Morning Roundup: Stairways to Nowhere Edition
Morning Roundup: Be Counted Edition
The Real World D.C.: The Morning After, Pt. 12
New Pennsylvania Ave. Bike Lanes Expected by May
National Marathon to Cause Roads to Close, Metro to Open Early
As most of the Flickr commenters already noted, this is a wonderfully composed shot by christaki. No doubt many of you took advantage of the weekend to get out on the water and pray for river breezes to cool you off from the monstrously hot weather. So, for all you waterbugs, where's the best place to rent a kayak or a canoe around here? EXIF.
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Good composition, but it's a pity the highlights are blown out (look inside the canoes -- there's no detail).
I'd say expose this by 2/3 to a full stop less, but odds are there was just too much contrast at the time of day to really get the full tonal range. Better would be to hand out until sunset (unrealistic, I know) and get the picture in the better light at that point.
Alternately, overcast skies would have helped as well.
I would recommend the DOWNRIVER CANOE COMPANY (http://www.downriver.com/downriver/) which is about 1 1/2 hours west of DC, on the Shenandoah River. My company had an outing there in the late 90s, and it was so fun that I have taken my friends there just about every summer since. I went with a dozen friends two weekends ago. Sundays are less crowded than Saturdays. And apparently, its empty during the week.
Not quite metro-accessible, but I went to Black Hill Regional Park up in Germantown, MD. I believe you get a discount for being a MD resident (it's a state park) and kayaks/canoes are only $7/boat(not person)/hr. Lots of room and not many people.
The folks at Downriver are great. Closer to DC is Jack's Boat House in G'town.
If you want a little more structure you should check out Potomac Paddlesport. They offer lessons and trips for both flat and whitewater.
Speaking of whitewater, everyone should get out to Great Falls this weekend and watch people hurl themselves down the falls in little plastic boats. (http://www.potomacfest.com/)
Thompson Boat Center. http://www.thompsonboatcenter.com/
There's a metered lot right behind the boathouse, and the Georgetown Waterfront is steps away. Rent a canoe, kayak, bike, or skull... Heck, sign up for rowing lessons, and have some fun with strangers.
Wonderful place, wonderful people.
Pohick Bay Regional Park -- part of the Northern Virginia Park Authority.
http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/pohickbay/index.php