Cherry Blossom Time!
The National Park Service just announced the peak blooming dates for the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC will be March 14 – 17. This could mean no blossoms by the time the week of the Festival starts, but could mean less tourists at the peak photo times.
Being a DC native, I was always taught to avoid the Tidal Basin during March and April, because of the traffic and the tourists. It wasn’t until I joined a local photography club a few years ago that I actually started going down there. Now I actually enjoy going down there on occasion. Should I go this year? I went last year, but the weather wasn’t the best. I don’t know if I could top my photos from a few years ago, but there is always room for improvement, right?
My usual routine is to arrive well before sunrise. Not only do I get to avoid the worst of the tourists (although there are hundreds to thousands of photographers down there that early), but I get to catch the blossoms in the sunrise and golden hours light.
What to Remember:
The most important thing I’ve learned about my trips to shoot the blossoms is that you have to have patience! You are not the only photographer out there, and trust me, they aren’t all as considerate of others as you. The next most important thing is to dress warmly, and in layers. If you go down before dawn, it’s going to be chilly, but it will warm up once the sun rises. Things to remember to pack include lots of memory cards, charged batteries, a flashlight (it’s dark before the sunrise), and some snacks and drinks. I inevitably stay down there for several hours, and find myself hungry by early to mid-morning.
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. I like walking around the entire Tidal Basin to get shots of all the angles. You obviously don’t have to do that, but where’s the fun in running down, getting you sunrise shot and leaving? There is so much going on around the area, and so many monuments, you might as well enjoy yourself. Just remember to relax and have fun. Getting the good shot is important, but so is actually enjoying the beauty of the flowers and the city.