“Tis the season to be Merry. Well that’s my name.” This quote is from my favorite Christmas movie if you can guess it. I haven’t done much photography at Christmas, other than my kids opening presents and posing for family Christmas Card pictures. But in the last few years I have looked for iconic city scenes decked in seasonal accoutrements. The scenes I have captured have only been within the Mid-Atlantic region and I have yet to photograph some of the most iconic displays further north in New York city. What I have taken pictures of is the Philly, Baltimore, Washington D.C. scenes that show up on various postcards.

My technique is to take long exposure compositions during the blue hour in a location of the city (usually central) where most of the Christmas activity is taking place. In Washington D.C. this is the National Christmas Tree standing well lit in the ellipse between the White House and the mall. In Philadelphia, Center City where the Love sign stands is the place to be. Sometimes other Christmas opportunities present themselves. Below are two more Christmas photos: 1) Walking to my spot, the Capitol and Pennsylvania Avenue stood out behind Christmas lights and 2) A simple portrait of the White House with its wreath hung under twilight.

In Baltimore, 34th street is the place to be before and during Christmas with its colorfully lit row homes and lavish displays of seasonal cheer. I thought too to capture my home city square of Lancaster. It does not boast the same population or resources of the aforementioned bigger cities of the I-95 corridor, however, it lacks none of the pictorial Christmas display. Merry Christmas!