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
  • La Difference La Difference
  • Open sign Open sign
  • Sidewalk on 1700 block of Aliceanna Street Sidewalk on 1700 block of Aliceanna Street
  • Help button Help button
  • Whole Foods P Street NW Whole Foods P Street NW
  • Cartons of Nature's Promise milk Cartons of Nature's Promise milk
  • Old Navy at Montrose Crossing Old Navy at Montrose Crossing
  • Arundel Mills parking lot Arundel Mills parking lot
  • Arundel Mills roof Arundel Mills roof
  • Mannequin at Unique Bazaar Mannequin at Unique Bazaar
  • Former Borders Books in Evanston, Illinois Former Borders Books in Evanston, Illinois
  • Half & half at Giant Food Half & half at Giant Food
  • Shopping cart at Weis Shopping cart at Weis
  • Discarded tube of lipstick Discarded tube of lipstick
  • Gumball kiosk at Wheaton Plaza Gumball kiosk at Wheaton Plaza
  • Two-tiered shopping cart Two-tiered shopping cart
  • Empty Off 5th Store Empty Off 5th Store
  • Lego door Lego door
  • Pizza at Potomac Mills Pizza at Potomac Mills
  • Over-the-counter drugs at Safeway Over-the-counter drugs at Safeway
  • Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [01] Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [01]
  • Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [02] Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [02]
  • Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [03] Vintage Giant Food sign in Laurel, Maryland [03]
  • Ink tag on clothing [01] Ink tag on clothing [01]
  • Ink tag on clothing [02] Ink tag on clothing [02]
  • Rowan University bookstore Rowan University bookstore