Capitol Hill, Noon to Night

01 / 16

12:46 pm

First Sight

The dome above the shade trees, white against a hard June sky.

US Capitol
23mm · ƒ/6.4 · 1/3500 · ISO 800

The Capitol dome rising above shade trees at midday

02 / 16

1:47 pm

The Great Hall

Minerva's torch under the painted vaults of the Library of Congress.

Library of Congress · 23mm · ƒ/3.6 · 1/110 · ISO 800

A bronze statue holding a torch in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress

The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress, lamps on every desk

04 / 16

3:10 pm

The Rotunda

Cornwallis surrenders in oil and gilt, and the room walks past.

Capitol Rotunda · 23mm · ƒ/2.8 · 1/10 · ISO 125

The Rotunda with the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis in its gilt frame

05 / 16

3:12 pm

The Frieze

The frieze runs its whole history in one long circle.

Capitol Rotunda
23mm · ƒ/3.2 · 1/80 · ISO 125

The sculpted frieze curving around the Rotunda drum

06 / 16

3:15 pm

Looking Up

Straight up into the coffers, the Apotheosis at the top of the well.

Capitol Rotunda · 23mm · ƒ/3.6 · 1/85 · ISO 125

The coffered dome of the Rotunda with the Apotheosis fresco above

07 / 16

3:16 pm

Everyone’s Proof

A hundred phones lifting toward the same painting, everyone carrying their own proof home.

Capitol Rotunda
23mm · ƒ/2.8 · 1/17 · ISO 125

Visitors raising phones toward a painting in the Rotunda

08 / 16

3:50 pm

Underground Light

The visitor hall goes monochrome, the dome only a picture on the wall.

Capitol Visitor Center · 23mm · ƒ/5.6 · 1/240 · ISO 200

Silhouettes crossing the Capitol Visitor Center hall

09 / 16

4:00 pm

The Flag

The flag working hard against a sky with no clouds in it.

US Capitol
23mm · ƒ/5.6 · 1/950 · ISO 100

The dome and flag seen from directly below

The Capitol's east front under a deep blue afternoon sky

10 / 16

4:13 pm

East Front

The whole east front at four o'clock, marble taking the heat.

US Capitol · 23mm · ƒ/5.6 · 1/1250 · ISO 100

11 / 16

4:44 pm

The Glasshouse

The Botanic Garden's conservatory, a dome the sun is allowed inside.

US Botanic Garden
23mm · ƒ/5 · 1/450 · ISO 64

The glass dome of the US Botanic Garden conservatory

The Capitol at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue in golden evening light

The Capitol dome holding the last sun above the reflecting pool

13 / 16

8:28 pm

The Reflecting Pool

The dome holds the last sun, and the pool holds the dome.

Capitol Reflecting Pool · 23mm · ƒ/4.5 · 1/280 · ISO 125

14 / 16

8:33 pm

The General

The general and his horse go black against the day's last clouds.

Grant Memorial · 23mm · ƒ/4.5 · 1/240 · ISO 125

The Grant Memorial in silhouette against pink sunset clouds

15 / 16

8:35 pm

Dusk on the Lawn

Dusk settles on the west lawn, the marble keeping a little glow.

US Capitol
23mm · ƒ/3.6 · 1/140 · ISO 125

The dome at dusk framed by dark branches over the west lawn

16 / 16

8:59 pm

Equal Justice

The Supreme Court switches on, columns of light over the fountain.

Supreme Court · 23mm · ƒ/3.6 · 1/58 · ISO 320

The Supreme Court's lit columns above a fountain at night