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
  • Asbury Park Waterfront building Asbury Park Waterfront building
  • Empress Hotel sign Empress Hotel sign
  • Asbury Park Casino Asbury Park Casino
  • Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [01] Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [01]
  • Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [02] Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [02]
  • Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [02] Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [02]
  • Roof detail on the Casino [01] Roof detail on the Casino [01]
  • Foundation of former Casino skating rink Foundation of former Casino skating rink
  • Face on Casino carousel house [01] Face on Casino carousel house [01]
  • Asbury Park beach rules Asbury Park beach rules
  • Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [03] Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [03]
  • Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [03] Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [03]
  • Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [02] Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [02]
  • Face on Casino carousel house [02] Face on Casino carousel house [02]
  • Remains of east section of the Casino Remains of east section of the Casino
  • Roof detail on the Casino [02] Roof detail on the Casino [02]
  • Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [03] Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [03]
  • Asbury Park boardwalk rules Asbury Park boardwalk rules
  • Asbury Park Casino arcade [03] Asbury Park Casino arcade [03]
  • Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [02] Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [02]
  • Clouds over the Asbury Park beach [02] Clouds over the Asbury Park beach [02]
  • Sunlight through the clouds Sunlight through the clouds
  • The Stone Pony The Stone Pony
  • Asbury Park boardwalk [03] Asbury Park boardwalk [03]
  • Asbury Park beach Asbury Park beach
  • Clouds over the Asbury Park beach [01] Clouds over the Asbury Park beach [01]
  • Convention Hall Convention Hall
  • Convention Hall arcade Convention Hall arcade
  • Asbury Park Howard Johnson's Asbury Park Howard Johnson's
  • Asbury Park boardwalk [02] Asbury Park boardwalk [02]
  • Asbury Park boardwalk [01] Asbury Park boardwalk [01]
  • "NO SWIMMING" sign "NO SWIMMING" sign
  • Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [01] Boardwalk-facing facade of the Asbury Park Casino arcade [01]
  • Asbury Park Casino arcade [02] Asbury Park Casino arcade [02]
  • Asbury Park Casino arcade [01] Asbury Park Casino arcade [01]
  • Remains of east section of the Casino Remains of east section of the Casino
  • Asbury Park Heating Plant [02] Asbury Park Heating Plant [02]
  • Asbury Park Heating Plant [01] Asbury Park Heating Plant [01]
  • Asbury Park Casino interior Asbury Park Casino interior
  • Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [01] Asbury Park Casino carousel house interior [01]
  • Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [01] Dome on the Asbury Park Casino [01]
  • Kia Soul at Asbury Park Kia Soul at Asbury Park