PICTURE THE BLOSSOMS

The blossoms on the 300 plus Yoshino Cherry trees are the magnet for nearly a million tourists to flock to DC and the Tidal Basin area. The white and pink blossoms form a perfect frame for the landmarks of the Capitol City.

With careful framing, the setting of a tripod, a gentle rack of focus, the setting of the shutter and a bit of patience for just the right moment; thousands of photographers search for the perfect shot.

I find it such fun watching people shooting pictures. The cameras range from throw-away film models picked up a a convenience store en route to Ohio Drive to cellphone cameras to high end film and digital one that cost more than a quality used car. I once saw a guy using an 1880's wet negative plate camera.

Photographers become contortionists to frame a monument to our first or third president with just the right flower courtesy of the Nation of Japan. Careful: inches at a time, a little sun flare, OH! a perfect bloom.

Yes, I present to you this blog: Photographer photographing photographers.

Maybe the couple from California got it right. Put down the camera and take a nap. Or the little girl from Upper Marlboro. Just run through the flowers.

ENJOY!!!!

OBAMA BANDWAGON REMEMBERS TITANS

The last remnants of Alexandria, Virginia's original TC Williams High School remain standing despite a close encounter with an almost tornado force political whirlwind.

The Barack Obama bandwagon paid an ironic visit to the new TC Williams High School (just East of the old school) with thousands of supporters and hundreds of press in tow. And unlike like many of the quick ins-and-outs of the campaign. Obama spent nearly 2 hours at the school. First in a 45 minute round table meeting with a group of parents and teachers. Then offering the standard stump speech and a question and answer session in the pack to capacity school gym.

Nearly a hundred video and still photographers documented the candidate's every move. There were 20 times the number of photographers at the round table town-hall meeting as participants.

In the gym shutters clicked in symphonic cadence each time Obama made a move. Especially when a 9-year-old boy jumped on stage after his mother asked, "Why should my family and I support you instead of Hillary Clinton?" Or when the candidate chugged a bottle of water (brand label ripped off). Gotta keep hydrated. Or embraced Virginia governor Tim Kaine on of his first presidential bid supporters.

Oh, The irony of the visit. In the 2000 movie "Remember the Titians" Denzel Washington portrays TC Williams football coach Herman Boone during the first year of desegregation (1971) at the school. (Boone attended the rally). Tensions at the time were high. But the black and white students worked together to win a state football championship.

The sight of thousands shouting support for Obama makes the events of 1971 seem like an ancient memory.

All photos copyright: Gregory Guise 2008

MORE FROM PHIL

More from Punxy, Pa.

Perhaps no town in America is more closely identified with an animal or bird than Punxsutawney, Pa. Hinkley Ohio has their Buzzards (Mar. 23) and San Juan Capistrano has the Swans (Oct.23) but they pale in comparison. Have you ever heard a reliable weather forecast from a bird?

I thought I would share a few additional images from the festivities. In addition to the 30,000 in attendance on Gobblers Knob. Many more simply spent time in the downtown where all that is Groundhog is featured. From Groundhog replicas of Pittsburgh Steeler players (number 8 of course) to groundhog lamps, stones, carvings and of course, wine. Wine? Guess a glass knaws at you all day long.

In case you want the entire forecast. Here it is courtesy of Phil and the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Here Ye! Here Ye! Here Ye!

On Gobbler's Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008
Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators,
Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weathered eye toward thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

"As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!"

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYWRITE: Gregory Guise

THE SHADOW OF YOUR WOODCHUCK

On the Scene NOW is live at beautiful Gobblers Knob just South of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania where a Saturday morning crowd estimated at nearly 30,000 persons and one illustrious Groundhog gathered for a most important prognostication of weather.

Forget those complicated "numerical computer models" that your local forecaster so deftly mentions on the evening news. Throw out the mega watt high-deffinition doppler radars that can see a speeding car on the beltway 25 miles away.

This is real science. A 100% genuine Keystone State woodchuck. With a 100% guaranteed weather forecast. At least for the next 42 days.

So this warmer than most...but still cold Feb. 2nd morning. Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his manicured burrow under the hill to proclaime to the throng of thousands, a scrum of media, supporters for clearly a Third party persidential run and your faithful blogger that to " SEE HIS SHADOW." means you can take
to the bank a prediction of SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER.

Topper. Does this jive with the GFS? And what about global warming?

Brett: He offered no prediction of the next Skins coach.

PLUNGE!!!!!!!!!

Like crab cakes, the Preakness, the Bay Bridge Walk, and Thrashers French Fries the annual Polar Bear Plunge brought thousands to Sandy Point Park. The Maryland State Police sponsored event benefits Maryland Special Olympics.

The total raised this year will exceed 2Million dollars.

And quite an event it is. Water temperature in the Chesapeake a comfortable 36. Yes 36 degrees. The air temp 34.

Points are not awarded for style. Or dress. Or, thank God, fitness.

Rumor had it that Statter911 blogger, Dave Statter is the guy making the plung in the photo. On closer examination the rumor proved false.

Quite a day for a swim.

Smart Enought to Stay Out In the Snow?

Thursday's snow helped create at least one interesting image.

That's the sculpture of Albert Einstein at the National Academies of Science on Constitution Avenue in DC.

Perhaps he is studying the law of" relative humidity."

To read more about the statue and the National Academies click here: www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ABOUT_building_einstein_memorial

BEAUTY IN WINTER

The cold clear days of Winter offer a great opportunity to to photograph our Nations Capitol at its' best. Rising 288 feet above the ground. The Statue of Freedom seems to be eying a much higher object. But then again, haven't Americans already reached that point?