As a self-proclaimed planner, I’m constantly finding myself thinking five steps ahead on the next big _______ — the next big wedding, the next big workshop, the next big meal (ha, only half kidding!), or, most often, the next big trip. So much so, that I sometimes forget to enjoy the moment and the beauty that is currently surrounding me in my own back yard. I moved to Washington, DC after graduating from James Madison University and quickly got over the excitement of seeing the iconic monuments that I passed by each morning on my daily commute to the city. We visited some sights and museums here and there, but eventually grew tired of the crowds and stopped shortly after. 

As we turned our calendars ahead to 2016, I vowed to become a tourist in my own city again  — making quarterly trips to see something new with a set of fresh eyes. After all, I love exploring new places as seen in our travels through Prague, Switzerland, and Austria, and wanted to regain that feeling for old DC.  

This quarter I visited the highly acclaimed Renwick Gallery that has recently been boasting it’s large-scale installation called, “Wonder”. This gorgeous gallery is literally no more than fifty steps from me on a daily basis — it’s around the corner from the White House, beside the Jackson Place townhomes.  Room after room was filled with enormous works of art that were each made from ordinary, everyday materials and turned into something incredibly unique. As a wedding photographer, the fact that this exhibit not only allows but encourages photography, made it that much better. Pictures certainly don’t do these installations justice, so if you’re in the DMV area, I definitely recommend a trip to the city to see these for yourself — you have no reason not to, this exhibit is actually free!