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Cherry Blossom Festival - On Location: Washington DC

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington, DC springtime 2012 Festival is March 20 - April 27, the centennial of the gift of the trees from Japan. Featuring daily cultural performances, sporting events, arts, crafts, demonstrations and other special events. For schedules and information visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org or call the Festival hotline at (877) 44BLOOM.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC. The gift and annual celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the continued close relationship between the two countries. These are the trees that now turn the Tidal Basin into a cloud of pink each spring for all to enjoy. Today, more than a million people visit Washington, DC each year to admire the blossoming cherry trees and attend events that herald the beginning of spring in the nation’s capital.

Learn how to take great pictures BEFORE you go on that expensive trip!

  • Date(s): Saturday, April 7, and Sunday, April 8, 2012

  • Time: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and 7:00AM to 10:00AM

  • Safari cost: $ 150.00


  • By Subrato Bhattacharya
  • Safari/Workshop: The Safari begins with three-hour Safari at the Washington, DC with a 15-minute orientation on good travel photography techniques and how to use all the features of your camera. With tips on camera usage, composition, exposure, lighting and white balance and showing you all the best vantage points to photograph the trees. Students may work in digital media or film (black-and-white or color). All formats are welcome. Open to any photographer at any skill level with any camera, film or digital. Bring your camera and all its lenses. No tripod needed on the morning section.

  • Cherry Blossoms Afternoon at the Tidal Basin

    Saturday, April 7, 2012 | 3:00 pm-6:00 pm

    Springtime in Washington DC means cherry blossoms! And one of the best places to shoot cherry trees at the FDR Memorial along the Tidal Basin, where we begin Photo Safari with an orientation on travel photography and camera use. Then give you an peek at our secret spot: the “Our Lady of the Blossoms Cherry Tree” before wending our way slowly along the Tidal Basin path towards the Jefferson Memorial, seeing the great views of the Tidal Basin, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial all framed in cherry blossoms in the late afternoon sun. We bring you to all the best trees for cherry blossom.

    Meet in front of bookstore of FDR Memorial on West Basin Drive SW, near the intersection with Ohio Drive SW.

    Location: FDR Memorial, Washington, DC, 20242

  • Cherry Blossoms at Sunrise

    Sunday, April 8, 2012 | 7:00 am-10:00 am.

    The early sun filtering through the blossoms gives them a lovely, golden light, much nicer than the harsh white light of mid-day. We meet before the sun comes up at 6:52 am on the Tidal Basin. We photograph our way around the entire Tidal Basin, capturing the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial and the Washington Monument, all framed by blossoms in the early morning sun.

    Meet at entrance to paddleboat rental station.

    Location: 1501 Maine Avenue SW, Washington DC.

  • Starts promptly at 3:00pm on Saturday and 7.00am on Sunday and will be cancelled only in case of severely inclement weather.

  • Safari: Limited to 12 people (carpooling can be arranged upon request)

Note: Proceeds (fee) will go directly towards helping the white-clad widows, the forbidden “out-caste” and the untouchable eunuchs, shunned as members of the “third sex” by the Indian society. All collected money will be donated to a non-profit organization consisting of volunteers interested in dedicating their expertise and time to fight a wide variety of social injustices in India.