From the ridiculous to the inspiring to the downright disturbing, the 24-hour news cycle is trained on every aspect of the 2016 race to the White House. We’re completely captivated, and a new season of House of Cards means we’re dipping our toes in political drama even as we’re tucking them under the covers. When the fighting gets dirty and the talk too intense, we’re trying to rise above—and in the case of today’s new edition, we mean way above.
8"x10" ($24) | 11"x14" ($60) | 16"x20" ($240) | 24"x30" ($800)
This nighttime photograph, Washington, D.C. (ISS046-E-25742), was taken by Scott Kelly. Does his name ring a bell? Kelly, an American astronaut, recently returned to Earth after 340 days aboard the International Space Station. This mission—the longest American one to date—will give space programs vital information to aid them in pursuing even longer missions (we’re looking at you, Mars.)
In between all the scientific work Kelly did, he caught 5,440 sunsets and 5,440 sunrises (over 14 years’ worth!), watching the world come to life every 92 minutes. Within that span, Kelly captured thousands of photographs all over the globe, sharing many of them on social media. When we spotted this photo of Washington, D.C. (ISS046-E-25742) in a January 29th tweet, we were struck by the glow of orange streetlights outlining the grid of our nation’s capital. From this beyond bird’s-eye view, the hyper-partisan fighting and empty promises of campaign politics suddenly seem so petty. Instead, we are reminded of the beauty of Washington, D.C. and what it really seems to represent: the hustle and hard work of the American people.
Scott Kelly’s photograph of our capital is more than a dazzling aerial image that provides new perspective on a familiar place. It’s a subtle reminder of what makes this country tick, and the incredible things we can accomplish when we work together. Politics may not work well over the dinner table, but Washington, D.C. (ISS046-E-25742) will be right at home on your walls.
With art for everyone,
Team 20x200
