Sunrise in Washington This photo breaks some rules. Normally, I would include the top of the Monument in the composition, because cutting it off like this is akin to cutting the head out of a portrait. But the shapes here are so recognizable that this seems to work well enough without space on the top. I often go out and catch the sunrise from the Lincoln Memorial steps, or from Iwo Jima. September sunrises are the best of the year for the DC area, because the sun rises directly behind the Monument and Capitol buildings -- due east. This was shot exactly one year prior to the 9-11 attacks. The glowing band near the bottom of the frame is ground fog lit by the sun. You can see the fog better in an earlier shot from that morning. LENS: 100-400 at ~250mm | FILM: Fuji Provia 100F | EXPOSURE: f/11 at 1/?" | DATE: 09/00 |