Lucky Washingtonians!

We are really lucky to live in Washington, DC. Why? There is always at least one and generally two or three world-class photography exhibitions in the city at any time. These exhibits are great for getting over photographer’s block, and the best part is many of them are free.

So, here is some of what is going on now:

Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power - This exhibition includes 250 portraits (that’s a lot of images for one exhibit!) of government officials, media celebrities, labor organizers, activists, and ordinary people caught in national debates over war, race, and other issues. All the images were taken by Avedon beginning in the 1950s and ending with his death in 2004.

At: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 5000 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 639-1700
Hours: Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday-Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm, and closed Monday and Tuesday
Ends: January 25, 2009
Tickets: $14.00 for adults, $10.00 for students, $12.00 for seniors, and $12.00 for military personnel with an ID (tickets may be purchased online)

Recognize! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture - This exhibit of photography, painting, graffiti, film, and poetry celebrates the work of hip hop artists. The photography in the exhibit is by David Scheinbaum.

At: National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 633-1000
Hours: Everyday from 11:30 am to 7 pm
Ends: October 26, 2008
Tickets: Free

Earth and Sky: Photographs by Barbara Bosworth - This exhibition includes landscape panoramas created using multiple large-format negatives and some recent photographs of songbirds. You can view examples of her photographs online at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s web site.

At: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 633-1000
Hours: Everyday from 11:30 am to 7 pm
Ends: October 26, 2008
Tickets: Free

Do you know of any other exhibits currently in Washington or the local area?