On December 19, 2009, the Washington D.C. area was hit with a record setting snowfall. The airports were closed and all the usual city sounds had disappeared under a 16″ blanket of beautiful white. What this also meant is that the roads were virtually clear of traffic, which makes for perfect snow driving. I sat inside my warm house weighing the pros and cons of going outside and finally around 10:30pm couldn’t hold myself back any longer. I dressed warmly, threw my tripod and camera bag in the van and headed out onto the snow covered streets with the nearby Air Force Memorial my destination. I’ve photographed it before, but never in the snow.
I just loved that I was all alone. Perhaps the only one crazy dedicated enough to venture outside to ply his craft.
Here, the four person honor guard created by sculptor Zenos Feudakis stands nobly in the driving snow.
On the north end of the memorial is a “Glass Contemplation Wall” that honors fallen airmen. There are several planes etched on the glass. This shows just one of the planes, looking through the glass toward the three spires which represent the three core values of the Air Force – “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that is done”.
Every time I photograph this monument I find it a challenge and suspect I’ll be back again.
by Chris
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