It really makes no sense to blame a month for one's moods, but I always find January depressing. There are multiple possible reasons. The hype and real joy of the Holidays have passed so a let down may be normal. January is a dark month with little light and a lot of cold, wet weather. And if you are a photographer, the absence of light can be a serious burden. Maybe its the necessity to get ready to pay taxes. Or the inevitable conversation with my Doctor about shedding the extra 10 pounds picked up over the holidays.
Well the only cure is to seek out an inspiring location and lift one's spirits and challenge your photography. Fortunately this past Saturday was that rarity this January, a clear and brilliantly sunny day. Off to the National Cathedral in Washington to try to capture the glory of this truly magnificient Gothic cathedral. I can think of few other locations where the certain knowledge that I will fail to capture the true glory of a location leaves me so eager to go and try and anxious to return often.
The picture above on the left is a 5 image HDR photo.
The Winter is best time to photograph the Cathedral as the low angle of the sun floods it with projected colors from the stained glass windows. In most of the Cathedrals of Europe and many churches in the US, photographers with tripods are decidely unwelcomed. At the National Cathedral, just the opposite is true. This is doubly remarkable in Washington where the "rent a guard" force has mushroomed and seem to believe that everyone with a camera is a potential terrorist.
Even if you are not a photographer, the National Cathedral is not to be missed and is guaranteed to chase those January blues away.
The picture above on the left is a 5 image HDR photo. 
