The snowflakes were fat and fluffy and drifted slowly to the ground due to the lack of wind. The frozen ground, blanketed by a thick layer of powder, was missing the puddles of water that often appear on the Mall during the winter season. Washington, at least for a day, was transformed into a winter wonderland for photography.
Even better that it came on President’s Day, when many people had the day off of work and many schools were closed. Roads were quiet, and the snow was enjoyable.
Welcome back to the rain and puddles today, however. Dry, powdery snow scenes rarely last for long periods of time in this city. The forecast called for heavy rain today so I knew the snow would be fleeting and I took plenty of photos before the transition to slop and slush.
Included in this post is a selection of photos that I shot yesterday featuring people and landmarks in the snow. My photography hike started near the Capitol and my route included the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial and the Tidal Basin. Moderate to heavy snow fell during my entire photography hike.
I used an umbrella to cover my camera. Photography in yesterday’s snowstorm was particularly easy because the snow was dry and the wind was light. My boots stayed dry and my gloves stayed dry. The snowflakes, often falling at a heavy rate, bounced off of my umbrella and fell to the ground around me. So often, photographing snowstorms on the Mall is a wet and windy task which will leave my coat, gloves, and boots soaked with water. This snowstorm, however, provided a nice contrast to many of our past wet snowstorms.
Now, unfortunately, I should gear up for photographing flood scenes. I much prefer shooting snow. Especially the dry, fluffy snow that we experienced yesterday.
