Photography: Flying High as Spring Blossoms

1/640 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

Saturday marked the beginning of the two week long National Cherry Blossom Festival. With trees along the Tidal Basin nearing peak bloom, the massive crowd was treated to a somewhat chilly late March day that offered variable sunshine under passing high clouds.

Before photographing the blossoms, I was able to catch the end of the Smithsonian Kite Festival.

This event drew hundreds of kites on a day -- and in a month -- with plenty of wind to share.

1/500 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

1/640 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

I made it to the Tidal Basin around 4:15 p.m. and was happy to see a few breaks in the high overcast that had been in and out during the course of the afternoon. People were everywhere, and everyone was enjoying the bloom and its near-peak beauty.

300mm zoom: 1/200 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

1/500 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

1/200 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

I hope to make one or two more trips down to the flowering Cherry Blossoms over the next few days. It is a sight one should see every year if at all possible. Numerous buds have yet to open, so it would appear that peak or near peak conditions will continue for several more days.

1/640 second exposure at f/6.3 and ISO 160

All photographs in this shoot were taken handheld, using a new Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD VC Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens mounted on a Canon 40D.