Last week after a photoshoot at DCA, I dropped by Gravelly Point for a few minutes since I was feeling up to it (I am recovering from a shoulder injury). I didn’t stay long, but couldn’t resist the beautiful weather. I snapped some photos, but really wanted to try the EOS R shooting 4K through a 400mm lens, which equates to 700mm with the EOS R’s 4K crop. In short, 700mm handheld makes for great photos, but is really hard for video (duh).
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The official photo blog of J. David Buerk Photography.
Honor Flight Departure at DCA
Since its inception in 2005, the Honor Flight Network has flown over 200,000 veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam War from over 141 hubs across the United States free of charge to Washington, DC. Once in DC, the veterans are escorted to visit the war memorials and other sites in the District.
Flights run year-round into DCA, IAD, and BWI, but are more frequent in the Summer months, when often there are flights daily, sometimes several a day. Upon arriving to the airport, veterans are warmly welcomed by volunteers and live music as they deplane. From there they leave the airport to begin their tour in DC over the following few days.
After the veterans’ visit to our nation’s capital and it’s time to return home, veterans are greeted at their departure gate with live singing of period hits, swing dancing, and a fresh meal. Just before it’s time to board, a mail call delivers letters and small packages from friends and family thanking veterans for their service and giving their support.
Below are some of the pictures from an Honor Flight on September 12th, 2018.
In this case I was documenting airport concessions’ support of the Honor Flight Program, so I only covered some of the festivities at the gate. Full photo coverage of specific honor flights can be found by contacting your representative at the Honor Flight Network.
Duty Free Americas: IAD • DCA • BWI
This past Spring I photographed all of the newly renovated Duty Free Americas locations at Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, and for the first time in my career, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. I hope in the future to do more work at BWI, and this was a good introduction to an airport I've only visited a handful of times. In the meantime, here are some highlights of some of my photography of the Duty Free Americas locations at DC's three major local airports.
2018 National Night Out with the MWAA Police Department
Until only a few years ago I had never even heard of National Night Out. I still don't know when it is until it is happening as it's not something that's usually on my radar. That was the case again this year, when I went to DCA to photograph a newly opened store; though I knew the MWAA PD and FD would be participating in National Night Out whenever it was, I didn't realize it was that day until I arrived in the afternoon and they were just getting started... directly in front of the store I was on site to photograph.
After asking a few officers to kindly get the hell outta my shot, I completed the photoshoot I was there for, and then proceeded to stick around and check out the booths MWAA PD had set up.
Why yes that is a $10,000 thermal scope.
DCA Planespotting - June 5th, 2018
Here's another set of planespotting from a few months ago; some days after photoshoots at DCA I'll briefly drop by Gravelly Point since it's on my way home. I typically don't spend but a few minutes, but this time I spent about an hour actually exploring the grounds a bit and trying different perspectives than before - it's a larger patch of land than I had realized. This day had lots of puffy clouds and lots of traffic; most pictures have multiple aircraft visible, with one even containing 6 airborne planes and 1 helicopter. I also managed to capture a view of the Washington Monument with the Jefferson Memorial and a VRE train, which I think is just fantastic.
