Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library really stands out amoung the classic Washington DC architecture surrounding it. Black steel columns, floor to ceiling glass, and clean geometry that looks sharp from almost any angle on G Street. Inside is where it gets interesting for photographers. A major renovation in 2020 added sculptural curved staircases lined with blond wood against rich black felt, and the contrast between the original rigid straight lines and the new curved, organic shapes gives you strong compositions on every floor. The Great Hall has a massive mural by Don Miller celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s life that fills the entire back wall. A crocheted textile installation by Xenobia Bailey hangs from the main reading room ceiling, and glass artworks by Nekisha Durrett line the entrance vestibule. The rooftop garden on the fifth floor features amazing open views across downtown. The library is free to enter and explore during regular hours and photography is allowed in the public areas. It is four blocks north of the National Mall, so it fits easily into a day of shooting downtown. (Washington DC, USA)
