Ben Schumin Photography Portfolio

Ben Schumin is a professional photographer who captures the intricacies of daily life.

Washington Monument in scaffolding, September 5, 2013

Washington Monument in scaffolding, September 5, 2013

The Washington Monument, a stone obelisk erected to commemorate President George Washington, was closed for an indefinite period following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011. The closure stemmed from extensive damage sustained during the earthquake to the stone that forms the monument. This included a dislodged block in the pyramidion, cracking near the top, and numerous smaller instances of stone damage on the exterior and interior of the structure.

Following detailed inspections of the structure and funding of a repair plan, including a $7.5 contribution from local philanthropist David Rubenstein towards the estimated $15 million cost for repairs, work to repair the structure began in early 2013, as the structure was encased in scaffolding for the third time in its history. Preparations for the scaffolding were underway by February, the scaffolding had reached a third of the way up by late March, and was topped out by May. A lighting system for the scaffolding went live in July. The lighting was discontinued after the night of November 3, and the removal of the scaffolding began the following week, in a process that would take several months to complete. The National Park Service estimates that the Washington Monument will reopen to visitors in spring 2014.

I photographed the Washington Monument while it was wearing its shroud of scaffolding during the day on September 5, 2013. I photographed it from all around, both at close range near the construction fence, and from a distance, going past the Tidal Basin, the memorials that are located in this part of the Mall, and Constitution Gardens.

More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/photography/photo-2013/shrouded-in-sca...
83 photos
Washington Monument in scaffolding, November 8-9, 2013

Washington Monument in scaffolding, November 8-9, 2013

The Washington Monument, a stone obelisk erected to commemorate President George Washington, was closed for an indefinite period following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011. The closure stemmed from extensive damage sustained during the earthquake to the stone that forms the monument. This included a dislodged block in the pyramidion, cracking near the top, and numerous smaller instances of stone damage on the exterior and interior of the structure.

Following detailed inspections of the structure and funding of a repair plan, including a $7.5 contribution from local philanthropist David Rubenstein towards the estimated $15 million cost for repairs, work to repair the structure began in early 2013, as the structure was encased in scaffolding for the third time in its history. Preparations for the scaffolding were underway by February, the scaffolding had reached a third of the way up by late March, and was topped out by May. A lighting system for the scaffolding went live in July. The lighting was discontinued after the night of November 3, and the removal of the scaffolding began the following week, in a process that would take several months to complete. The National Park Service estimates that the Washington Monument will reopen to visitors in spring 2014.

I photographed the Washington Monument while it was wearing its shroud of scaffolding during the late night and early morning hours of November 8-9, 2013. I photographed it from all around, both at close range near the construction fence, and from a distance, going past the Tidal Basin, the memorials that are located in this part of the Mall, and Constitution Gardens. Unlike most nighttime photos of the Washington Monument during this period, where the monument was backlit, the monument is shown here lit with the normal nighttime lighting.

More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/photography/photo-2013/shrouded-in-sca...
41 photos
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  • Pineapple Lily Pineapple Lily
  • Turk's Cap Lily Turk's Cap Lily
  • Hybrid Rugosa Rose [02] Hybrid Rugosa Rose [02]
  • Hybrid Rugosa Rose [01] Hybrid Rugosa Rose [01]
  • Rosa Dainty Bess (with bee) Rosa Dainty Bess (with bee)
  • Hybrid Tea Rose Hybrid Tea Rose
  • Purple Coneflower Purple Coneflower
  • Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [03] Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [03]
  • Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [02] Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [02]
  • Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [01] Lilli Marleen Floribunda Rose [01]
  • Love and Peace Hybrid Tea Rose [02] Love and Peace Hybrid Tea Rose [02]
  • Love and Peace Hybrid Tea Rose [01] Love and Peace Hybrid Tea Rose [01]
  • Honey Perfume Floribunda Rose Honey Perfume Floribunda Rose
  • Orange Daylily [03] Orange Daylily [03]
  • Fern Leaf Yarrow Fern Leaf Yarrow
  • American Water Lotus American Water Lotus
  • Arc-en Ciel Waterlily Arc-en Ciel Waterlily
  • English Shrub Rose English Shrub Rose
  • Korean Abelialeaf Korean Abelialeaf
  • Black-Eyed Susan Black-Eyed Susan
  • Sunshine Hollyhock [03] Sunshine Hollyhock [03]
  • Sunshine Hollyhock [02] Sunshine Hollyhock [02]
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  • English Lavender English Lavender
  • Moroccan Mountain Eryngo Moroccan Mountain Eryngo
  • Montgomery Florist's Spiraea Montgomery Florist's Spiraea
  • Sage Sage
  • Peruvian Lily [02] Peruvian Lily [02]
  • Peruvian Lily [01] Peruvian Lily [01]
  • Spike Gayfeather [02] Spike Gayfeather [02]
  • Spike Gayfeather [01] Spike Gayfeather [01]
  • Sweet William Sweet William
  • Autumn Colors Black-Eyed Susan Autumn Colors Black-Eyed Susan
  • Orange Daylily [02] Orange Daylily [02]
  • Orange Daylily [01] Orange Daylily [01]
  • Summer Wine Daylily [02] Summer Wine Daylily [02]
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  • Alaska Shasta Daisy Alaska Shasta Daisy
  • Rose Beauty Japanese Thistle Rose Beauty Japanese Thistle
  • Matthew Allen Dahlia [02] Matthew Allen Dahlia [02]
  • Matthew Allen Dahlia [01] Matthew Allen Dahlia [01]
  • Golden Shower Threadleaf Coreopsis [02] Golden Shower Threadleaf Coreopsis [02]
  • Golden Shower Threadleaf Coreopsis [01] Golden Shower Threadleaf Coreopsis [01]
  • Daylily Daylily
  • Cranesbill Cranesbill
  • Fuji Blue Balloon Flower [02] Fuji Blue Balloon Flower [02]
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  • Love Grandiflora Rose [01] Love Grandiflora Rose [01]
  • Heron at Chicago Botanic Garden [02] Heron at Chicago Botanic Garden [02]
  • Duck at Chicago Botanic Garden Duck at Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Heron at Chicago Botanic Garden [01] Heron at Chicago Botanic Garden [01]