National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum

You could spend a day in here and not see all of the spectacular exhibits this museum has to offer.  Renovated and reopened in 2006, the National Portrait Gallery/American Museum of Art is a photographer’s delight, and most of the exhibits are open to photography. Our Safari, directed by professional architectural photographer E. David Luria, begins outside the 8th and F Street entrance to the museum for some exterior views of the building that was begun in 1836 and was the site of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural ball.   Then we move inside to photograph the incredible works of art on display, including the portraits of the Presidents, the Folk Art gallery, and the gallery of contemporary art and sculpture. On this Safari you will learn how to photograph works of art in a museum without flash or tripod, a useful skill for your travels abroad.

For best results we suggest digital cameras with ISO ratings of 800 or 1600, or film cameras with 1600 speed color film and a tungsten filter. Digital camera users should be familiar with setting Tungsten/Incandescent White Balance, film users will need an 80A or 80B Tungsten filter to fit their normal lens. No tripods allowed.