I was out and about almost every day in October, working on two projects. One was the annual competition for the U.S. Capitol Historical Society’s calendar, “We The People.” I have been successful each year for the past five in placing at least one image in that calendar. The calendar mostly features images of Washington’s most beloved monuments and memorials.
This year — it being the 150th anniversary of the Civil War — the editor asked for images commemorating that war. I made two trips to Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, MD, and two trips north to Gettysburg National Military Park.
Both these spots were the scenes of horrendous casualties and one cannot help but feel how wasteful and pointless most wars are. But both spots are also very scenic and peaceful, bucolic spots now. Antietam is far less “developed” and has far fewer visitors. I made the mistake of visiting Gettysburg on a Saturday morning at the height of fall color. The place was “overrun” with tourists, not a situation ammenable to serious photography!
My friend Howard Youth, a naturalist and writer, is putting together a book called “A Field Guide to the Natural History of Washington.” If focuses on twelve parks in the District, including Rock Creek Park and the National Arboretum.
A long time ago I agreed to provide the photos for this book, and while I had made some images for my book “Spring Comes to Washington” that would also work for Howard’s book, October was when the job came into focus. I had to make shots before all the leaves dropped and while scenes were at the peak of color. Accordingly, I made numerous trips into the city to cover each of the twelve spots. Some, like Glover-Archbold, were quite difficult, because they were mostly “undeveloped.” There was just a simple trail through the middle of this park and the lighting was very challenging.
I am happy to report that that project has been “put to bed.” I successfully photographed all twelve locations, as well as over twenty species of trees. Now I can return to my usual focus of working critters and more wild scenes!