Washington DC is alive

[merc]

In the last couple of days I have had a target rich environment for photography. I have seen several inaugurations but this one set the standard for enormous. In the next couple of days I look forward to more great shoots. This is the largest inaugural security operation in history, with 58 federal, state and local agencies working together. Thousands of extra police, military troops and law enforcement agents, including plainclothes officers roaming the crowds, will be on hand to handle the potentially 2 million people who could descend on the nation's capital Tuesday. The far-reaching security includes thousands of video cameras, sharpshooters and air patrols to safeguard Obama's swearing-in.

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[musclemerc]

Boy that's a good closeup of Condesleeza.

[Aren Jay]

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[merc]

WTOP NEWS WASHINGTON - Did you ride Metro Sunday to the opening concert for the Inauguration? If so, you helped set a Sunday record for the subway.
Metro says 616,324 people rode the rails, the most ever on a Sunday.

When you combine bus trips, the Metro system carried 703,000 people Sunday.

The weekend had the third highest overall weekend ridership day in Metro's 32-year history. The highest weekend ridership day occurred on Saturday, June 8, 1991, when 786,358 trips were recorded for a Desert Storm rally. Metro says the second highest weekend ridership day happened on Saturday, October 4, 1997, when 725,909 trips were recorded for a Promise Keepers rally.

Top Sunday Ridership Days

Jan. 18, 2009 -- 616,324 Inaugural Opening Ceremony
July 4, 1999 -- 540,945 Fourth of July Celebration
July 4, 1993 -- 505,157 Fourth of July Celebration
Jan. 17, 1993 -- 440,138 Reunion America (Clinton Inaugural Event)
April 25, 1993 -- 413,312 Lesbian/Gay Rights March

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[Dr Caleb]

Some fantastic pics Merc. For 2 days early, those crowds are staggering.

I sometimes wish we got as excited about politics as you guys do.

[DOOM]

Yes dc is alive and jumpin.

[merc]

This line was started at 12:00 today. At 4:53 P.M they are still rapped around the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

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[Ms. Denmark]

It's pretty exciting stuff. I do love Washington DC (as a tourist ) Great pics, Merc!

[merc]

Just got home after 8 hours in the cold. I got some pictures in the morning but the parade was delayed for hours and Pam & I decided to go home.
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[TiTo35]

Sweet pics merc!!!

[Bluerauder]

I knew that you and Pam were out there somewhere. :D I kept trying to find you in the crowd of some 2 Million people. Nics pics. How long did Pam have to sit on your shoulders to get those shots. ;) Hope you are warmed up by now --- all day in that cold must have been a real bear. According to the news, quite a few folks packed it in after the motorcade passed by.

[merc]

I knew that you and Pam were out there somewhere. :D I kept trying to find you in the crowd of some 2 Million people. Nics pics. How long did Pam have to sit on your shoulders to get those shots. ;) Hope you are warmed up by now --- all day in that cold must have been a real bear. According to the news, quite a few folks packed it in after the motorcade passed by.

We started out the door at 7:00. Stood in line for 2 hours to be 2 of 300,000 to enter the parade area. I took all the pictures this time. Pam complained to me around 2:30 that her toes were frozen. The Parade was 1:50 overdue. Most, but not all were sick of the cold weather and departed at 3:00. I de-thawed at 5:00 P.M with the help of my friend Jack Daniel's.

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[jdando]

Nice shots! I missed all the political opportunities here in MN :(

[merc]

Nice shots! I missed all the political opportunities here in MN :(

Wait another 4 years. I could have done better but my F2 lens didn't arrive yet from UPS. All the shots were taken with a F3 18-105 mm. The crowd went wild when the 44th president was announced as the Secret Service watch from the roof tops.

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[merc]

The party continues.

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Merc goes to the White House next.

[RoyLPita]

Nice pics!!! :2thumbs:

[jdando]

A decent picture of Hillary. The ones taken here in MN show her looking really, really haggard.

Are you picking up a 70-200mm?

[merc]

A decent picture of Hillary. The ones taken here in MN show her looking really, really haggard.

Are you picking up a 70-200mm?

I received one of my orders from Amazon yesterday. The new lens is a F3 18-200. It's the most popular lens that Nikon sells. Perfect for a single lens walk-a-round. UPS didn't deliver my 70 mm F2 lens, but thats mostly for portraits.

[1stMerc]

Wait another 4 years. I could have done better but my F2 lens didn't arrive yet from UPS. All the shots were taken with a F3 18-105 mm. The crowd went wild when the 44th president was announced as the Secret Service watch from the roof tops.

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100273/DSC_0591/web.jpg

What are those in the sky?

[merc]

What are those in the sky?

Obama Birds. I guess they were looking for the inaugural also.

[TiTo35]

Clouds....birds...snipers...bu ildings....:D

[jdando]

What are those in the sky?

New York geese :coolman:

[RoyLPita]

Any more updates?