(All of these were taken with a TL-120-1 on Provia 100F.)

I’m sorry, I sent the folio off to Zach today, and now I realize that I never shot digital copies of the slides I submitted.

FDR Memorial, Washington DC I really love the FDR Memorial, on the southwestern side of the Tidal Basin, but it seems that many people from out of town aren’t aware of it. Not surprising, since it doesn’t have any large sculptures or monument that can be seen from far away. It was made in the form of an exhibit that you might find in a museum, like a series of outdoor rooms highlighting different aspects of FDR’s long tenure as president.

I’ve taken photos of this memorial before, often during the brief cherry blossom season when it is swarmed with visitors; but this was my first attempt at capturing it in medium format stereo. I think I took ten different views, all showing different items, and I could have taken more (although the light was fading fast towards the end.)  I really wish I’d taken along a set of warming filters for my TL-120, but in fact I don’t even have such a set.

This pair of sculptures, of course, shows FDR & his beloved Scottish Terrier Fala. Fala is apparently the only pet honored with a statue in any U.S. presidential memorial.

Waterfalls at FDR Memorial There are seven fountains and pools in the memorial. Each of them represents a different aspect of FDR’s presidency. I think this one is the largest, and its jumbled blocks represent the chaos of World War Two.

A young woman was posing a group of her friends for a photo in front of this fountain, where I had already set my camera up on top of a stone block for a wide shot. I asked them if they would mind standing still & gazing at the water for my photo. (I think it was a half-second exposure.) They very graciously agreed, and I’m glad to have some people in the shot.

Meridian Hill Park This is another gem of sculpture & landscape architecture in Washington that tourists don’t usually see. The mansion that John Quincy Adams lived in on Meridian Hill is long gone; but the Italian Renaissance-style gardens that were started there around World War One are in fine shape now. They had deteriorated quite a bit in the last few decades, but a major renovation project was (mostly) completed this year. This is another photo where I asked a couple of passersby to sit briefly in the foreground of a shot I’d already set up.

Armillary Sphere in Meridian Hill Park This bronze sculpture was installed in 1932, but due to vandalism, it was removed in the 1970’s. A new one was made recently, based on photographs & drawings of the original (I don’t know if any were in stereo!) and installed in 2024. I took another shot showing the sphere, its pedestal & the surrounding hedge; but I like this closeup view better.