by Bruce Schaefer
Following are photography-related exhibits and events occurring now, or soon, in the extended Washington D.C. area. These include gallery and museum exhibits, college exhibits, special events, and sometimes exhibits or events to photograph yourself. Also look at the previous months’ Exhibits & Events columns for ongoing exhibits that aren’t repeated here.
- Exhibits & Events – February 2019
- Exhibits & Events – January 2020
- Exhibits & Events – December 2019
CHERRY BLOSSOM WATCH!
It’s still too early to pin down when DC’s cherry blossoms will bloom in 2020, and no peak bloom forecasts have been issued yet. Stay tuned for the first peak bloom forecasts to be announced around the beginning of March.
It has been a much warmer-than-normal winter so far. And there’s not much in the available forecasts to suggest that that pattern is likely to change as we get into March. So all indications at this point suggest an early bloom. That said, we’re dealing with the weather, and if we get a sustained cold spell in March, it can slow things down considerably.
‘True to Nature: Open-Air Painting in Europe, 1780-1870’ – Feb. 2 – May 3
Artists such as André Giroux, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Simon Denis and John Constable are featured in this fascinating exhibit that explores the practice of painting en plein air. These avant-garde creatives would take painstaking journeys to incredible sites such as the ruins of Rome, the streets of Paris and the Swiss Alps to depict breathtaking landscapes. The exhibit offers roughly 100 oil sketches made outdoors all over Europe, including several recently discovered works.
Free admission
National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
‘Raphael and His Circle’ – Feb. 16 – June 14
Raphael is a titanic figure in art’s expansive history, helping to define aesthetic brilliance as we perceive it today. In honor of the 500th anniversary of his death, the National Gallery of Art presents 25 of his drawings and prints in an in-depth exhibit that will showcase his tremendous influence on artists that came after him. The work of Raphael’s collaborators and followers will also be featured.
Hours | Free admission
National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
WASHINGTON POST
Here is a link to the online Washington Post’s lists of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia photography-related exhibits and museums. I have found that the various photography-related exhibits appear in different parts of the online paper, making a simple search or link unreliable. You can search within:
Photography section: Photography
Going Out Guide: Going Out Guide
Art Section: Art
ONLINE PHOTO SITES
Following are some websites that offer terrific images for the armchair adventurer.
Travel Photographer of the Year 2019
Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards are run by photographers for photographers.
International Landscape Photographer of the Year
In its sixth year, the impressive burgeoning photo contest again delivers a stunning array of images highlighting the beauty of the natural world. The competition features two main prizes – a single photograph of the year award and a photographer of the year award selected based on a portfolio of at least four submitted images. This year’s competition garnered over 3,400 entries from almost 1,000 photographers.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/wpy/gallery/2019/index.html
View the winning images selected by our international jury. Wildlife Photographer of the Year champions ethical photography. Images are chosen for their artistic composition, technical innovation and truthful interpretation of the natural world.
2020 Sony World Photography Award
One of the world’s biggest photo contests, the Sony World Photography Awards, has revealed the finalists and shortlisted entries for its Professional competition. From profound works of photojournalism to surreal and creative abstract entries, this prestigious contest is an effective snapshot of the best photography in the world right now.
Annual Mobile Photography Awards
In its ninth year, the Mobile Photography Awards presents an incredible snapshot of photography in the 21st century highlighting how truly sophisticated smartphone camera technology has become. Spanning 20 categories, the winning entries offer a compelling insight into a new and innovative medium. “The 9th Annual Mobile Photography Awards is testament to another year in the rapid evolution of mobile phone cameras, both technologically and artistically,” says Daniel Berman, founder of the awards.
2019 Arcaid Images Architectural Photography Awards
https://newatlas.com/arcaid-awards-2017-shortlist/51616/
The 2017 Arcaid Images Architectural Photography Awards is intended to celebrate the art of architectural photography in an age of snap-happy smartphone users. This selection of 20 photos was chosen from hundreds of submissions.
