Taking this photo was perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences since I started serious photography back in 2007. It was also one of the most frightening experiences because I was in the middle of open field, by a large pool, with a small metal umbrella protecting my camera (part of it) during a very powerful storm in DC.

Laura and I visited Washington DC for one afternoon and walked all over the place from the Capitol, to the White House, and ended up in Chinatown for supper, without having taken a single "outstanding" picture.

I had waited all day for this photo, and the moment the storm started, we started walking back towards the Capitol. By the time we got there, the storm had turned very ugly, with lots of thunders, lighting, and pouring rain. I knew this was going to be one of the very few chances to take this photo, so I risked getting hit by lighting, and spent almost twenty minutes pressing against a concrete block, hoping to get a sharp exposure at over 5 seconds without a tripod. Fortunately, my insanity paid of and I got this great shot, but not without a toll on my 18-70mm lens (the rubber started coming apart from the excessive humidity).

Titus