28 October 2013
Lens:
1. Chesapeake City Bridge, iPhone 4s, October 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013
2. Chesapeake City Bridge, iPhone 4s, October 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013
3. Chesapeake City Bridge, iPhone 4s, October 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013
Let me know which you prefer and why.
Pens:
If you’d like to join the fun, please click here for details. If you have any questions about the Phoneography Challenge, please contact me.
They are irresistible, monumental in stature. Bridges stir and stun my sensibilities. They play havoc with my mind. They seem an outlandish human invention that is conceived with a valiant creativity.
Even so I’m sure that the juxtaposition with nature was the original inspiration, and does not take a rocket scientist to understand the connection. But it matters not that beavers and other non-humans beat us to the idea. “We” have easily succeeded, and continue to create designs that astound and woo.
Each bridge has its own voice, its own lesson in ingenuity. Each change in the weather can alter its presence. Fog, ice, rain, sunlight, wind have lessons to tell us about them. It can be mesmerizing to see a beam of light cast through an arch or touch an edge.
Every time I spy a bridge, a teachable moment appears. Sometimes I see them as poetic touchstones for our legacy. Fragments of human history surface, because bridges are very much a part of our story.
I search for bridges–tiny and large, but am overtly ecstatic when they find their way into my day. See my last post for more bridges. Click here.
In the Lens section are views of the Chesapeake City Bridge, which slips across the C & D Canal in Maryland. Each architectural feature stands tall and proud. I had to record its angels and lines.
Here is this arch bridge in full splendor.
Chesapeake City Bridge, iPhone 4s, October 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013
Part of the joy in gazing at these wonders is moving into its structure–finding various vantage points. I get as close as possible. My favorite place is underneath its girth–moving along the edge of its shoreline. It takes a bit of sleuthing to get where I want to be. When I am successful, it is a dazzling emotional and visual feat.
Tip of the Week: I’ve added a new category on my Homepage, and it reminded me that giving the blog an occasional boost is good practice. Since I began the site, I’ve had the same masthead and theme. But I’ve not been able to part with either of them. Still at times I do create new headings that inform readers. Please take a few minutes to view my newly-minted page, Blue Moon Moments: 2010-Present. Click here. Actually, it feels good to spice up the masthead with another item. Lately, I noticed that some individuals that I follow are much braver, and do a complete overhaul. Someday…maybe.
Here are other entries:
http://blogagaini.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-portrait/
http://stevemcp2002.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-night-photography/comment-page-1/
http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-abstract-river-walk/
http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-sculpture-in-the-round/
http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/the-passengers/
http://streetsofsfphotos.com/2013/10/28/doors-3-9-photos/
http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-evolution-of-and-orchid/
http://firebonnet.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-abstracted-umbrellas/
http://nwframeofmind.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-monday-10-28-13/
http://ohmsweetohmdotme.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneograhy-challenge-architecture-more-bridge/
http://weliveinaflat.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/ocean-restaurant-lunch-set-menu/
http://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/phoneography-challenge-architecture/
http://sfchapman.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/phoneography-challenge-challengers-choice-architecture/
http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/abstracting-the-image/
http://pilotfishblog.com/2013/10/30/phoneography-challenge-landscape/
http://thepalladiantraveler.com/2013/10/31/phoneography-challenge-travel-2/
http://uniquesochic.com/2013/11/02/iphoneography-challenge-the-crooked-spire/
Note: As always I welcome any comment about this post or any part of my blog. Here’s a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming Phoneography Challenges:
1st Monday: Nature
2nd Monday: Macro
3rd Monday: Black and White
4th and 5th Mondays: Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel).
Lens and Pens by Sally 
Lovely post Sally – The CB bridge is one of my favorites in all the world. Especially when you study its design and construction – quite an amazing feat! Thanks for the feature 🙂
You are very welcome. See you soon.
Brilliant angles Sally!! The first is my pick too.
Madhu, thanks so much.
A functional work of Art. How to choose the light and shadows, the Angle, height and section of the bridge, just amazing.
Thanks, hope that your family and you are enjoying the weekend.
It’s fantastic how you play with forms and shapes in these photos. And I love the black and white tones with deep blacks and delicate highlight. My favourite is the first one for its tight composition.
Otto, thank you so much. I truly appreciate your comment.
#3 is my fav, but #1 makes it look like a very tall bridge. The composition makes it hard to guess at the height though, so one examines the details as you would like us to.
I appreciate your comment. See you soon.
Sally — You love bridges, don’t you? All three frames are all nicely framed, but I’ll give the nod this week to frame #2, it has the best light balance and the detail shows well. Here’s a handful of travel shots via my iPhone 5: http://thepalladiantraveler.com/2013/10/31/phoneography-challenge-travel-2/
Thanks so much, see you soon.
Very powerful shots Sally; I enjoyed them all but am particularly drawn to the third. It’s one of those pictures you can look at for a long time and start to see it differently. Not very articulate I know, but you probably know what I mean. Here’s my take on the theme; http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/abstracting-the-image/
Su, my obsession with bridges continues. Thank you.
Visually a good obsession to have; your photos are stunning. Headstones are definitely my “thing” at the moment. 🙂
Su, it’s nice to have an obsession that helps to drive our visual awareness. See you soon. Thanks.
Love this! I do not get your alerts …hmmmmmm
I wonder why? Thanks, and see you soon.
The first photo of the bridge is such an unusual point of view – I like that!
Thank you–see you soon.
Love your first shot. Here’s mine for this week. http://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/phoneography-challenge-architecture/
Livvy, see you soon. Thanks.
The bridge photos are awe-inspiring. Love your Blue Moon moments. I am very attached to my header and layout; it is hard to change. Your Blue Moon addition is a good compromise.
I appreciate your comment and support. See you soon.
Love the first one, somehow it reminds me of ‘War of the Worlds’ 😀
Amanda, thanks so much.
I like the first photo. The interplay of light and shadow on the steel beams overlaid on the cloudy sky reminds me of industrial lace. The jet black graphics on the underside of the steel really drives home the airy sense of the bridge structure.
Here is my entry this week: http://wp.me/p24idL-1J8
Allan, thank thou so much.
B&W makes this bridges look so great. Human engineering skill marvel. Here is my entry. I could not miss to enter my clicks of fall color in my neighborhood 🙂
http://amarnaik.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/photography-challenge-travel-to-watch-fall-color-in-neighborhood/
Thanks, and happy Phoneography Monday.
You have captured so many great angles in these photos Sally. I like them all! If pressed for a favorite, I think I would choose the first and they make me wonder where you were standing to get such varied perspectives. My choice for today can be found here: http://nwframeofmind.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-monday-10-28-13/
I try to get as close as I can, and preferably under them. Thanks.
I am struck by the first one… the up close and personal reminds me of an erector set. And as others have said it is very dynamic and dramatic. What I am most struck by however, is your beautiful ‘Pens’. You are a marvelous writer and I hope to learn a lot from you over the next few months. Cheers!
http://firebonnet.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-abstracted-umbrellas/
I’m humbled by your comment. Thank you so much.
Although I really enjoy all these shots, the first one of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is my favorite. Great angle, great arch.
Patricia, I appreciate your comment.
It is amazing how you captured the shiny reflections with this bridge with a iphone…awesome.
Laurie, thanks. Enjoy the week.
Sally I went for a still life this week, If a single orchid counts. http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-evolution-of-and-orchid/
I choose your first photo, that A shape is out of this world! Being from The SF bay area bridges are a way of life I am inspired to get out and try some new views of our own. I wish I had images of the old wooden bridges I grew up with in Oklahoma. But I digress
Happy Monday,
Carol
Carol, the bay area bridges are fantastic and magical. Here is my post from a visit to the golden city: https://lensandpensbysally.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/san-francisco-the-golden-city-part-one/ Thanks.
The first one is very graphic. It looks like an inverted V meeting the sky, very cleverly done.
Valentina, I appreciate your comment and visit.
Happy Monday! I really like the first photo best with the arched angle and then the V angles below that. Great shots!
I’ve gone with a round sculpture for this week http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/phoneography-challenge-sculpture-in-the-round/
Angeline, thank you and enjoy your week.
Love the abstract feel to each one. Great job!
Patricia, see you soon. Thank you.
#3 because of the interaction of the geometry. You have angles and straight lines finding harmony with the 2 arches. Nicely done on all 3 images.
Lovely to hear from you. Thanks so much.
First one for sure but the third has a heartbeat. The unifying harmony of the sky and bridge is simply breathtaking.
Thank you so much.
Sally, my definite favorite is the first one. It’s so dramatic and the B&W concentrates the viewer on the drama of the shapes which would, I think be lost or at least lessened, by the use of color. Even knowing the science behind them (at least a bit), I still amazes me that bridges can not only stand but support the traffic they do. I feel the same sense of wonder at airplanes. 🙂
Have a wonderful Monday and congratulations on taking another step on your blog. Mine’s been the more or less the same since I began. I’ll have to dare to change one day, too.
janet
Janet, I appreciate your comment, and do so agree about the wonders of human invention. See you soon. Many thanks.