Photographing Washington, D.C.: Digital Field Guide

Chapter 1. Arlington Memorial Bridge

Arlington Memorial Bridge photographed from along the west bank of the Potomac River in Lady Bird Johnson Park. Taken at ISO 200, f/9, 1/40 second with a 75mm lens.

Why It's Worth a Photograph

Of the many bridges that span the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., Arlington Memorial Bridge is often considered the most beautiful. It's a symbolic link that draws together the Union's Lincoln Memorial and the Confederacy's Robert E. Lee Memorial across the Potomac, the Civil War-era water boundary between the North and the South.

Where Can I Get the Best Shot?

There are at least three ways to get great shots of Arlington Memorial Bridge: from next to the bridge's east end, from the west end of the bridge, and from the western banks of the Potomac River.

Figure 1.1. The best locations from which to photograph Arlington Memorial Bridge: (A) the west end, north side of the bridge, (B) the west bank of the Potomac River, north of the bridge, and (C) the east end, south side of the bridge. Nearby photo ops: (2) Arlington National Cemetery, (4) Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, (6) Korean War Veterans Memorial, (7) Lincoln Memorial, (12) National World War II Memorial, (15) Pentagon Memorial, (24) United States Marine Corps War Memorial, and (26) the Vietnam Veterans ...