Monuments & Memorials

Travel Photography of Monuments and Memorials

Personally conducted by professional architectural photographer and WPS Director E. David Luria, the Monuments and Memorials photo safari – our most popular session –  provides basic instruction on all aspects of travel photography, explains F-stops, shutter speeds, white balance, ISO settings, and reviews composition techniques for taking pictures of people, landscapes and cityscapes.

Learn how to use your camera in the field, not in a classroom on this DC photography workshop. Beginner photographers will appreciate the instruction on how to get full use of all their camera settings, getting off of “Auto.” Intermediate and advanced photographers will benefit from Mr. Luria’s extensive knowledge of when, where, and how to shoot all the best photo ops in the DC area.

After a 45-minute orientation on travel photography techniques, our shooting itinerary will take us to adjoining Lafayette Park and to the White House, then by car to the Albert Einstein Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial – all great subjects for photography. We will end up the morning session at Union Station, where we will discuss interior photography without flash or tripod, and where I will show you how to make all the moving people inside Union Station DISAPPEAR, and how to turn your friends into GHOSTS! How cool is THAT?

In addition, participants will receive a copy of our Washington Photo Safari Guide for Amateur Photographers, a 130-page eBook with valuable tips on 29 different areas of photography written by our 11 instructors. A link to download the eBook will be provided upon confirmation of payment.

Our morning safari will end about 1:10 pm, and we will have lunch at the food court in Union Station. We all pay for our own lunches.

For the All-Day Safari, in the afternoon we go on to photograph the US Capitol building, the nearby US Botanic Gardens and its beautiful Bartholdi Fountains, then to the Adams-Morgan neighborhood for some abstract photography, then our last stop will be at the beautiful Washington National Cathedral for interior and exterior church photography. (Your fee includes a donation to Washington National Cathedral’s 2011 earthquake repair fund.) we will drop you at the Tenleytown Metro on the Metro Red Line at about 5:15 pm.

Here is what safarians have to say about the Monuments and Memorials Safari:

An excellent photo safari
The Monuments and Memorials: Travel Photography Half Day safari is a perfect photo excursion. I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for David taking the time to take me on a solo Safari. Now I can not only look like a photographer (thanks for the pose pic) but I can also take pics and correct people when they take tourist shots. Now I feel like I can use my camera correctly, even in manual setting. Also, received accessories tips, and historical information about DC and its monuments. A perfect safari.  Richard T., Upper Marlboro, MD

From Trip Advisor: Perfect for All Levels of Photographic Expertise

As a resident of the Washington area and an enthusiastic amateur photographer, I’ve taken over a dozen of David Luria’s photo safaris and learned something new about photography on each one. On each safari, he not only orients the group as a whole, but he also spends one-on-one time with each student, gearing his advice to the level of sophistication of that individual. His knowledge of photographic technique and his unlimited patience make him one of the best photography instructors I’ve encountered. I highly recommend his tours. –Greg E.

5 stars. A terrific experience. David brings decades of photography experience to his teaching and runs a first-rate workshop. I’ll be back for another one soon! Tim H., Florence, SC

Great time with David-excellent review of camera and light, etc. basics, then some “practice” both inside and outside. He also advised me about future camera needs and purchases. I highly recommend this tour. –Milton K., Bethesda, MD on Trip Advisor

The first time I ever picked up a camera was on one of your Washington Photo Safaris, and we visited all the monuments. I learned a lot from you, and it was motivating. –Guarav M., Germantown, MD. (A WPS safarian who has been on 7 of our safaris since 2010 and has become a very accomplished photo artist!)

The Monuments and Memorials: Travel Photography Half Day safari is a perfect photo excursion. I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for David taking the time to take me on a solo Safari. Now I can not only look like a photographer  but I can also take pics and correct people when they take tourist shots. Now I feel like I can use my camera correctly, even in manual setting. Also, received accessories tips, and historical information about DC and its monuments. A perfect safari. –  Richard T., Upper Marlboro, MD on Trip Advisor