Chapter 10. National Archives
The south entrance to the National Archives. Taken at ISO 100, f/8, 1/250 second with a 19mm lens.
Why It's Worth a Photograph
At the National Archives, you can see the documents that defined the United States and the freedoms that its citizens enjoy. Together, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights make up the Charters of Freedom.
A visit to the National Archives offers a rare chance to see all these documents together. In addition to the rotunda, the National Archives building and statues that adorn it symbolize the importance of these documents as well as the historical records kept by the nation's archivists. Together, they tell the story of America.
Figure 10.1. The best locations from which to photograph the National Archives: (A) the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom and (B) the building's north entrance. Nearby photo ops: (3) Ford's Theatre, (9) National Air and Space Museum, (11) National Mall, (14) Old Post Office, (16) Smithsonian Institution Castle, (19) Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, (21) United States Botanic Garden, (22) United States Capitol, and (28) White House and President's Park.
Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
There are two very different areas to photograph here: inside the dark, cavernous ...
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