I visited Washington, D.C. on business frequently before I retired and, on a few occasions, I had time to walk around with my camera. I had a few more opportunities to photograph the D.C. area on post-retirement trips. It’s a photo-rich environment, with the variety of historic federal buildings, monuments and memorials.
I typically get shots of the Capitol, primarily because I’m often in a nearby hotel and it’s easy to hit Capitol Hill when I have a few minutes. And I often shoot the Vietnam Memorial. It’s a very emotional site because that was my generation’s war and I knew some of the names on the wall. The reflective stone makes it an interesting photo location.
And it’s hard not to shoot the Washington Monument. It’s the tallest structure in D.C.
But there are many more photogenic locations in D.C. Union Station, the train station a few blocks from the Capitol, provides a plethora of potential architectural photos, as does the Library of Congress that stands behind the Capitol. The Lincoln Memorial can also provide interesting opportunities, especially early in the morning before the crowds arrive. And I’ve always enjoyed visiting — and photographing — the various Smithsonian museums and Arlington Cemetery.
As is typical when I'm shooting in a city, I carry a variety of shorter lenses when I'm in D.C. I seldom find the need for telephoto lenses.