waiting...

I always get so impatient waiting for fireworks to start. I really, really love fireworks.

national light things on fire day

Here's a shot from the Fourth of July fireworks in Little Rock. You can see the Clinton Library at the far left. The bridge is the Rock Island Bridge.

big dam light show

I've shot at the Big Dam Bridge enough that I can't really think of any new ways to shoot it. I still go back from time to time, just because it's a fun place to shoot. Plus I have a lot of memories here. I learned to shoot here. It's also one of the few places I can lure unsuspecting friends. I will suggest an evening strolling the bridge, then drag my camera along and beg for them to wait for me to get a few shoots as darkness rolls in and the lights start to pop on the bridge.

So far people have been patient. I suppose because the lights are really amazing up close.

battles with the sun

This is part of the Davies Bridge in the Petit Jean State Park. I think other than Cedar Falls it's one of the most photographed things in the park. I love bridges and waterfalls, so this is an awesome combination.

reflecting on a new day

I've decided to drop the camera information part of the photo. Anyone that wants that can click on the picture and view it on flickr. Most people probably don't care all that much anyway.

This was a shot taken shortly after sunrise. I usually wake up before sunrise, but I don't typically feel like dragging myself outside for photos. I had a special project that needed me in North Little Rock around sunrise. I took the 40D along hoping to get something good. This is the Broadway Bridge. It picks up light really well and tends to be great for sunset/sunrise shots.

all that glitters

Taken: July 11, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D plus Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 20 mm
ISO Speed: 640

This is the Big Dam Bridge again. One of the most impressive and photogenic things about this bridge is that they light it up at night. It changes colors every month or so. In the past it was usually static colors on each column. Lately Little Rock and North Little Rock have been treated to flashing lights. For Independence Day the bridge flashed red, white, and blue. The latest and greatest is a purple and green combo that looks like Mardi Gras.

When the bridge stayed one color it was pretty easy to set up a camera on extended shutter speed and get some cool shots. With the lights moving it's a bit harder (and fun). The game plan was to keep the shutter open as long as possible but still miss the series of flashes. Otherwise red, white, and blue makes one muddy purple mess.

riding the rails

Taken: March 25, 2009
amera: Canon PowerShot G10
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 6.1 mm
ISO Speed: 80

I keep posting shots from my vacation to Indiana. I guess I'm reading to get out of dodge for a bit! I'm counting down the days until I leave for Chicago to catch some Cubs games! Anyway, when I was in Indiana, I did a lot of bridge hunting. This one was my favorite and also hardest one for me to find. It the Tippecanoe River 75 East Bridge built in 1890. I loved how the bottom was completely gone. It created some awesome lines. Lucky I found this then instead of now. Now there isn't much that would have stopped me from climbing out on it - then I was pretty chicken!

dunns bridge

Taken: March 26, 2009
Camera: Canon PowerShot G10
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 6.1 mm
ISO Speed: 80

This is Dunns Bridge in Jasper County, Indiana. It's actually really cool. I loved the yellow color, which isn't a common color for a bridge. Materials for the bridge were salvaged from the 1890 World's Fair. The bridge itself was built in 1904, though the designer is unknown. It was later turned into a pedestrian bridge in 2003. This is a bridge over the Kankakee River.

in suspense

Taken: March 23, 2009
Camera: Canon PowerShot G10
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 6.1 mm
ISO Speed: 80

I've always loved shooting bridges. I don't really like why. Maybe it's all the lines and the brilliant architecture. Maybe it's just there's not all that many old ones left. Who knows. I just love them. This was taken when I was on vacation in Indiana. It's the Memorial Suspension Bridge in Winamac.