If you are heading to the National Cherry Blossom Festival during the peak bloom dates (from April 11th to 14th) you'll have a great opportunity to take some amazing pictures.
But how do you get the BEST pictures?
Hong Le, assistant photo editor at the Washingtonian Magazine, joined us to talk about the 5 things you should do to take cherry blossom photos that will stand out!
First , she says make sure you are prepared and have your equipment ready. It's easy to forget the basics – like charging your camera battery!
Second , timing is everything. If you choose the right time to photograph the blossoms - you could end up with beautiful shots of a serene Tidal Basin with trees in full bloom. If you pick the wrong time - you might get crowds of people next to bare trees! Le says shoot for the peak bloom dates, sunrise or sunset, and weekdays instead of weekends.
Third , compose your shot. Take a few seconds before you *CLICK* to make sure you frame the beauty of the trees, the monuments and the people.
Fourth , take advantage of the natural beauty of the Tidal Basin and scout your location. There are so many beautiful spots and vantage points to choose from - don't settle for the first one just because. It might be hard to take a bad shot when you're surrounded by so much beauty - but with a little patience - you might take a GREAT shot!
Fifth - and possibly most important - RELAX!!! You want great pictures - but as Hong Le says – don't forget to stop and smell the blossoms!
GET THE FULL LIST of tips on how to take good photos at the Cherry Blossom Festival HERE: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/photos/how-to-take-good-photos-at-the-cherry-blossom-festival.php
MORE from Hong Le on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/hongeatworld