A single day of shooting in Baltimore/DC?

[Scottes]

Looks like I have to make a business trip to Baltimore soon, and I'm trying to schedule it so that I get a free day (Sat or Sun) to go shooting.

What to do?

I know that I want to do some city-type stuff - skyline, old architecture, bridges, etc. Particularly stuff that's well suited to panos - large, interesting scenes with a lot of free space around. Famous stuff is OK, but doesn't drive me so much as interesting stuff. So while DC is certainly possible it's not really necessary. Skipping DC might save hours of driving which could be filled in Baltimore and the area close to it.

I also have a huge desire for some interesting night shots, again, of the pano variety.

Any hints & tips are greatly appreciated.


One last thing - from reading the Great Maryland Photo Expedition thread - does the B&O Railroad Museum have a steam engine, or any "really old" engines, outside where I could get a pano of it?

[CoolToolGuy]

One day can be filled up just around the Inner Harbor. There are interesting views and some nice shots from sunrise through the day into night. The Aquarium is interesting but expensive (over $20). You could keep yourself occupied without going into the Aquarium.

The B&O has most of the collection inside, but the roundhouse has room for pano shots without any building architecture in the way, so you could get some that way. They have several steam engines in there. There is an outside yard out front with stock that has not yet been restored, and a couple of covered platforms with some restored stock on display. The other major area is the North Car Shop, but that is pretty crowded for a pano shot. They have projects underway in there for some different types of shots.

Hope this helps.

Have Fun,

[RossW]

If you're at the Inner Harbor (recommended), you're within walking distance of Oriole Park and the Ravens' stadium. The old railway warehouse on the east side of the Oriole Park complex is the longest building on the east coast... beautiful brick. IIRC, the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the bay is pretty interesting, and there's a variety of industrial and shipyard activity on the south side of the harbor. That might be the best chance for panorama -- wide and flat, with the tall buildings in the background as seen from the "beltway."

Downtown has some interesting buildings, but getting them in a panorama may be tough. The "Bromo" (as in Bromo Seltzer) Tower is pretty cool in the evening, with a vivid blue light in the cupula. Happy shooting!

If you have some extra time, you might consider a trip east to Annapolis. State capital, Naval Academy, and a very tall highway bridge. Lots of nature stuff on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, too.

[Togra4]

oh yes you must go to Annapolis or Naptown as we natives call it....a great photo op is as follows, have an early dinner at the chart house (awesome architecture, old boat house, the whole front of the place is a gigantic window, exposed beams a fireplace and comfy leather couches) just over the spa creek bridge in Eastport..I recommend the Ahi Tuna w/wasabi appetizer and the prime rib is awesome, they have the best salad bar in town (or used to anyway, got kinda torn up when Isabelle came to visit)...and just as the sun starts to set go stand at the end of the pier and turn left, there is a sort of landing , point and shoot, ta da, you will have yourself a lovely post card.....right in front of you youll see the lovely but small down Town annapolis harbor and skyline with all the masts you can stomach..I can hear the ropes clanging in the breeze as i type...its so pretty.

[Jon]

There's also Federal Hill (http://www.historicfederalhill.org/www), just the other side of the inner harbor from the Inner Harbor. Aside from the area itsself, Federal Hill Park would be a good location to do panoramas of the Inner Harbor area.

I'd feel a little less comfortable that Rick about being able to do much in the way of panos inside the roundhouse; most of the engines seemed to be pretty close together, IIRC.

It takes me less than an hour to reach Baltimore from just outside DC by car, and I'm a half hour Metro ride from downtown DC. There are Metro stations closer to I-95 than me, too, so getting to DC wouldn't necessarily take "hours and hours". We're actually a bit closer together than Boston and Providence.

[CoolToolGuy]

I'd feel a little less comfortable that Rick about being able to do much in the way of panos inside the roundhouse; most of the engines seemed to be pretty close together, IIRC.


Jon has a good point. The front ends of the stock on display in the roundhouse are fairly close together, but being a roundhouse, the space expands as you get near the outside walls, and there is some room. I used my EF-S 10-22 and got some nice wide shots from the rear of the engine/tender, but you probably can't get a true pano without stitching.

Check my shots from the day in January, and it may give you an idea of what is possible.
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/mk8Am7qY

Good luck - I'll be happy to tell you what I know about any venues you might be interested in.

Have Fun,

[Scottes]

After reading all this stuff and starting to plan, I actually decided to MapQuest how far I'd be from all of them. Well, I'll actually be in Columbia. Why do companies list their headquarters as "Baltimore" when it's really in Columbia?? :grrr:

I might as well do DC after all. At least that's easy, since I should be able to fill the day there... But hasn't it all been done a million times? (Well, not by me...)

Though a Sunday night trip to Federal Hill Park is certainly possible. What a gorgeous view.

[spencer87]

Baltimore has so much charm, if you have the time dont skip it! Federal Hill is nice but after living in Baltimore all of my life the Inner Harbor is still my favorite spot.

[Jon]

DC, panoramas - maybe take Metro to Rosslyn (Metro offers all-day, unlimited ride passes (http://www.wmata.com/riding/passes.cfm) for $6.50) and shoot across the river from there - Rosslyn metro's about 1/4 mile from the Potomac. There's also Arlington Cemetary for views across the river. The Mall's probably an "everyone" panorama, but that's no reason to avoid it. National Cathedral isn't really close to any Metro stops - about a mile from either Tenleytown or Cleveland Park, but on-street parking wouldn't be too hard to find. US Botanic Gardens (http://www.usbg.gov/) are over near the Capitol building. IIRC, they tend to be hard on "professional" photographers, and you need a permit to use a tripod inside. Driving, you could visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc95.htm), on the banks of the Anacostia. Probably more I'll think of later, but at least here are a few things most people might miss.

[Scottes]

Please stop Jon! I only have a day!

Thanks for the list!

[Jon]

Please stop Jon! I only have a day!

Thanks for the list!
So now you have options! The tried and true, or the off-the-beaten-track. TR Island's just off Rosslyn in the Potomac and has a view a little further downstream than you'll get there. There are also overlooks on the GW Parkway (VA side of the river) with often good views of the DC shore. C&) Canal's on the MD side.

[staciecd]

Baltimore also has alot of history - I would recommend the view of the harbor from Federal Hill, Fort McHenry where the Star Spangle Banner was "written". If you walk over to Pier 5, behind the Aquarium, there is a neat lighthouse. If you need a tourguide for the morning, let me know.

stacie