Half-and-Half

We are in-between seasons right now in the DC area. Just two weeks ago, our trees were full of red, yellow and orange leaves of autumn. Recent rain storms speed up the fall process and now we have half-and-half trees like this one.

Poor confused trees holding on to some of its leaves while losing others in the seasonal process. Like the human residents in neighborhood, these trees are caught between the last brilliance of autumn and the cold starkness of winter. Whether we like it or not, I'm pretty sure that winter will win out in the end.

Tree as Art

I'm getting too accustomed to using my iPhone as a camera now. It is delightful to know that as long as I have my cell phone, I can capture fantastic photographs.

During my walk in Penn Quarter over the weekend, I came across this fabulous tree outside of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. While it is a living tree, it is remarkable how sculpted it looks. I wonder if the museum landscapers intentionally selected this tree because it could so easily pass as a living piece of artwork.

Modern Head

Have you ever walked by something a million times and never noticed its significance?

Recently, I was walking around one of my favorite areas in the District, Penn Quarter and passed by this modern art sculpture outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I've seen it many times, but never stopped to read about its remarkable story. This weekend, I paused and read its adjacent plaque.  
Modern Head, by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, was originally installed in Battery Park in New York City in 1996. It was one of the few structures that survived the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings in 2001. The 31-foot sculpture only suffered a few surface scratches and served as an FBI message board during its investigation the days following the September 11 attacks.

What a remarkable story. I'm glad I took an extra minute to learn about it. I'll never look at this sculpture the same way again.

Painted Sky

It's been stormy here in Washington, DC. Since Hurricane Irene in August, it seems like we have had more rainy days than sunny ones. Even though it was a lousy way to end the summer season, the powers that be tried to make up for it.

Once afternoon thunderstorms passed through the area, DC dwellers would be treated to these spectacular sunset skies. Light from the setting sun would reflect and cascade colors upon the lingering storm clouds left in the sky. During this evening spectacle, commuters on sidewalks stop, look up and marvel at the sight.

While hustling to meet friends for dinner after work recently, I paused to take this photograph of the Smithsonian Institute American Portrait Gallery building in Penn Quarter with the brilliant sunset sky as its backdrop. What a beautiful city to live in!

To the Moon

Do not be deceived by today's post. I did not travel to the moon recently and forgot to mention it on the blog. Actually, this is a photograph of the Apollo Lunar Module on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. This is a real lunar module -- one of 12 built for the Apollo Project -- whose mission was cancelled due to the success of the first Apollo Lunar Module test vehicle. According to the museum, lunar modules are meant to be used in low Earth orbit to test the techniques of separation, rendezvous, and docking with the command and service module. During moon missions, the lunar module is released when the astronauts enter the command module to return to Earth, leaving the lunar module to remain on the moon.

Now with the end of NASA space shuttle missions -- the last shuttle launch occurred last week -- there is no need for this type of space vehicle. Like the other air and space relics displayed at the Air and Space Museum, this lunar module becomes just a reminder of America's ambitious space exploration program and that once upon a time, Americans traveled in space.

Last Conversation Piece

The Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is one of the modern art Smithsonian art galleries. The other day I was passing by the museum and one of its outdoor sculptures caught my attention. An installation piece by Spanish artist Juan Munoz, the Last Conversation Piece in the Hirshorn sculpture garden consists of 5 human-like figures with rounded bases, resembling punching bags, scattered across the lawn. Only four of the sculpted people appear in this photograph. The fifth person is located out of frame to the left of the cluster of three. Munoz's sculpture reminds me of life in high school, when gossip was delivered in groups while the object of their talk, like the person on the right, were left outside and isolated. Oh, how I wish these tactics were just isolated to high school. Unfortunately for some, old habits can die hard.

Rule of Thirds

Whenever someone asks me for photography tips, I always share the same one -- the rule of thirds. It's probably the only photography rule that I follow during photo excursions. Shared by my college photography instructor, the rule of thirds relates to where your subject or focus of your photograph is positioned in your composition.

The rule states that an image theoretically should be divided into nine equal parts by two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. Then, the photographer would place the subject, focus or important elements along these imaginary lines or their intersection. Most people just center their subject in the image. However, like in today's photo of one of the Smithsonian Museum gardens, placing your focus along the rule of thirds' lines or intersections can create energy and action to tell your photo story. Often I take several photos of one subject, placing it on different lines or intersections, to discover the most interesting position and composition for the subject. The rule of thirds can also be applied to other arts, such as painting, film-making and design.

George Washington Revealed

Believe it or not, this statue depicts the first President of the United States, George Washington. Strange, right? Located at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the George Washington Statue, 1841 is not a common representation of Washington.

Art renderings of Washington usually look like this, or even this, or one of my personal favorites, like this. Seeing Washington in this pose and toga seems inappropriate rather than classic, as the artist and Congress may have intended in the 1840s. Perhaps future generations will judge this sculpture differently and appreciate its more classic references instead of desiring a more realistic depiction of this founding father.

Welcome to the Peaceful Garden

One of the first things you see when you enter my home is a framed version of this photograph on the wall. It was taken at the Enid A. Haupt Moongate Garden near the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall during my first visit to Washington, DC. It's a close-up of one of the four granite gates that line the garden. At the time, I was drawn to the symmetry of the gate against the backdrop of lush green plants and trees. Years later, I still feel centered and calm when I look at it. When decorating my home with my favorite photographs, I knew this image would be the best photograph to peacefully welcome to guests to my home.