Contests

Chattin' and chillin' at The Awakening while it was still at
Hains Point, East Potomac Park, Washington D.C.

I mentioned yesterday that I recently entered a local photo competition for amateur and professional photographers. It's been fun to visit the exhibit with family members and friends and to have people contact me for copies of my photos.

For those who are interested, National Geographic and Smithsonian magazine are both holding photography contests that are open to amateur and professional photographers from all over the globe.*

The National Geographic International Photography Contest 2008 has three categories you can enter: People, Places, and Nature.

The Smithsonian magazine's 6th Annual Photo Contest has five categories you can enter: Americana, The Natural World, People, Altered Images, and Travel.

Given the breadth of places we all live, the things we each see, and the talents we all possess, I daresay any of us could enter at least one of these two competitions with an award-worthy photo!

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today!

About today's picture: This is one of the first photos I took with my then-new Canon A630 last year at Hains Point in East Potomac Park. At the time, The Awakening was the park's prominent feature and had been for more than 25 years. Then the artist, J. Seward Johnson, sold his work to developer Milt Petersen for $750,000, who recently moved it to a very sterile and uninspiring spot at the uber-development Prince Georges National Harbor Complex. Sad, really, because The Awakening was a wonderful and whimsical site to see. Now, it's just a poorly exhibited possession for an egomaniac.

* Be sure to read the rules carefully. I know the National Gee contest has some restrictions and participation is prohibited in a few countries.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Over / Under

Key Bridge over the Potomac River

This week's Two Things Challenge was Over / Under. I chose as my subject Key Bridge. Located at the northern end of Georgetown, Key Bridge was built between 1917 and 1923 by the Army Corps of Engineers and connects the District of Columbia on the northern side with the Commonwealth of Virginia on the southern side. Named for Francis Scott Key, author of "The Star-Spangled Banner", it is one of five bridges that cross the Potomac into the District from Virginia and vice versa.

Standing under Key Bridge, looking up

In addition, to the north of Key Bridge is Chain Bridge. South of Key Bridge is Roosevelt Bridge, Memorial Bridge, and the 14th Street Bridge. According to Wikipedia, when Key Bridge is congested, as it often is, some people refer to it as the "Car Strangled Spanner." I think that's a great name for it, but it hasn't really caught on. Shame really. A lot of people who work in D.C., but live in Virginia, walk home along this beautiful bridge. Unlike other bridges in the U.S., which are a magnet for the suicidal, this one is relatively lacking in notoriety. Occasionally someone will take a dive off of it, but thankfully it's quite rare.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 08/08

Kayakers

Kayakers drifting along near Roosevelt Island

As hectic as Washington, D.C., can be, there are opportunities for recreation that allow for a little bit of escape. Case in point: kayaking. These ladies are going for the relaxing, easy variety. Further up the river, there are falls and whitewater frequented by more adventurous kayaking types. Some folks choose sculling and all of the universities with rowing teams practice and race on the Potomac.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 6/08