an armed guard with me. :)

I will admit that, during the last get together, I was dumb and stayed in a parking lot waiting while others went to shoot something. A car pulled up and a guy got out asking for directions. Since I could tell he was a local (the plates gave it away) and his eyes were focused on my camera, I knew directions weren't what he was looking for. He gauged the situation and me. Luckily, my camera strap was wrapped around my wrist (learned from Muckpond earlier that day) and on the opposite side of my body from him. I grew up in DC so I knew how to act (he probably thought I was a tourist at first) so after about 3 minutes he gave up. The others in the car kept whispering something but he quickly got in his car and left. Muckpond, JPR, Frisca, and Nick were walking back so that also might have scared him off.

Would I be that stupid again? No. Standing under street lights gives you visibility but also makes you a target. Standing in the dark also makes you a target. Being in a deserted place makes you a target. Being in a crowded place makes you a target.

So, even with my armed guard, I'm a little leary about certain areas of the mall at night. September is great. Many of the criminals have to wake up for school the next day (yes, a large number of them are juveniles). Its not as hot so the people are a little calmer. Less tourists, less robbers.
07/22/2006 04:18:22 PM · #15
I'd be up for some photographical stuff, but I have to agree that now is not the best time to do that in DC. There are, however, other areas around here that are quite photogenic and safe to be in at this particular time. What those are is currently escaping my mind, but there is more to shoot in the DC area than the Washington Monument.

-Steve
07/22/2006 11:00:43 PM · #16
The Franciscan Monastery is wonderful,(and a really cool secret treasure) as are the Aquatic Gardens. The smelly Zoo is an option. (Has anyone been there are 6am when they open?)I figured it would be a great time to go.
I am in for the Scottish games.. I like men in skirts too =)

Today we went out to Middleburg and did some shots of an old church and then spent the rest of the afternoon shooting at a stable where they were having a steeple chase (jumpers)competition. We got some nice shots.

So let's keep this thread and thought alive!!

PS I could bring an armed guard with me too but I am sure he can not conceal carry in DC like he can in Virginia =0

Message edited by author 2006-07-22 23:02:08.
07/22/2006 11:22:29 PM · #17
Guess where I just got back from? The monastery. What a cool place!

I always go to the zoo by 8AM. The stroller patrol starts arriving by 10 - just when I'm about done. Its cooler, the animals are up and about and the people aren't. :)

I'm up for the scottish games...
07/23/2006 10:35:36 PM · #18
Monastary?? What monastary???
07/23/2006 10:43:54 PM · #19
Originally posted by khdoss:

The smelly Zoo is an option. (Has anyone been there are 6am when they open?)


Hey, be thankful for your smelly zoo! I grew up going to the National Zoo and then moved to Minnesota. The Minnesota Zoo is abysmal...you guys are lucky! :)
07/24/2006 04:29:40 PM · #20
I wanna hear more about this monastary!!! Isn't there a Hare Krishna temple in Capitol Heights?
07/24/2006 05:34:38 PM · #21
the Franciscan Monastery downtown, near UC and the National Shrine. Try this:
monastery
07/24/2006 06:36:41 PM · #22
Originally posted by blemt:

No problem at all. As a guy, you are more than welcome to go stand out at 2am with a couple K in camera gear. ;) I spent 6 years as an EMT in the DC area. I'm not paranoid by any means. But I do advocate use of some common sense.

I've lived here 10 years. I don't live my life saying woe is me and I don't hide indoors. :) I will often walk by myself back down the mall late at night. Right now I won't. This is a very unusual series of assaults. It's been YEARS since this kind of problem has hit the Mall.

There were three assaults in June, including the attack on a family of tourists. Also let's not forget the early evening attack on the British citizen in Georgetown of all places where his throat was cut. That's two weeks back.

One way to avoid becoming a statistic is to use some common sense. These attacks are violent, and result in serious injury in most cases. This isn't your typical "gimme your wallet" confrontation.

Typically on Night Tour people start falling off at various points in the evening starting around 1:00-2:00 am. It is not wise or sensible to create a situation right now where people are at higher than normal risk.

This is an odd, and unusual situation. I'm keeping an eye on things, and hope to get Night Tour pulled together again in September.

The bigger issue is that 1)it's too darned hot to go galivanting around in any case. Clara refuses to get heat sick again this year. :) 2) I have upcoming vacation- so it's gonna be September at the earliest for this to come together. Weather should be a bit cooler, and the skies a tad clearer. :)


wow sounds pretty bad there now, I am wathching "Geraldo at large" now they are stating that they are planning on a curfew for people 18 and under cause its that bad now, since crime is so high in DC. Also that the attacks are bad and some tourist was cut there.
08/11/2006 03:24:08 PM · #23
Yeah, looks like the bad guys might have been caught..
5 Arrested In National Mall Robberies, Assaults Police have arrested five people who they say were involved in a series of armed robberies and sex assaults on the National Mall.

//www.nbc4.com/tu/5i3SGjwGr.html

I am still game for September 23rd if anyone is interested..
This weekend is going to be wonderful here no heat no humidity just prefect and even going to the 50's tomorrow night

Message edited by author 2006-08-11 15:26:34.
08/14/2006 04:06:33 PM · #24
Karen,

Just happened to see your post. You know I work alot of robbery cases in the area. There are no shortage of stick up boys in DC. The mall is usally pretty safe but only becaus of the crowds, not those arrest you were referring to.. I'm sure you know that all of DC is still in a Crime emergency because of all the murders and shootings. If you are planning to be in DC late night, you are taking your chances, but what are you going to do...lock yourself in the house all your life??

I see Courtenay has posted here so maybe she is planning on going on this GTG, if so, then I will probably be there too. I usally avoid DC at night because of all the shootings, and the like and I shoot back. My recomendation is go in the afternoon and be out by 9:30 or 10:00. Rember all of you guys will have to get back to your cars or the train station when you are done takeing pictures, that means splitting up and leaving the area by yourselves or in pairs, not a group.
08/14/2006 04:16:18 PM · #25
I am coming to DC the 09/15 to 09/17. I am meeting some photogs from another site to go to the National Zoo early on Saturday, 09/16...I am sure the more the merrier and I am not aware of any special plans at the zoo that would not accomodate other photogs. I plan on coming in early on Friday, checking in to my hotel and then would be free to around 07:00 PM or so. If anyone is interested in meeting up, please post hear or PM me....thanks! RoB (PS would love to see the National Cathedral).
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