Recalling Old Glory

What on Oct. 3, 2004 prompted flags flown at half-mast? I sure don’t recall, nor could I immediately discover a reason from searching the InterWebs. I will further explain.

This evening, while rummaging through old photos, I came across a shot of the U.S. Capitol. The building, set back behind trees, took my attention; initially. On closer inspection, I could see that for all my poor photography habits of 19 years ago, the flagpole frames the shot. Then I looked at lowered Old Glory and wondered why?

The Featured Image comes from Canon EOS 20D and EF28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/13, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, 135mm; 5:17 p.m. EDT. Composed as captured.

The camera was a new acquisition—as explained in “My First Canon EOS 20D Tests” a few hours before heading into the District of Columbia and shooting the Capitol dome.

By the way, this post’s title plays off the American flag’s nickname as off-handed political comment that no normal person would think without my explanation. I see the U.S. Capitol in its old glory, when government more effectively functioned. Those days are ancient memory, which this photo’s timestamp conjures for me.