About dbking  

"Photography is an art of observation.

It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place; something that others might not have seen.

Sometimes what you find is tragic. Sometimes funny. Sometimes beautiful.

But is has little to do with with things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ....Unknown

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Welcome to my spot on FLICKR, I'm glad you're here!

COMMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AND WELCOMED ON ANY PHOTO, HOWEVER, ANY AND ALL PERSONAL ATTACKS DIRECTED AT ME OR TO OTHERS WHO HAVE POSTED A COMMENT ON ANY PHOTO, WILL RESULT IN YOUR BEING BLOCKED IMMEDIATELY.










Thanks for stopping by to see a bit more about me. I'm just a guy who lives in Washington DC, the Dupont Circle neighborhood to be exact. Dupont Circle is a very historic neighborhood dating from the "gilded age" and is within a brief walk of the city's most famous monuments and memorials.

For the last 25+ years I have made my living selling the city of Washington DC to national and international conventions as a possible place to hold their meetings and events for one of the largest convention centers in the US. Prior to working in the sales aspect of the convention industry I was an event manager who handled the logistics of hundreds of national conventions and city wide special events in the following cities: Atlanta, Miami Beach and in Washington DC. Some of the more memorable events that I have been associated with include numerous inaugural galas from Jimmy Carter thru Barack Obama, 100th Anniversary of the Coca Cola Corporation, the first visit by Nelson Mandela to the United States after his release from prison, the NBA Jam--part of the NBA All Star Game, Leukemia Ball, World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention, Human Rights Campaign Gala, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and too many others to list, but most of them have been very recognizable organizations.

As far as my personal interest they are wide ranging but the top three (3) are: photography, Washington DC history, and biking which I often combine together in one activity. If you go thru some of the photo sets you will see portions of this history interest represented with "notes" attached that give detailed background information. The Information on these photos comes from a wide range of sources, including but not limited to, Wikipedia, Google, the internet, newspapers, personal knowledge, tours, guidebooks, lectures, independent research, and people with direct knowledge on a specific item.

One of the goals of adding all the additional information to the photos is to show that Washington DC is so much more than just the National Mall and the major monuments and museums that are so recognizable. I have come to learn that the city is full of hidden "gems" throughout all of its neighborhoods. Hopefully you, the viewer, will enjoy the information relating to the lesser known sites as much as I do in sharing it all with you.

Having the good fortune to call Washington home where history abounds on every corner, my interest in history went from merely a passing interest to a full blown all out passion as I began exploring this city deeply some 20+ years ago. I am a voracious reader of all things that deal with Washington DC, from the symbolism that our city represents to the people who call Washington home and everything in between. I have turned this passion into part time work by leading tours of the city as time permits and sometimes I am asked to help educate other tour professionals on various landmarks. I am often asked to share my knowledge to individuals who are meeting in Washington as well as to my co-workers. Should you ever wish to engage me in a lengthy conversation, just ask me about DC's monuments, memorials, neighborhoods, or any of the symbolism that any of those items represent!

While I personally won't even begin to consider myself as anything more than a hobbyist when it comes to photography, I have had the priviledge of doing brochure work for local tour companies, as well as, for my workplace and it's related entities to promote tourism in the city of Washington. I've also been priviledged to have several photos published in various travel / history magazines in the US and abroad. Additionally my work is often used on blogs, websites and web based news sites. Recently I have been lucky enough to have several photos published in European hard cover books. The publishers were kind enough to forward copies of the finished products to me, which was a welcome surprise.

Outside of the three (3) main hobbies I am an avid baseball and football fan, following both the Nationals and Redskins on a regular basis.

I don't know whether or not I should laugh or cry over the next interest, but I am more than a bit of a political junkie. It seems as though it becomes part of your makeup living in the belly of the political beast of the USA.

When not behind a camera lens, or on a bicycle, or making use of both items combined you'll most likely find me in the Washingtoniania Division of our central library, thumbing thru the local history books or with my head buried deep in some DC history ladden book preparing for another in-depth article on a given item or subject relating to the city.


Camera equipment that I use currently:

1) Canon Rebel XTi

2) Canon 70-200mm 1:2.8 IS Lens

3) Canon 100-400 1:4.5-5.6 IS Lens

4) Canon 75-300 1:4.5-5.6 EF Lens

5) Canon 55-250mm 1:4.5-5.6 IS Lens

6) Canon 17-85mm IS Lens

7) Canon 18-55mm IS Lens

8) Canon 15mm Fisheye 1:2.8 Lens

9) Canon 2x Extender

10) Canon 18-200 IS Lens

11) Canon 10-22mm Lens


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Photos Shows I've participated in:

Atlanta Urban Photography "Black and White", Nov. 2007, Atlanta, Georgia

DCist "Exposed" Photograpy Show, March 2008, @ Civilian Arts Project Gallery, Washington DC

Art-O-Matic (Washington DC) May 29-July 5, 2009
@ 55 M St. SE

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Photo Contest I've participated in:

July 08, Runner Up, Washingtonian Magazine's "Summer Interpreted" Photo Contest

August 08, Finalist & 2 Runner Ups, Washingtonian Magazine's "Sports" Photo Contest

September 08, Runner Up, Washingtonian Magazine's "Transportation" Photo Contest

December 08, Runner Up, Washingtonian Magazine's
"Portraits and People" Photo Contest

March 09, Finalist, Washingtonian Magazine's "Only in Washington" Photo Contest

May 09, Finalist, Washingtonian Magazine's "Geometry / Shapes" Photo Contest

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11.15.08 - Professional Portfolio Review @ Corcoran Gallery School of Art during FotoWeekDC

Reviewed by Nancy Walz, Manager of production photography at Discovery Channel headquarters. She oversees a team of photo editors who assign photographers to shoot promotional stills while documentaries are being filmed worldwide. For many years she was an editorial photographer for universities and publications in Connecticut, Seattle and Spain.

Comments from reviewer:

1) " definately not an amateur, but not at professional level yet...that could come with more experience"

2) "a good eye for composition"

3) "get different perspectives (above/below etc) for shots"

4) "watch contrast and color saturation a bit closer"

5) "crop a bit more to keep main subject in clear focus", watch unnecessary background clutter that doesn't enhance the subject of the photo

6) "shoot wide open aperture more often to help with detail"


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