Last week was a momentous one, with the San Francisco Bay Bridge re-opening with the new Eastern Span. As part of my five year photographic project, being there for the last days of the old cantilevered section and the events and formal opening was important. It’s not just for the photography, but to be there for the historic transition that I felt part of.
In this first shot, the day before the closure, you can see there was still lots going on on the new span. The signage is not done, and there is still a lot of equipment on the new bridge.
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That last evening before the bridge was closed was a warm and windless one–rare on the Bay Bridge. The late afternoon light was bright and clear and the white bridge reflected that warm tone.
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By the peak of twilight, that magical 15 minutes for photography, the bridge looked majestic.
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The reverse angle at twilight shows the old bridge on the left. This evening, the uplights on the new bridge were not on. The lighting company was working on the system. I had to come back another day to get the full effect of the lighting.
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The virtually unlimited access to the closed bridges was one of the perks I had. Bridges flex, move and vibrate with traffic, making view camera photography all but impossible. This view on the old section looking east on the westbound lanes shows the new bridge on the left.
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Quietly shooting from the old bridge enabled me to find more abstract compositions. This was a luxury I rarely had. This view with a section of both bridges shows that the old cantilevered section has its own grace and charm. It will be demolished over the next 2-3 years. It served us for almost 77 years.
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The warm magenta glow of sunset/twilight shows that the eastbound roadway is clear, stripped and the signage up and working.
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This afternoon shot shows the incomplete bike/pedestrian lane that will go between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island. At this point, it’s only open to the tower. The old bridge will have to be removed to complete this section in a year or so.
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Here is a section that no one will miss–the westbound “S” curve of the temporary structure. Potholes show the wear and tear on the old bridge.
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In this ultra-wide view you can see the empty old and new bridges, including working cranes on the Bay, below. This view shows the stateliness of the 525 foot tower.
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Here on the westbound lanes you can see the eastbound lanes and how they cross over to enter the tunnel on Yerba Buena Island. The afternoon glow really makes this shot work. The transparency is even more stunning.
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This view, taken from a utility access platform again shows the transition of the westbound lanes on the left, climbing into the tunnel. There still is another year of work with the details and landscaping, even though the bridge is open. The new bridge is a seismic upgrade replacement of the older structure. The aesthetics and details will come soon.
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This is a reverse angle of the image two up. They worked 24 hours a day getting the bridge ready for the Labor Day opening. They are power-washing and repaving the tunnel roadway in the background.
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This is the last 4×5 view I made with the bridge lights on, equipment removed and ready for traffic. The LED lighting makes for a cool, white light.
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These images are only a portion of what I shot, in both 4×5 and digital, too. I put in many hours this last week, as I knew the window of opportunity was closing–quickly.
Others have been shooting on bridges for as long as photography has been with us. Here is one I found on the internet of an unknown photographer shooting on the Manhattan Bridge (one of my favorite bridges) in NYC in 1908. Hardhat? Safety vest? How about railings? Things have, indeed changed in the last 100+ years.
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Mike Halberstadt, a photographer buddy, was with me two of the nights, making his own documentation and simply revelling in the moment. Shooting on the bridge when it was closed was a dream of his. Here is a shot he did of me making the fifth image, above. I feel a kindered spirit with the gentleman on the Manhattan Bridge.
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On another note, I entered a contest on bridge photography with the American Society of Civil Engineers earlier this year. There were hundreds of entries, and I won a prestigious place in the calendar for next year. At this point, they are choosing the best “People’s Choice Award”. They didn’t choose a Bay Bridge image (I submitted 3 images) but it would be great if you could click on the link, http://ascelibrary.org/page/viewerschoice and vote for my image. The shot is of the Tempe Town Pedestrian Bridge in Arizona, engineered by the same company that engineered the new Bay Bridge, TYLin International. It’s in the third row, on the right. Below is the image. Many thanks, and for following my blog, too.
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Tom, your photos are gorgeous. But frankly in crossing the bridge for my first time yesterday I was severely unwhelmed. it somehow does not elicit awe in me like I thought it would. In a funny way it feels and appears so much smaller when crossing it than viewing it from the old bridge. I also found the various safety railings, bars, and pipes, all too easily seen on the tower, to be distracting to the whole concept of it’s clean lines and structure. A few years back, when I worked in downtown SF, I would take the tall transbay commuter buses. This afforded me a perfect view both ways to watch the construction from the beginning. The main causeway was seemingly built amazingly fast only to come to a confusingly screeching halt so close to Yerba Buena Island. Why don’t they just finish the darn thing and be done with it? I thought then. After that it seems little was being done (likely all work down below, unseen) as they prepared for the main tower and cables and such. What a pure boondoggle. $6 BILLION. They could have been done years ago and saved so much if they just kept it a clean and simply causeway. Sure, it would not be some kind of “trophy” but frankly what we got overly contrasts with the classic beauty of the west-side suspension and the Golden Gate Bridge. For that kind of money you’d think they could have built something even bigger, longer and much nicer. And I still am in wonder about why the bike/ped path is not on the north side with views of Mt. Tam, Marin, Alcatraz, TI, GGB, Angel Island and where all the sailboats mass and sail. Instead the view is the old shuttered Alameda Naval Air Station, Oakland Army base and a seriously ugly container shipping port. Oh well. Best thing is we at least have shoulders now to push stalls off onto.
Tom,
It was great seeing you at the Bay Bridge opening last weekend. Your photos are outstanding as always. I cannot wait for your book on the new Bay Bridge to be published. Hurry up……
Best Regards,
Pete and Connie
A beautiful set of images; looking forward to more, and in person…
I voted for your bridge image. Good luck.
Man, someone needs to break the HDR button off some of those other photographer’s cameras. WAY over the top.
Congratulations, Tom! Amazing work.
Tom!
Awesome photos as usual!
You have my vote to win any contest!!
Excellent photos, Tom! Wish I could have been at your side to take it all in. I love the twilight shots and the fully lit tower shot. I will have to share this blon on Facebook.
I’m with Richard Sintchak on some of the entries – I voted for yours, Tom – in the ‘Best Photo-realistic Photography” Category . . .
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Really great work Tom
Wonderful photos, making the most of an amazing opportunity! Congrats, Tom!
Wow! So glad you got to be there to complete the series. Amazing shots with no traffic! Good luck in the contest..
Tom, What an incredible project you have completed. Congratulations. The last image in this post is positively stunning.
Can’t wait to see what you next project will be!
You are an amazing artist Tom! Congratulation!
Tom, Another great Bay Bridge set… And I agree with the others’ comments about the contest. My only explanation for the voting results so far is that it’s obviously a “popularity contest”, rather than an “art contest”; some photographers have way more friends with itchy mouse fingers! Anyway, congrats on placing in the calendar! (That’s a real nod to you. :^)
These are fantastic, Dad. I can’t wait to see it in person. That last 4 x 5 shot with the white LED light is my favorite. It is gorgeous. With all the work you’ve done on this project I always think about those folks building the Brooklyn Bridge. And that photo you found with the photographer totally sums it up. So cool! 🙂
Tom, the new bridge is spectacular and your photos are stunningly beautiful, but I mourn the passing of an era, which you captured in the lonely images of an empty bridge.
Who could have expected I would have such an attachment to the old Bay Bridge. Great work Tom!
Tom, another AMAZING set of pictures and you are an important part of history with these pictures!! You have my vote!!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Arzell Hale
Job well done