There are four major styles or types of bridges. The arch, the beam, the suspension, and the cantilever. The main purpose for constructing a bridge is to establish a quicker and easier route from point A to point B. But, they have also come to be considered works of art that are highly photographed. Some are held in the highest regard as national treasures, such as some of our beautiful covered bridges. Examples of these can be found throughout the country, such as the wonderful bridges of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, which are some of the most photographed bridges in the world.
Many bridges, big and small, connect pieces of our country from coast to coast. There are bridges so small they only allow one car at a time to pass over. They're needed for railways, roads, and canals. And they're romanticized. They're photographed, painted, sculpted, and carved. Unfortunately, they're also used as a means for sadness. Hundreds of people jump to their death from our nations bridges every year. One of our most beautiful bridges is also the most popular destination for people intent on committing suicide. The Golden Gate Bridge. The last official count was in 2005 of over 1200 suicides from this bridge.
The gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 and held the title of having the longest suspension bridge span for years. It spans the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. It connects San Francisco to Marin County. The distinct orange color was selected for a couple reasons. First, it was felt that it would be well suited to the natural surroundings. Secondly, and very importantly, it was determined that the vibrant color would show well through the persisting northern California fog. Many consider the Golden Gate Bridge to be if not the most definitely one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Year-round will find hoards of camera buffs, camera bags in hand, situating themselves to get the best view of the golden beauty, so they can get that perfect Golden Gate Bridge photograph.
Traveling to the East coast, there is another remarkable bridge that is quickly recognizable. And, depending on what coast you're on may be the most popular and most photographed bridge in the U.S. It's the beautiful and ornate Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. It's one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country, stretching 5,989 feet over the East River. In it's day, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world, when it was completed in 1883. The bridge is accessible for pedestrians making photographing from under the steel suspensions possible. You can walk on with your camera bag and take your time photographing the bridge from one end to the other, as well as the spectacular city's skyline.
A very well known bridge on the West coast is Galloping Gertie, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, that connects Tacoma, Washington with the Kitsap Peninsula. The bridge opened on July 1, 1940 and collapsed four months later, due to wind-induced trauma, into the waters of Puget Sound below. The final destruction of the event of the bridge twisting and swaying was preserved on film by Barney Elliott who owned a local camera shop. To this day, the film is used as a teaching tool for students of engineering, architecture, and physics. So, never leave your camera case at home, you never know what you may come across worth photographing.
Some bridges are targeted by dare-devils. One popular bridge that hundreds of bungee jumpers, during the height of the craze in the 80's, swarmed to was the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayatteville, West Virginia. It was completed in 1977 and is an example of a steel-trussed arch bridge perfect for bungee jumping and other stunts. It has an exceptionally long steel arch main span of 1,700 feet. Even though bungee jumping has lost its popularity, Fayatteville has kept the enthusiasm for the bridge alive by sponsoring Bridge Day. This year it begins on October 17th and again provides its visitors an opportunity to enjoy the fun filled festival and photograph one of the most beautiful areas in our country. Take the camera bag of your choice, top loader, backpack, or fanny pack and load it with extra film or memory cards, extra batteries, wide angle lens, tripod, and any other accessories you may choose to take along and be prepared to photograph some of the most beautiful sights you've ever seen, including dare-devils BASE jumping and rappelling from an incredible bridge.
By: Suzanne VanDeGrift
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Suzanne VanDeGrift has developed this article for M-ROCK.COM, manufacturer of exceptional quality camera bags,padded to protect delicate photographic equipment.
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