Our judges have spoken: Here are the top five submissions in our Only in Washington photo contest. Now we need your votes to determine the winner.
Published Wednesday, March 18, 2009
NOTE: Voting in this month's photo contest is now closed; scroll down to see the winner. The theme for next month's contest and how to enter has been announced here.
This month, we asked for photos of people, places, and things you could find only in Washington. Readers flooded our in-box with 260 interpretations.
Our team of judges picked the top five photos, but we need you to decide the winner. Scroll down to see the finalists, then take the poll at the bottom of the page to vote for your favorite. Reader voting will close on Tuesday, March 31, at noon. The photo with the most votes at that time will be declared the winner, and it’ll run in the May issue of The Washingtonian.
Remember, it’s only one vote per person, so choose wisely. And please, we ask that you play fair. If we see what seem to be irregularities in voting for a particular photograph, we reserve the right to disqualify it.
Good luck to our finalists, and happy voting, readers!
We selected only five finalists, but several other photos caught our eye. Click here to see the runners-up. You can also see all our past photo-contest winners here.
"Election Night" by Amanda K. Gilley of Silver Spring
This photo was snapped late at night last November when Barack Obama won the election. The photographer writes, "Hundreds crowded the streets to share in the joy."
"Zombie Bride" by Brian W. Knight of Springfield
The photographer describes his photo best: "Is it the apocalypse? A lone zombie bride plods towards the Washington Monument. Every autumn, zombies descend upon the Mall for dancing and merriment. And Brainzzzzz . . ."
"Ben's Chili Bowl" by Daria Cristel Grayer of Washington
Writes the photographer, "Only in Washington, DC, can you get Ben's infamous, overloaded chili dog and chili fries at 4 AM."
"Marine One" by David B. King of Washington
While watching Washington's St. Patrick's Day parade, the photographer says he spotted the tell-tale triumvirate of helicopters—which means the president is on board one of them—and quickly headed to the south lawn to shoot the chopper's landing.
"Hotel Washington" by Marc Cohn of Falls Church
According to this photographer, Washington and construction go hand-in-hand. Hence this shot of the Hotel Washington undergoing a facelift.
Marine One speaks to me of one side of our city, and Election Night the other.
No matter who you voted for -- Obama or McCain -- whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or a Libertarian, the sight of a our flag being freely waved in celebration of a peaceful transition from one government to another should fill all our hearts with joy. Pause and think for a moment about how many places in the world an election is accompanied by rioting and bloodshed, if indeed there is an election. And rejoice.
Posted by: Meriel, Mar 26, 2009 11:58:27 AM
Ben’s Chili Bowl--show’s how DC’s culture and people stand the test of time! Colorful and soulful (and tasty)!
Posted by: KatFish, Mar 24, 2009 12:58:24 PM
Amanda, WOW! What a dynamic photo capturing the electricity of the city.
Posted by: Betty Harman, Mar 24, 2009 10:31:34 AM
My vote is for Daria Grayer’s Ben’s Chili Bowl as well!!!
Posted by: K.E.D., Mar 23, 2009 01:27:51 PM
Good job, Amanda...don’t agree with the sentiment, but love your work.
Posted by: John, Mar 22, 2009 03:48:22 PM
Dear Ken: Although Rush makes intelligent music, I don’t think they are up there with the founding fathers (maybe Neil Peart is close). I do; however, believe that men with the mettle, intelligence, and ideals of Thomas and Keyes founded this GREAT country. Let us all now lay our offerings at the feet of our NEW Lord and Saviour: B.O. (Who are your muses? Jon Stewart and Bill Marrrrrr?
Posted by: Thomas, Mar 20, 2009 05:36:41 PM
Liz, I am very sorry you suffer from migraines. They can be quite debilitating.
Posted by: Rob, Mar 20, 2009 06:56:32 AM
The tragedy of election night? Perhaps it’s my migraine, but I have no idea what are you talking about.
Posted by: liz, Mar 19, 2009 08:39:10 PM
Amanda, that is fabulous
Posted by: Cindytrumble, Mar 19, 2009 07:56:42 PM
You are right, Ken. We can simply rely on our surrogate parent (our government) to take care of us all...into perpetuity!!
Posted by: Thomas, Mar 19, 2009 02:41:31 PM
All of the photos capture a particular element of Washington life but what sets Grayer’s "Ben’s Chili Bowl" apart is it catpures a unique but very real element of Washington. I feel as though I have seen the other photographs before, their familarity in subject matter and composition. However it is in these regards, that Grayer rises above the mundane and creates a truly intersting, vivis, and accurate portrayl. I look forward to seeing more her work in the Washingtonian and otherwise.
Posted by: Mimi, Mar 19, 2009 12:56:51 PM
Haha. Don’t you think Barry has better things to do? Like save your jobs?
Posted by: Ken, Mar 19, 2009 11:17:58 AM
Ken? Barry...is that you?
Posted by: Thomas, Mar 19, 2009 10:28:17 AM
Clarence Thomas and Alan Keyes up there with the founding fathers Rob? What about Rush?
Posted by: Ken, Mar 19, 2009 10:06:52 AM
election night is a great photo... but could have been many cities that night, not just DC... however, zombie bride, to me, really shows the quirky side of Dc where you find some pretty off the wall activists strolling beside mom and pops at the tourist spots, especially the monuments..,so that gets my vote
Posted by: jen, Mar 19, 2009 09:10:27 AM
Election Night is the deserved winner. The juxtaposition of The Flag and what it represented (and still does/did to many of us including our Founding Fathers, Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, Ronald Reagan, and even John F. Kennedy) with the tragedy of the election and presidency of Obama only enhances the interest of the photograph.
Posted by: Rob, Mar 19, 2009 09:02:24 AM
Election Night is the deserved winner. The juxtaposition of The Flag and what it represented (and still does/did to many of us including our Founding Fathers, Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, Ronald Reagan, and even John F. Kennedy) with the tragedy of the election and presidency of Obama only enhances the interest of the photograph.
Posted by: Rob Long, Mar 19, 2009 08:56:23 AM
no place to leave a vote on your website.
My vote is for Daria Greyer’s Ben’s Chili Bowl.
Awesome drama!
Posted by: ccv, Mar 18, 2009 03:09:05 PM
WOW...WOW...the Election Night photo is awesome.. I must say I can feel the excitement by just looking at the photo. Seeing Old Glory flapping in the wind really make me feel the photo even more. Just to know the gentlemen where celebrating a new beginning for the United States of America on a night that all will always remember where and what they were doing when the victory announcement was made. TGBTG
Posted by: TGBTG, Mar 18, 2009 02:28:43 PM
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