Guarded Rifleman

As I mentioned earlier this week, each Tuesday and Thursday in October and November, I will be posting a new photo from last fall's photo excursion to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Located near the Lincoln Memorial and tucked away from the main National Mall thoroughfare sits this monument in tribute to the U.S. and U.N. soldiers who served in Korean War.

Often the grandness and emotion of its monument neighbors -- the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial -- draw visitors away. However, the Korean War Veterans Memorial is quietly grand and emotional in its own way. Its focus is the 19 larger than life-sized stainless steel statues of a squad on patrol in full combat gear. Each branch of the military is depicted here as they climb the simulated rugged terrain of Korea. In position 16, this statue depicts a Army Rifleman carrying a M-1 Garand Rifle. While from this vantage point, his helmet hides his eyes, his tense body is able to express what his guarded face cannot.

Big Blue Sky

Silhouettes of trees against a bright blue sky. What a combination! While in Seattle, I happened to look up at the sky and was struck by the juxtaposition of these darkened trees against such a clear, bright blue sky. The sun shining through the wispy clouds in the left top corner of the image adds "a touch of God" to the photo. How I wish our days were filled with more skies like this one. It's the kind of sky that makes you want to find a nice piece of grass to lay on and just watch the sky all day long.

Korean War Veterans Memorial in Fall

In my first photography class in college, one of our assignments was to select one object and take pictures of it from 20 different perspectives. Each photo needed to be completely different in order to be counted. After taking about 12 unique photos of a garden fountain, I began believing that this assignment was too easy. Then, I got to photo #13. Creating a new perspective of a subject I had been filming for at least an hour became very challenging. After 20 minutes in vain, frustration set in; the new photos started looking like the older ones and I was still stuck on photo #13.

Then, I remembered something the professor had shared when he gave the assignment. In order to complete this task, we would have to become inventive and creative. Through our camera's viewfinder, we would have to find new ways to see this object. We needed to keep moving the camera, lens and ourselves and adjust the focus and distance to uncover the hidden aspects of the fountain which would be missed by convention alone. By changing our perspective of the subject, we transform and reinvent it for the photo's viewer. Once I altered my perspective, I took photo #13. And after another hour, I completed the assignment. My final photos were the best of the bunch. It taught me how to become a photographer who invents new ways to film a subject and as a result, generates more interesting photographs.

As one will note on this blog so far, I love revisiting subjects. Each visit with an inventive, creative spirit and camera viewfinder, I'm able to always discover something new about a familiar subject. Last year on a crisp Autumn morning at dawn, I ventured to the National Mall to photograph my Mom's favorite memorial -- the Korean War Veterans Memorial -- for her Christmas gift. Using this same photographic tactic, I rediscovered the beauty of a monument I had visited many times before. The resulting photos are some of the best I've ever taken. Each Tuesday and Thursday during October and November, I'll be posting a new photo from that session. As a starting point, today's post is the standard postcard shot of the memorial. Hopefully by the end of November, you'll see this memorial in a new way too.

Tudor House Fountain

Ah, the peacefulness of a garden fountain. Wouldn't it be great if your backyard looked like this one? And if you are an apartment dweller like me, don't you wish you even had a backyard?

Ever since Alan, Charlie and Tommy from BBC's Ground Force entered my life, I can only refer to garden fountains by its British and rightful name -- water features. Fountains, like this one at Tudor Place Historic House and Garden in Georgetown, delightfully add sound and movement to outside places. Its sound and motion are symbolic of life, always moving and constant.

Hello Mr. Lincoln

The Lincoln Memorial is everyone's default favorite monument on the National Mall. It's easy to understand why. One can't help but be moved by the large marble statue of President Lincoln sitting and looking over the Reflecting Pool. The monument is even more impressive at night, which was when I took this close-up. I love the solemnity in his face.

The Arch, Framed

After visiting the St. Louis Gateway Arch at the riverfront, we explored the surrounding neighborhood looking for a great BBQ place for lunch. As we crossed a street, I turned to my left and saw this image. The buildings along the street beautifully framed the arch and created a great long distance image. It's one of my favorites from this trip.

St. Louis Gateway Arch

Around this time last year, I visited St. Louis for the first time to volunteer at the Farm Aid concert. On a side note, Farm Aid is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. To learn why helping America's family farmers and growing the good food movement is so important, watch this video.

Now back to the photo ... Before returning to DC, I had a few hours to see the city. Of course, I headed straight for the St. Louis Gateway Arch. After spending about an hour photographing the arch, I was unable to take a photo with the whole arch in the frame. The structure was so large that probably the best way to get it all in one frame would be by air. This photograph was the best I could manage from the ground. It's an incredible structure in person and worth the trip to the riverfront before heading to the airport.