We’re so excited to see you at the Jefferson Memorial today to watch 50 World War II airplanes fly over the National Mall! USAF Colonel Scott Willey will be our special guest, answering all your questions about the aircraft. The first airplane is scheduled to arrive at 12:10pm, but we’ll be there from 11:00am so make sure to get there in plenty of time – just look for our tent! All the details are in our Facebook event.

And now, back down to Earth with this week’s links:

• “Balancing being aware of the mood of all those present with trying to focus on capturing the moment is a challenge.” D.C.-based photographer Keith Lane documented his visit to Baltimore last weekend.
• The organizers of last weekend’s Funk Parade are asking any photographers who took images of the Junkyard Band to message them. The band’s bassist and manager, Derek “House” Colquitt, died in a motorcycle accident the following day.
• Former Exposed winner Erin Lassahn put together a portfolio of all the musicians she photographed during her years at Gibson Guitars in downtown D.C.
• We’re sad to hear that artdc is closing its gallery in Hyattsville, which was home to many great art and photography exhibits, but definitely look forward to seeing what they do next.
• Words Beats Life is hosting the second annual Paint Jam on Saturday with 75+ artists — sure to be a fantastic photo op.
• A photograph from Baltimore of a National Guardsman and his automatic rifle sitting with a little girl went viral because apparently everyone in this country has lost their minds and proclaimed it “heartwarming.” The photographer, Amanda Moore, disagrees.
• Roberto Schmidt, the the chief photographer for South Asia for Agence France-Presse, describe what it’s like to go through an earthquake and avalanche on Mount Everest.
• “Film chemistry, photo lab procedures, video screen colour balancing practices, and digital cameras in general were originally developed with a global assumption of ‘Whiteness.’” How photography was optimized for white skin.
• Take a gander at some portraits of current celebs captured on old school tintype.
• “I know this sounds crazy, but I can actually talk to the chickens. I can get them to calm down and look where I want them to look.” Photographer Jean Pagliuso photographs birds — chickens, owls, raptors — to honor her late father, who raised show chickens.
• Moving Art interviews photographer Michael Shainblum about his time lapses of the Milky Way and gorgeous landscapes.
• National Geographic gathered their pros to make a new book of advice and inspiration; pre-order now to get yours at the end of May.
• PDN’s contest for outdoor photography ends May 13.
• Why, yes! You can get your wedding portraits shot underwater.
• Photos of an ongoing archeological excavation reveal that the Easter Island Heads have bodies.
• A new exhibit exploring Chuck Close’s photographic work is opening next week at the Parrish, and sounds incredible.
• Flickr just redesigned the way you can organize and upload your photos. (Why don’t you give it a whirl and then add some photos to our pool?)
• The Dry Dog Wet Dog photo series is everything you hope it will be.