Yosemite Firefall. Manhattanhenge. Washington D.C.’s cherry blossoms. That list of names could be a landscape photographer’s bucket list, but it’s also a list of brief events that draw millions of visitors – and photographers. But the well-known, short-term photo opportunities come with a downside, as one photo of the recent Washington DC cherry blossoms illustrates: crowds.
I was browsing through images of the Yoshino cherry trees at peak bloom when I came across a photo of the trees along the Tidal Basin – and more photographers than I can count. The photograph shows a line of tripods, cameras, and people along the water’s shore, all capturing the iconic bloom.
That’s the challenge that comes with photographing viral locations – and particularly viral short-term events that only happen for a short time. The cherry blossoms are only at peak bloom for a few days a year, which means photographers hoping to capture the event are all looking to head out on the same few days.
The peak bloom is estimated to draw more than 1.5 million visitors to Washington DC every year – and if 2026’s record-breaking crowds using the Metro are any indication, this year brought quite the crowd.
I’m not saying not to go photograph these viral events – but I am saying you should factor in crowds to your expectations to avoid disappointment. Finding the right angle for a good photograph becomes even more challenging in a crowd. And with this many photographers lined up for a shot, getting a unique shot is also going to be quite the challenge.
Another hurdle to overcome? Getting a clean shot without lots of other visitors in the image.
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