Entrance to the Mount Rushmore National Monument near Keystone, South Dakota. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/100s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 56mm focal length.
Is there a unique photo of Mount Rushmore National Memorial to be had? I heard every shutter sound at the memorial and it is a slow time of year. Thousands of photos were taken in the few hours I spent there. One evening and one morning. If you want great light on the Presidents, you want to be there in the morning. Evening is much harder as the light is coming from behind the mountain. A tripod and remote shutter release is necessary after the mountain is lighted at the conclusion of a half-hour ceremony consisting of a twenty minute movie and talk by a park ranger.
Here are my views of Mount Rushmore.
The classic Mount Rushmore photo with perfect blue sky as the background for Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/80s, f/14, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 200mm focal length.
President George Washington through a rock outcropping at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/160s, f/6.3, ISO 200, EV +0.6, 65mm focal length, spot metering.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial lighted at the end of the evening ceremony. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 8s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod.
Views Infinitum 
I like the view through the rock outcropping.
I was there in 1988 with my parents, right around this time of year. I did get one unique view: the reflection in the windows (doors?) of the visitor’s center.
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Rats! And here I thought I was taking a unique photo by doing the same thing. LOL I doubt very much the rock framed photo of George Washington is unique either. The trail I was following takes people right to that view.
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Those are stunning pictures, Scott ! I especially like # 3 and 4 for the composition and the mood. What a unique place to visit ! Thanks for sharing.
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Mt. Rushmore is an amazing place, Isa. Thank you for your comment.
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You definitely succeeded in capturing a unique perspective…that third shot is by far my favorite!
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Thanks, KD. As I mentioned to Michaela, it is far from unique. Can not beat it for natural framing though! 🙂
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Yeah well….I don’t get out much. 😉
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Nice shots, Scott! I’m glad you were able to be there and that the weather was good.
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Thanks, Terry! The weather for the morning visit was perfect. The night before was chilly but that was expected and we dressed accordingly.
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I really like number 3 – something a bit different.
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Sure is something you don’t see a lot of. Not sure why as many people where photographing from the same spot. I guess people like to see all four of the Presidents at once. I had fun taking separate and different “group” shot of the four.
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I would like to visit this place one day. The first image is stunning, I like the perfect blue sky. I love the second and third photo also, each image is a unique view to me btw. 🙂
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Would love to go to Mount Rushmore, will have to go one of these days, thanks for inspiring
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That Washington photos is GREAT! Good work there.
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Impressive photos, particularly the one looking through the outcropping.
Not being American, I tend to have all the wrong associations with things… so for Mount Rushmore, I tend to think of the cover of Deep Purple in Rock!!
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