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
  • Railroad bridge [05] Railroad bridge [05]
  • Railroad bridge [04] Railroad bridge [04]
  • Railroad bridge [03] Railroad bridge [03]
  • Railroad bridge [02] Railroad bridge [02]
  • Abandoned railroad bridge Abandoned railroad bridge
  • Norfolk Southern "No Trespassing" sign Norfolk Southern "No Trespassing" sign
  • Wire terminal structures Wire terminal structures
  • Triple Crossing area [02] Triple Crossing area [02]
  • Triple Crossing area [01] Triple Crossing area [01]
  • "Darth Vader" railroad signal "Darth Vader" railroad signal
  • Railroad bridge [01] Railroad bridge [01]
  • Railroad tracks through Cumberland Railroad tracks through Cumberland
  • CSX "No Trespassing" sign CSX "No Trespassing" sign
  • Railroad crossbuck Railroad crossbuck
  • CSX locomotive 578 [01] CSX locomotive 578 [01]
  • Railroad signals in Cumberland [01] Railroad signals in Cumberland [01]
  • Railroad crossing lights at Baltimore Street Railroad crossing lights at Baltimore Street
  • CSX locomotive 578 [02] CSX locomotive 578 [02]
  • End of a CSX freight train End of a CSX freight train
  • Railroad signals in Cumberland [02] Railroad signals in Cumberland [02]
  • Railroad tracks through Cumberland Railroad tracks through Cumberland
  • Potomac River at Cumberland [01] Potomac River at Cumberland [01]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [01] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [01]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [02] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [02]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [03] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [03]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [04] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [04]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [05] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [05]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [06] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [06]
  • Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [07] Railroad tracks at Harpers Ferry Amtrak station [07]