Ben Schumin Photography Portfolio

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

Photographs taken in 2013.
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
  • Yield sign Yield sign
  • WTBO sign [04] WTBO sign [04]
  • WTBO sign [03] WTBO sign [03]
  • WTBO sign [02] WTBO sign [02]
  • WTBO sign [01] WTBO sign [01]
  • WTBO sign at night [03] WTBO sign at night [03]
  • WTBO sign at night [02] WTBO sign at night [02]
  • WTBO sign at night [01] WTBO sign at night [01]
  • WTBO sign and transmitter, viewed from below WTBO sign and transmitter, viewed from below
  • Wrinkled hands following tubing adventure Wrinkled hands following tubing adventure
  • Wrigley Building [02] Wrigley Building [02]
  • Wrigley Building [01] Wrigley Building [01]
  • Woman with painted toenails Woman with painted toenails
  • Woman taking a photo at the FDR Memorial Woman taking a photo at the FDR Memorial
  • Woman riding motorcycle Woman riding motorcycle
  • Woman reading a book Woman reading a book
  • Woman laying on inner tube [02] Woman laying on inner tube [02]
  • Woman laying on inner tube [01] Woman laying on inner tube [01]
  • Woman having nails painted Woman having nails painted
  • Wire terminal structures Wire terminal structures
  • Wilkins Shoe Center Wilkins Shoe Center
  • Whole Foods P Street NW Whole Foods P Street NW
  • Wheelock push station Wheelock push station
  • Wheelock MT horn/strobe Wheelock MT horn/strobe
  • Wheelock fire alarm bell Wheelock fire alarm bell
  • Wheelock ET speaker/strobe at Olney Indoor Swim Center Wheelock ET speaker/strobe at Olney Indoor Swim Center
  • Wheelock AS at MVA Gaithersburg Wheelock AS at MVA Gaithersburg
  • Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [02] Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [02]
  • Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [01] Wesley Lake Drive and Cookman Avenue [01]
  • Weathered headstone Weathered headstone
  • Wawa donuts [03] Wawa donuts [03]
  • Wawa donuts [02] Wawa donuts [02]
  • Wawa donuts [01] Wawa donuts [01]
  • Water tower in Northbrook, Illinois Water tower in Northbrook, Illinois
  • Water pitcher at Clyde's in Reston Water pitcher at Clyde's in Reston
  • Washington Redskins golf cart Washington Redskins golf cart
  • Washington Monument prior to scaffolding construction [02] Washington Monument prior to scaffolding construction [02]
  • Washington Monument prior to scaffolding construction [01] Washington Monument prior to scaffolding construction [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [10] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [10]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [09] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [09]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [08] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [08]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [07] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [07]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [06] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [06]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [05] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [05]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [01] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [10] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [10]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [09] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [09]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [08] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [08]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [07] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [07]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [06] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [06]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [05] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [05]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [01] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the west end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [01] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southwest [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [01] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the southeast [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [01] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northwest [01]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northeast [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the northeast [02]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the Lincoln Memorial Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from the Lincoln Memorial
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [09] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [09]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [08] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [08]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [07] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [07]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [06] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [06]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [05] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [05]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [04] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [04]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [03] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [03]
  • Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [02] Washington Monument in scaffolding, viewed from Constitution Gardens [02]