Washington, DC is a city of monuments and neighborhoods, of history and hustle, and where every block carries rich stories from our nation. For Trope Washington, DC, the tenth volume in our City Edition series, we found photographers who captured the city through their own eyes. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we're going Behind the Shot with five of them, hearing in their own words, what drew them to the frame.
Adam Brockett
View of the Washington Monument from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Photo taken by Adam Brockett.
Almost all of my DC photos are photos I’ve taken with my dad, and that’s what I think of when I see this photo. I took this photo of the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background my first summer back in the DC area after grad school. I had just gotten my PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience at Princeton University and was starting as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Maryland. Prior to Princeton, I had spent my whole life in the DC area, but I had never taken pictures of it.
I first got into photography as a grad student as a means to get away from the lab, and had followed some DC photographers on Instagram in anticipation of my move back to the DC area. My dad had always loved photography, and so every weekend we would meet up early, drive into DC together, and start taking photos. This was from one of our first photo trips into the city. Until this photo, my dad and I had never really explored the Jefferson much. We were just walking around the outer edge of the memorial. It was a warm and humid morning. The sun had just broken through some clouds, and we liked the alignment of the Washington Monument with the columns of the Jefferson. You can’t see him, but my dad was just to my left, taking a similar shot when I took this.
Above the White House. Photo taken by Adam Brockett.
In 2011, the year before I left the DC area to start graduate school, I was working at the NIH as a student researcher. After a day of work, I had just gotten on the Metro to head back to College Park. As we were passing the Dupont Circle station, I felt a sudden shift. The train seemed to rock suddenly back and forth before slowing down to almost a complete stop. The Metro can be bumpy, and sudden stops aren’t all that uncommon. Cell service is also terrible underground, and so I didn’t think much about it as we continued moving slowly forward. As we stopped at the Friendship Heights Station, passengers on the platform began asking if the train was still working and explained that there had been an earthquake.
The earthquake bent the Washington Monument, closing it for several years. I was so excited to hear it was reopening, and my now wife got us tickets to go to the top. I took this photo of the White House from the top of the Washington Monument in late Fall. Preparations for the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse were being made just off camera.
Tina Kalandadze
View of the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain and Union Station. Photo taken by Tina Kalandadze.
I was rushing to catch a train at Union Station when something made me slow down. In the middle of the crowd, I noticed a woman with a red sweater draped over her shoulders.
With the flags behind her, the red aligned almost perfectly with the stripes, it felt effortless.
I paused, waited for the moment, and took the shot.
View of the U.S. Capitol Building and the National Mall. Photo taken by Tina Kalandadze.
The snow started lightly, then took over the city. I went out for a walk with no destination, just to see DC a little differently. The streets were mostly empty and quiet. Then I noticed someone sitting on a bench, covered in snow, completely unbothered. Everything around them kept moving, but they stayed still. I stopped, took the photo, and kept walking. It made me think about how rare it is to truly take in a moment.
Anthony Mance
View of the Abraham Lincoln Statue in the Lincoln Memorial. Photo taken by Anthony Mance.
I had the privilege of living in the Washington, DC area for two years. During that time, I made it a priority to get out with my camera as much as I could. My routine was to wake up well before dawn on the weekends, head to the National Mall with my camera, and just see what the day offered.
On this particular autumn morning, I found myself, as I often did, at the Lincoln Memorial. The Memorial is always a stunning and awe-inspiring experience. But on early, clear mornings, it is magical. If you are there at the right moment, you can catch the sun streaming in through the pillars, giving the entire space a warm golden glow.
As I wandered the quiet interior of the Memorial, I noticed a perfect juxtaposition between the light of the sun streaming in and the dark shadows cast on the internal pillars. It was a shot I had wanted to take since I first set foot in the Memorial but somehow never quite worked. As I set up my shot, a large group of people came into the space. I waited. As the group began to disperse, I put my camera to my eye in the hopes of capturing the photo as the group left and before another group came in. Then, at the last moment, a solitary figure came in to look up at Mr. Lincoln’s statue, already glowing from the first light of morning. It was a quiet scene of awe and reverence, lasting but a moment before the space was once again alive with the eager and curious.
Inside the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station. Photo taken by Anthony Mance.
I have been fortunate to travel to many cities around the world and have traveled on and photographed many subway stations. None are quite as unique as the Metro in Washington, DC. The combination of rectangles, curves, leading lines, and unique lighting placement makes for an exceptional photography experience. On this particular day, I was not intending on photographing the Metro. In fact, I wasn’t even planning on doing any photography. But, if there is one thing I have learned as a photographer, sometimes the best photos happen when you are not looking for them. As I waited to board the train in Chinatown, I noticed that one whole strip of lights along the ceiling had gone out, creating a dark, shadowed band that broke the continuity of the curved ceiling. As a train pulled into the station, I quickly grabbed my camera and took a photo. The result is an almost abstract scene that gives the distinct impression of movement through an infinite space.
Reece Predmore
View of the U.S. Capitol Building. Photo taken by Reece Predmore.
This photo may go down as one of my favorite photos I've ever taken. The moment, the feeling, the patience while standing in the snow waiting for the perfect moment. Isn't that what makes photography so exhilarating? Allowing yourself to stand in cold and wet conditions to capture a moment you've envisioned for so long. I remember seeing that snow was in the forecast, so of course, I took my camera to work that day just in case. As soon as I looked outside and saw it begin to start, I ran to the Metro and headed out. At first, it looked promising, as the snow was just barely more than rain and melting right away. As I arrived to the Capitol, it began. The ideal snow for a picture perfect moment. I believe I stood there for a good hour waiting for someone to come into frame that made me feel the moment. It was one of the best moments I've had while out taking photos.
View of 1st Street NE. Photo taken by Reece Predmore.
I discovered this vantage point after taking an elevator to the top of the Union Station parking garage randomly one night. If rain is in the forecast, I try my hardest to get out to shoot photos. This night was no different. As I left the Metro at Union Station, I thought, "What if I went to the top of the parking garage to see what the scene looks like?"
I saw the train tracks below and knew this could potentially be a great shot if I waited it out. So, I propped an umbrella up until I saw the Metro approaching. I wasn't sure if the Metro would stretch the entire frame as I had envisioned, but sure enough! The composition is exactly as I had planned.
Raúl Rodriguez
View of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin. Photo taken by Raúl Rodriguez.
Captured during cherry blossom season in Washington, DC, this photograph was taken along the Tidal Basin following the vibrant Bloomaroo celebration at The Wharf. After the energy and crowds of the festivities had passed, the city revealed a quieter, more intimate side. While walking among the blooming trees, I came across a solitary man seated by the water, peacefully taking in the view of the Jefferson Memorial. With no crowds around, the moment felt calm, reflective, and timeless, an authentic glimpse of stillness in the heart of the city.
The scene reflects a more relaxed side of the city, with fewer people and a peaceful atmosphere. It highlights how, even during one of the busiest times of the year, there are still moments where you can slow down and enjoy the surroundings without distraction.