Every year around the spring equinox, an excellent photographic opportunity arises at the Lincoln Memorial. The spring equinox marks the end of winter and the first day of Spring. The sun is directly above the equator, the sun rises due east on the horizon. Inside the Memorial, a large statue of Lincoln faces east, staring out across the reflecting pool toward the Washington Monument.

The statue, pictured above, is shown in its normal lighting during periods of darkness, which is also stunning in its appearance. During the day, the statue only receives indirect sunlight and is largely shaded by the roof of the Memorial. During the spring equinox, the sun rises in the east (090 Degrees True on the horizon) directly behind the Washington Monument. Here is a screen print from the The Photographer’s Ephemeris, showing the alignment of the sunrise (yellow line), the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

This alignment provides for nice opportunities to make sunrise photos with the silhouette of the Washington Monument.  On calm mornings, you can also get great color from the sunrise in the reflection pool.  On the morning of the photo below, it was a very windy morning, and no reflection was possible.  Still, it was a beautiful sunrise.  As you can see, there was also a small window above the horizon with no clouds, which becomes important for photographing Lincoln.

The real photographic opportunity is in making elusive images of the Lincoln statue bathed in the golden light of sunrise, framed by the shadows of the massive pillars being projected onto the wall behind Lincoln.  This lighting is only possible during the week on either side of the equinox, on days when you have no clouds low on the horizon to the east.  It only lasts for the short period when the sun is low and rising just over the horizon. As the sun gains elevation, the top of the statue is quickly and increasingly cast into shadow. You also must time the shifting of the shadows of the pillars, which can also cover the face of Lincoln as the sun moves north to south on the horizon as it rises. But when everything lines up just right, the images you can make of Lincoln are beautiful.  The light can be intense as the sun first appears over the horizon, creating an orange glow throughout the inner chamber and on Lincoln himself.  As the sun continues to rise, the light turns from orange to gold.  I have to think Lincoln would enjoy knowing his likeness is a witness to a new beginning everyday over the city that is the national capital of the Union he fought so resolutely to preserve.

You can view more images of this event in my Lincoln Sunrise at the Equinox gallery.

Related Images: