Gothic Grandeur and Garden Beauty: A Photowalk Around Washington National Cathedral

Yes, Our Photowalk Has a Discussion Page!September 22nd, 2026

Hello everyone!

One of our attendees asked whether there is a place where people who are registered for the walk can post comments and ask questions. The answer is yes!

When you visit our actual photowalk page, you will see a tab next to the walk description labeled “Discussion.” That is where you can ask questions, leave comments, introduce yourself, share helpful information, make fun of the photowalk leader, or post just about anything else related to the walk.

Of course, if you choose to make fun of the photowalk leader, please remember that he will be selecting the walking route. You may suddenly discover that your portion of the walk includes several additional hills and a trip going up the Exorcist stairs and not down the stairs like we did on last year’s photowalk!

For those of you who do not know me very well yet, I should probably warn you that I have a slightly crazy sense of humor, and it appears to be operating in overdrive today. I promise that I take the photowalk seriously. I just refuse to take myself too seriously!

Please feel free to use the “discussion” tab as we get closer to the walk. It will be a great place for everyone to communicate, ask questions and get to know one another before October 3rd.

I cannot wait to meet all of you!

Best,
John Dukes
Your Slightly Unsupervised Photowalk Leader

Good News About Parking for Our PhotowalkSeptember 22nd, 2026

Hello everyone!

I have some good news regarding parking for our photowalk at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, October 3.

One of our very observant attendees recently let me know that the parking garage appeared to be “sold out.” I would love to take credit for discovering this potential parking crisis, but I did not. Apparently, at least one member of our group is paying closer attention than the photowalk leader!

After looking into it, I learned that the Cathedral garage does not accept advance parking reservations. The “sold out” message did not mean that the garage itself was actually full. Parking should be available when we arrive.

That said, this is Washington, DC, where finding a parking space can sometimes feel like an Olympic event. Perhaps we should award gold, silver and bronze medals to the first three people who successfully park their cars, then send the results to Scott Kelby for official recognition on the Grid! All joking aside, I still recommend arriving early and having an alternate plan in case the garage reaches capacity.

Our photowalk begins at 5:00 pm. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and enjoying a fun evening of photography together!

By the way, thank you to everyone who has already let me know they will be joining us for dinner afterward! If you are bringing a guest, please make sure they are added to the roster so I can give the restaurant an accurate headcount. We do not want anyone standing beside the table watching the rest of us eat because I forgot to reserve them a chair. That would be awkward, especially if they start stealing French fries!

Best,
John Dukes

Important Parking Update for Our October 3rd PhotowalkSeptember 21st, 2026

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share an important parking update for our photowalk.

One of our attendees notified me that when they attempted to reserve parking in the Cathedral’s underground garage, they received a message stating that parking was sold out.

I checked the Cathedral’s public calendar and did not find a major event scheduled that day. It is possible that only the advance reservation spaces are sold out and that some drive-up parking may still be available. However, I cannot guarantee that spaces will be available when we arrive.

I recommend arriving early and having an alternate parking plan just in case. You may want to consider carpooling, using a rideshare service, taking Metro and connecting by bus or rideshare, or reserving a space close by. As I mentioned earlier, the restaurant parking at the Giant parking lot is close by and within walking distance, and this might be an ideal location for you to park if you are attending the dinner afterwards.

I am also contacting the Cathedral directly for clarification and will share any additional information I receive.

Our photowalk is still scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and enjoying a wonderful evening of photography together!

Official Photowalk T-Shirts Are Now Available!September 21st, 2026

Hello, again everyone!

I wanted to also let you all know that the official Photowalk T-shirts are now available to order!

Popular sizes often sell out quickly as the Photowalk date approaches. If you would like a shirt, I recommend placing your order today to help ensure that your preferred size is available and that it arrives in time for the walk.

To order, simply visit the Worldwide Photowalk website and click the “Official T-Shirt” link at the top of the page.

Wearing a shirt is completely optional, but it is always fun to see everyone showing their Photowalk spirit!

I am getting more excited as our walk approaches, and I cannot wait to see everyone!

John

Washington National Cathedral Photowalk: Dinner and Parking InformationSeptember 21st, 2026

Hello, everyone!

Our photowalk is just a couple of weeks away, and I am getting more excited as the date approaches! I am really looking forward to meeting those of you who will be joining us for the first time and welcoming back the familiar faces who attend with me every year. We are going to have a wonderful evening together, and I know it is going to be a lot of fun!

I am excited to let you I have made a dinner reservation for 15 people at Silver in Cathedral Commons for 7:45 p.m. following our walk. The restaurant is located at 3404 Wisconsin Avenue NW, only a few blocks from the Cathedral and approximately a 10-minute walk.

Silver offers a broad selection of contemporary American food, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, entrées and lighter choices. There should be something for just about everyone, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. If you have a food allergy or specific dietary requirement, please let the server know when ordering.

The Washington National Cathedral has a large underground paid parking garage, with the entrance located along Wisconsin Avenue. Accessible parking spaces and elevator access are available.

If you would prefer to have your vehicle closer to the restaurant after dinner, parking is also available in the Cathedral Commons Giant Food garage on Newark Street. Silver provides two hours of free parking with validation, so please bring your parking ticket into the restaurant.

You are welcome to join us for dinner, but there is certainly no obligation. Since I reserved seating for 15 people, please let me know if you plan to join us so I can maintain an accurate count.

I also want to remind everyone that if you are bringing a guest, family member or friend, please make sure that each person registers for the Photowalk. This includes anyone attending with you, even if they are not planning to take photographs. Having an accurate headcount is especially important as I finalize our dinner arrangements.

I will share more Photowalk details as we get closer. I cannot wait to see everyone!

John

KelbyOne Photowalk Group UpdateSeptember 17th, 2026

Hi everyone!

I can’t believe our photowalk is just a few short weeks away! I am really excited about our walk and I think we are going to have a fantastic time together.

I wanted to send along one important reminder as we get closer. If you are planning to bring a spouse, family member, friend, or anyone else along with you, please make sure that each person officially registers for the photowalk.

Having a reasonably accurate headcount is very important, especially as we get closer to October 3rd and I begin making arrangements for the restaurant where we will meet for dinner and drinks after the walk.

I’ll be sharing more details with everyone over the coming weeks, including information about where we will meet, our route, the after-walk gathering, and anything else you’ll need to know.

Most of all, I am just really looking forward to spending the evening photographing, meeting everyone, and having some fun together!

If you have any questions at all or need anything before the walk, please feel free to reach out to me anytime.

Email: john@johndukesphotography.com
Phone: 443-547-5850

See you all very soon!

John

A Quick Photo Walk Registration ReminderSeptember 3rd, 2026

Hello everyone!

I wanted to send along one quick and friendly reminder as we prepare for our October 3rd Photo Walk.

If you are planning to bring a friend or family member with you, please make sure that each person registers individually for the walk. Last year, several registered walkers brought additional guests, which was wonderful, but because those guests were not included in the registration count, our final attendance was a little higher than expected.

Having everyone registered helps us maintain an accurate headcount and will be especially helpful when I make our reservation for dinner and drinks after the walk.

We are delighted to welcome your friends and family members, so please feel free to invite them! We simply ask that everyone who plans to participate completes their own registration.

Thank you so much for helping us stay organized. We look forward to seeing all of you on October 3rd!

John Dukes
443-547-5850

Thank You for Joining Our Washington National Cathedral Photo Walk!September 3rd, 2026

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has signed up for our Photo Walk at the Washington National Cathedral. The response has been wonderful so far, and I am truly excited to spend the evening photographing with all of you!

Many of you have joined me on previous walks, while others will be walking with our group for the first time. To our returning friends, thank you for coming back! You already know that our group always has a great time capturing photos, sharing stories and enjoying the experience together. To those joining us for the first time, we warmly welcome you and look forward to meeting you!

I will send complete details about our meeting location, schedule and other important information as we get closer to October 3rd.

One of the highlights of our walks is gathering afterward for dinner and drinks. It is a wonderful opportunity to share photos and experiences and to spend time with friends, both old and new. I will be making a reservation at a nearby restaurant and will share those details with you before the walk.

This year’s route will be easy and mostly on flat terrain. However, I do want everyone to know that the Bishop’s Garden offers only partial wheelchair accessibility. Because of its historic, terraced layout, some areas and pathways may present challenges for those using wheelchairs or anyone with limited mobility. The remainder of our walk should be mostly flat and easy to navigate.

I would also like to remind everyone that the Photo Walk is free to attend, but we encourage each participant to make a donation to the Springs of Hope Kenya Orphanage. This is a wonderful cause, and every donation, regardless of the amount, helps make a difference in the lives of the children they serve. We encourage everyone to give as generously as they can to this wonderful cause. However, no donation is too small. Even a donation of just $1 is helpful and sincerely appreciated.

Thank you again for signing up and for the wonderful response so far. I will continue to keep everyone updated as we get closer. I cannot wait to see familiar faces, welcome new friends and enjoy another memorable Photo Walk together!

John Dukes
443-547-5850