Walking around Washington DC for the first time ever, I was simultaneously impressed that this was the purported center of the world, and disappointed that it was the purported center of the world. All museums are free, the city is walkable, there is urban grunge worth exploring and photographing, yet many sites were closed (reflecting pool, much of the White House lawn, etc.) and there was little sense of that imperial permanence America wishes so badly to project.

But perhaps that is the point. I expected more military presence (especially under the Trump administration, which values this aesthetic even as it systematically loses every war), and its lack was almost gaudy. Monuments, crowds imperturbed, and liberal amenities are preferred over open militarism – which becomes stronger by implication. The lesser-known corners (or even just angles) of Washington, DC are endless, which was obvious even though I only spent a short time there.

All photos were taken on a Pentax MX loaded with Kodak Ektacolor Pro 400. In my quest for a better hit rate, I’ve settled on more expensive film to calm my trigger finger. Total cost was $98 to buy film and develop these photos – or, a bit over $3 per shot, after averaging in discarded shots. That is a trade I will take. […]