Yep, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of Washington D.C.’s cherry trees being planted around the Tidal Basin. These trees, a gorgeous gift from Japan, are celebrated every year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which brings flocks of tourists (and photographers!) to Washington to marvel at the fleeting explosion of pink and white. This year the D.C. Commission on Arts & Humanities has organized a public arts festival to coincide with the blossom madness and the folks at FotoDC are holding a photography contest with different categories and great prizes. Peak bloom this year is expected early, between March 24 and March 31.
The blooms are crazy-photogenic, but can be challenging to shoot as you jostle with thousands of others determined to get that perfect shot (or just happily gawking). Local photographer Brandon Kopp recently wrote up a great and detailed blog entry full of tips on shooting the blossoms which I thought was worth a link!
So just for fun, here are a few shots from around the web that I found special:
Photo by Navin Sarma
That’s just plain beautiful.
Image: Gawker
Stormy blossoms win with me!
Photo by Kevin Ambrose
WOW! Really stormy blossoms…
Kevin Ambrose/Washington Post
Sunrise is an extremely popular time to photograph the cherry blossoms, but there will be plenty of competition. I think I might head down there at night; I love night photography and it should be quiet. Worked well in the image above.
Let me know if you’ve got any special blossom photos; I’d be happy to share.
I want to go to there! These are gorgeous!
Ridiculously beautiful. I love how photographers have these little events to geek-out. Who knew.
The mall/tidal basin is a beautiful place to shoot the but if you want to beat the crowds, seek out the less traveled to monuments that also incorporate cherry trees in their landscape. It’s likely to give you a less common perspective and an easier shot to capture–no elbowing people and their gear out of the way. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception or even the Kenwood neighborhood of Bethesda/Chevy Chase.
Lydia, I’d love to see YOUR cherry blossom shots. Hope you’re able to get some good ones!
Thanks for the tips Mitch! It is true there are less crowded places to enjoy the blossoms.
I hope to get some good ones, if I do I will be sure to share!
Thanks for adding the link Lydia. I look forward to seeing your pictures too.