Overview of DC: Full Moonrise from the Central Place

Overview of DC: Full Moonrise from the Central Place Tower

Think you can take better pictures than the ones you see on the postcards? Here is your chance to prove it by capturing a spectacular view of all the monuments in DC from the 35-story -high Central Place Tower Arlington, VA!

Central Place Tower’s observatory offers an extraordinary view of the entire Washington DC landscape, the same airplane view that one gets from the left side of the plane for about 20 seconds when landing at Reagan Washington National Airport from the north. Although the tower is now closed to the general public, Washington Photo Safari has arranged to provide this exclusive access to enable our clients to get a lovely shot of the full moon coming up this evening just to the right of the Washington Monument, with the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall and the Capitol all included in this great view.

To the Southeast there is the Pentagon and National Airport. To the northeast you see the beautiful National Mall with all the monuments. To the north you see the Kennedy Center, the Watergate complex, the Potomac River, Roosevelt Island, Washington Harbor, Georgetown University and, in the far distance, Washington National Cathedral.

The 12,000 square foot Central Place Tower observation deck has two levels, one is an outside level with huge, 10 feet tall and 3 inch thick glass panels designed to keep you from falling down into the city but, as a favor to photographers, they have graciously put 3 inch wide gaps in between the panes that are just wide enough for a camera lens to look through and get an unobstructed view of the city!

Our Safari begins with a brief orientation on architectural photography by Washington Photo Safari director E. David Luria. as we meet outside the Rosslyn Metro station, right across North Lynne Street from the Central Place tower. Then we will walk down to Key Bridge to get great views of Georgetown University, Washington National Cathedral, Washington Harbor and the Potomac River.

We then return to the Central Place Tower and rise up the elevators which themselves offer great views of the city as they zip up to the 35th floor.

We will spend 90 minutes up in the tower taking as many pictures as you like as Mr. Luria guides you in composition, exposure, white balance and other settings to give you the best pictures as the sun sets slowly in the west at 7:09pm and the moon rises at 7:24 pm at 97 degrees east of north.,

True to our tradition of only taking you to the BEST places in town for photography, this safari is available only to the first 9 photographers who apply.

Recommended equipment: DSLR or mirrorless camera with adjustable shutter speeds, Manual Mode, lenses from 16mm to 200mm recommended, no tripods allowed We also recommend a $58 Lens Skirt available from B and H Photo Video to block reflections of lights in the windows when shooting through them, If you do not have one, Mr. Luria will lend you his!

The safari will take place rain or shine.  Tripods are NOT allowed!

What to Bring

• Camera
• Extra camera battery
• Extra memory cards

Tripods are not allowed on the Observation Deck, so if you bring one, you will not be allowed to take it with you.

Where to Meet

Meet just outside of Rosslyn Metro station exit on N. Lynn Street, Blue/Orange/Silver Lines.