Spring is here, and with the cold weather finally on its way out of DC it is a perfect time to get outside and take some photos! This beautiful image of magnolias was captured by Bekah Richards in Rawlins Park. By taking the photo with an upward angle the solid blue sky remains a consistent backdrop, eliminating any distractions that would take away from the flower’s vibrancy. So, when you are taking photos of nature make sure to try different points of view to make the viewer want to stop and smell the roses or, in this case, magnolias.

This image by @manylaughs just goes to show that we can add a bit of drama to even the most ordinary of subjects in photography. Producing the photo in black and white heightens the contrast between the lighter and darker portions of the image. Photographers are able to experiment with dramatic shadow-play by underexposing images. In this image, the photographer used an f-stop of 4.0, a shutter speed of 1/25, and an ISO of 800. Thanks for sharing!

Such a lovely photograph taken by Olaf Zerbock in the large, urban Rock Creek Park in Northwest D.C. This image was shot with a low ISO of just 50 and a higher aperture of f/16, thus keeping the shutter open for a longer period of time to create the smooth appearance of the water. A common challenge with daytime long exposure images is that the scene you want to capture is too bright. In order to address this, photographers will often use a neutral density (ND) filter, which reduces the amount of light entering the lens without affecting the color of the image.

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Really vibing with this photograph of the D.C.-based punk band Priests, taken by Brett Davis. In this intimate venue, the photographer is able to capture a distinctive moment of the lead vocalist that is both crisp and enticing using a Leica camera with a Summicron-M 35mm lens. It’s part of the Leica M-System, and the “M” stands for the German term Messsucher, which describes the combined rangefinder/viewfinder that lets you see action that is happening outside of the existing frame. Pretty neat! Thanks for sharing, Brett!

Don’t forget to submit to our annual contest for a chance to be part of our 2019 exhibit! The deadline is tomorrow at midnight.

In this photograph, Eric Merideth has ventured into the unpredictability of street photography in the rain. While many are dissuaded by clouds looming in the sky, this photographer has found the magic it can create. This photo taken at night time puts emphasis on the dramatic weather as the rain is backlit by the street lamp above. The light’s intensity makes the rain glimmer against the backdrop of the evening light. Thanks for sharing, Eric!

Don’t forget to share your unique perspective of Washington, D.C. by submitting to our annual photography contest! Entries accepted through January 9, 2019.