Gear Talk Archives - Exposed DC

Chris Williams and His Mechanical Miracles: Tips for Photographing Airplanes

May 5, 2015 By Caroline Space

Photography by Chris Williams

This Friday May 8, WWII planes are flying over the National Mall. To enjoy the sky parade, Exposed DC is hosting an event around the Jefferson Memorial. Photographing airplanes flying in the sky can be complicated—timing is everything. To help anyone bringing their camera down to the Mall, I asked aviation photography expert, Chris Williams, who also taught our Knowledge Commons class at Gravelly Point last fall, a few questions about his craft and to share a few tips about capturing great aeronautical images.

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Resource: Exposed DC Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

December 9, 2014 By Sanjay Suchak

Need a gift for the photographer in your life? The Exposed DC holiday gift guide is here to help, with gifts picked by actual photographers (not by advertisers!). So just like last year we implore you to put down the camera lens mug, or the Polaroid toilet paper roll – an actual gift received by this Exposed DC writer last year – and get them something useful. Also be sure to check out last year’s list. We tried not to repeat too many things.

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New Local Rental Gear Resource: F8 Rentals

April 22, 2014 By Meaghan Gay

When Calumet Photo filed bankruptcy and closed their stores across the nation last month, the largest local camera rental department in the area disappeared with it. Hardly missing a beat, Jerry Smith, the former manager of the Calumet’s rental department in Tyson’s Corner has opened his own business, F8 Rentals, to help fill that void.

Transferring a small portion of a previously existing business to a new endeavor is not new for those in the former Penn Camera and Calumet family. The former head of the Penn Camera Workshops, Marie Joabar, broke out on her own after Penn went bankrupt in early 2012 and founded the Capital Photography Center. Now Smith is trying to follow a similar path. We asked him a few questions about F8 Rentals.

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Local Resource Guide: Camera Stores

March 25, 2014 By Meaghan Gay

With the demise of Calumet Photo and their three local retail stores this month, we knew it was time to add a list of camera stores to our Local Resource Guide. There are still three camera stores in the District, and three in Northern Virginia. If you know of any we missed (especially in Maryland) let us know in the comments and we’ll add them. Last updated in February 2024.

Ace Photo – 703-430-3333
44710 Cape Ct. Suite 122 Ashburn, VA 20147
This store has been in business for over 20 years, and offers a full array of new and used camera equipment, lighting and studio gear, bags, cases, accessories, printers and paper. Ace Photo also has a printing lab.

Dominion Camera – 703-532-6700
112 West Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046
Located in the center of Falls Church, this store offers new and used equipment, film, bags, cases and accessories. They also offer film processing and scanning.

District Camera – 877-374-6869
6025-G Burke Centre Pkwy., Burke, VA 22015

Formerly Photo Craft, a family business established in 1978. Offers camera equipment, lighting and studio gear, bags, cases, accessories, film.

Leica Store DC – 202-787-5900
977 F St. NW Washington, DC 20004
Leica Store DC offers all Leica products for sale, as well as a small selection of used items. The store holds events, and showcases work in their gallery.

Pro Photo – 202-223-1292
2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20006
Pro Photo is known for their professional expertise, including repairing and servicing gear. The offer new and used camera equipment, bags, cases, and accessories. They moved last year to their current location on Pennsylvania Ave.

Photography Classes in the D.C. Area

January 14, 2014 By Meaghan Gay

Whether you want to take up photography for the first time, or you have a degree in photography but are looking to hone a new camera skill, there are classes in the D.C. area that can help you. We have compiled a list of institutions that offer workshops, semester long courses, and degree programs in photography as part of our Local Resource Guide.

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