Photographer's Note
BRIDGES
There are several cities which are famous for their bridges. Lisbon, Istanbul, Copenhagen… but probably the most famous are bridges of San Francisco. Everybody has seen a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. On TE itself every third photo from San Francisco presents the Golden Gate. While that bridge is indeed unique and there are many stunning facts about it, it is not the only impressive bridge in SF. The second most important bridge in the area is the Bay Bridge which connects San Francisco with Oakland. The funny thing is that many tourists are mixing up these two bridges and even locals have difficulty to recognize them in the photographs.
SEARCHING FOR POINT OF VIEW
I have photographed Golden Gate at the blue hour before (pre-digital times, photo not shown on TE) so I decided this time to take a picture of the Bay Bridge. After a while of searching internet for a perfect POV, I found out that the best photos showing Bay Bridge with San Francisco downtown in the background say that they were taken from the Treasure Island. It appeared not to be very precise, as the famous viewpoint was actually not the Treasure Island but Yerba Buena Island. Anna, a friend of mine took me there just before the blue hour in the search of the classic POV. (Thank you so much!) After a while of driving on the Yerba Buena Island we figured out that the stunning POV is located in the Restricted Area which belongs to the Coast Guard. My friend took out a book (PhotoSecrets San Francisco & Northern California: The Best Sights and How to Photograph Them). She found the view we intended to photograph and read the first sentence: The most famous SF view which you will not be able to photograph… Indeed the area was restricted. It was getting dark. We decided to take the risk and we drove into the restricted area. We could spot the bridge but the POV was far from perfect. We needed to go far deeper into the park which belonged to the restricted area, but it was getting dark so further driving meant we will not manage to take any photo at the blue hour at all. We had a company: several possums were curiously running around us plus two junkies, straight from 1968, enjoyed the sunset.
WHAT YOU SEE
In the end instead of photographing the part of the bridge which joins SF with Yerba Buena Island I decided to take a picture of the bridge which connects the island with Oakland. This part of the bridge is rarely photographed. I did like its nice curve. The tower on the left seems to be the part of the construction. You can read about it in the note below. As you see the bridge has two levels: upper deck goes direction Oakland > San Franciso (white car lights). If you have a good eye and you know what to look for, far in the distance you can spot the campanile of the University of California at Berkeley.
FACTS ABOUT THIS BRIDGE
San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge is a pair of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay of California, in the United States. Forming part of Interstate 80 and of the direct road route between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries approximately 270,000 vehicles per day on its two decks. It has one of the longest spans in the world. Construction began in 1933. Designed by Charles H. Purcell, and built by American Bridge Company, it opened for traffic on November 12, 1936, six months before the Golden Gate Bridge.
The bridge consists of two major crossings connecting each shore with Yerba Buena Island, a natural outcropping located mid-bay. The Western crossing lies between Yerba Buena and San Francisco. It is composed of two complete suspension spans connected at a center anchorage. The top of the Rincon Hill neighborhood serves as the western anchorage and touch-down for the San Francisco landing of the bridge connected by three shorter truss spans. The eastern crossing, between Yerba Buena Island and Oakland, is a cantilever bridge that consists of a double-tower span, five medium truss spans, and a 14-section truss causeway. Due to earthquake concerns the eastern crossing is being replaced by an entirely new crossing, to be finished in late 2013. On Yerba Buena Island, the double-decked crossing consists of a 321 foot (98 m) concrete viaduct east of the west span's cable anchorage, a 540 foot (160 m) tunnel through the island's rocky central hill, another 790.8 foot (241.0 m) concrete viaduct, and a longer curved high-level steel truss viaduct that spans the final 1,169.7 feet (356.5 m) to the cantilever bridge. The viaduct sections east of the tunnel are at present being modified, bypassed and replaced as part of the seismic safety work that will eventually transition traffic onto and off of the self-anchored suspension (SAS) bridge of the new eastern bay crossing.
Sonata11, josepmarin, macjake, ciakgiak, vasilpro, bartekp, sacimar, timecapturer, adramad, paololg, Vasa, Graal, kordinator, chawax, delpeoples, Kofman, Hansaphotos, Juntas, jafadabret, s_lush, danos, ikeharel, No_One, COSTANTINO marcou esta nota como útil
Critiques | Translate
mauro61
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5182 W: 217 N: 6694]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(53411) 2011-06-08 2:46
ciao Mariusz,
una delle foto in notturna più belle che ho visto su TE.
Splendida resa delle luci senza alterare i colori e lasciando immutato il fascino della grande baia.
Ottimo il POV dall'alto,
complimenti
maurizio
lousat
(138683) 2011-06-08 2:55
Spectacular view and the usual top quality pic,the lights are fantastics,great sharpness and colors and the usual perfect work in PP.Thanks for share,have a nice day,Luciano.
Sonata11
(34119) 2011-06-08 4:44
Witaj Mariusz,
sliczny i niesamowity widok na ten dlugi pieknie oswietlony most. Bardzo ladna kompozycja z dobrego punktu widzenia. Fantastycznie wykonane zdjecie. Widok jego jest oszalamiajacy. Podoba mi sie bardzo.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Barbara
Sergiom
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 9717 W: 0 N: 11656]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(117241) 2011-06-08 4:50
Bonjour Mariusz
J'aime beaucoup le mouvement des lumières de voitures sur le pont, ce qui démontre un temps d'exposition recherché. Le point de vue est parfait ainsi que la gestion de toute cette lumière nocturne.
Amicalement
Serge
josepmarin
(59385) 2011-06-08 5:50
Hi Mariusz,
though the Bay Bridge is not so famous as the Golden Gate, its structure is a real masterpiece of the engineering.
In this framing from a very effective POV, you offer us a very dynamic vision with the lights of the vehicles that circulate along the bridge, in a fantastic capture at the blue hour, with an elegant perspective.
The city illuminated in background adds more beauty to the composition.
A beautiful work.
Best regards,
Josep
TopGeo
(38220) 2011-06-08 5:52
Hi Mauriusz! Wow, what an impressive place, beautiful bridge, and fantastic note,perspective contrast and effect! Excelletn POV, excellent framing and composition, great perspective! night light management, wonderful colours, excellent definition! Congratulations!
Regards
Georgios
Silvio1953
(220717) 2011-06-08 7:29
Ciao Mariusz, fantastic long exposure for a fascinating nocturne shoot, lovely view of beautiful bridge, splendid light, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio
andywo
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 341 W: 16 N: 164]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(4725) 2011-06-08 10:08
Witaj Mariuszu
Tego mostu nigdy dotad nie widzialem a szkoda bo jest niewiele mniej malowniczy niz Golden Gate. Idealna pore wybrales na wykonanie tego zdjecia, wieczorne swiatla tworza ciekawy klimat.
Dobra praca.
Pozdrawiam
Andrzej
Fis2
(169847) 2011-06-08 10:54
Witaj Mariusz!
Piekna konstrukcja, to jest mechanika...
Ladnie pokazales tn most.
Wybrales ciekawa pore.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof
ciakgiak
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 3732 W: 133 N: 4]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(30) 2011-06-08 11:26
Ciao Mariusz,
WOW! Una panoramica meravigliosa, una notturna con luci fantastiche e col bell'effetto delle scie di luci che attraversano il ponte. Una cartolina bellissima.
Un caro abbraccio
Giorgio
pajaran
(115025) 2011-06-08 11:43
Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o mostovima ...
Dobar trenutak snimka sa tragovima farova automobila, dobar prikaz lepim bojama i fotografijom.
Dobra ideja i realizacija dugom ekspozicijom.
Lep pogled na most, dobra kompozicija.
Prijatno vece sa lepim vremenom, kod nas kisa.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.
Google.
Dobry wieczór.
Bardzo ciekawy i dobry artykuł na mostach ...
Dobry czas nagrywania ze śladami reflektory samochodu, dobre wyświetlanie kolorów i fotografii piękna.
Dobry pomysł i wykonanie długich ekspozycji.
Ładny widok na most, dobry skład.
Przyjemny wieczór z ładnej pogody, w naszym deszczu.
Wszystkiego najlepszego.
Paja.
vasilpro
(41801) 2011-06-08 13:55
Hello Mariusz,
Wonderful night composition, excellent POV, beautiful effect from the car lights, lovely atmosphere, very nice bridge, TFS!
Greetings, Vasilis.
macjake
(98262) 2011-06-08 21:27
Hi Mariusz
yes! i'm so glad you got this shot!
Personally, i prefer this Bay bridge over the Golden Gate anyday!
I havn't read your email you sent to me since the day i recieved it....did you give me the directions as to how to get here or not? can't remember.
This bridge will certainly be on my to-do-list.
the passing cars are the best! love the double decker style.
honestly, i can view this shot for hours in amazement.
excellent shot of this 'Other' bridge!
cheers
craig
John_F_Kennedy
(43797) 2011-06-09 4:10
Hello Mariusz,
Really nice photo, blue hour gives it a charm.
best wishes,
Achim
bartekp
(4746) 2011-06-09 4:51
Cześć Mariusz,
Fajnie że pokazałeś ten most. Miejsce do tej fotki też bardzo dobre. Ładna gra świateł.
Pozdrawiam
Bartek
sacimar
(38173) 2011-06-09 4:57
Hello Mariusz,
great image of this bridge, I like the light management and the visual effect of the cars moving, it's an interesting composition,
Best regards,
Sergio
rodgerg
(55767) 2011-06-09 6:24
Hello Mariusz,
An another excellent night's shot in your garrlery whith here too an excellent managment of light. The dored light, the incurving way and the bridge give graphic effect, rythm and too balance to the composition.
Best regards,
Roger
timecapturer
(49288) 2011-06-09 6:30
Hi Mariusz
an accomplished execution and stunning composition. The light management is amazing as is the atmosphere created. A magnificent high class image and impressive presentation. Superb!
Warm regards - Brian
adramad
(72592) 2011-06-09 8:08
Hi Mariusz.
Composition superb night of this famous and beautiful bridge, the lighting is perfect and light stripes of cars creates a nice effect.
Magnifies the view from a high point with the city in the background.
Good management of light to get an impeccable job.
Best regards.
Luis.
paololg
(31448) 2011-06-09 14:56
Incredible photo quality, dear friend, this light snake runs under this bridge perfectly defined by a stunning clarity. Perfect management of light even in BG, where you can enjoy also the lights most distant. Excellent photo, congratulations!
Ciao, have a nice Friday!
Paolo
Vasa
(515) 2011-06-09 16:12
It seems that your Canon is so good tool. But you are the master Mariusz. From your position it is really spectacular scene. Even in the night. All compliments friend,
Branko
SWEETFREEDOM
(24623) 2011-06-09 22:51
Hi Mariusz,
nice the effect of long exposure. good p.o.v. and light.
interesting structure.
regards
Alessandro
Waylim
(25436) 2011-06-09 23:16
Hi M,
Excellent shot of this under represented bridge. I have a few shot of it, but have not the chance to post it. Maybe one day. Once again, you made a point of getting such a nice POV and a night shot of it really give the Bay Bridge justice. It is any amazing bridge just unfortunately being next the Golden Gate, it feels like the ugly step sister. :)
Way
Graal
(103040) 2011-06-09 23:26
Czesc,
piekna serie ze Stanow nam serwujesz Mariuszu. Faktycznie swietny POV znalazles. Te swiatla w blekitnej godzinie wygladaja imponujaco. Lubie takie smugi przy wydluzonym czasie naswietlania. Jak tu widac kazde pasmo ma ruch jednokierunkowy. Ciekawa tez konstrukcja mostu. Bdb zdjecie.
Milego dnia.
Aleksander
kordinator
(8738) 2011-06-10 2:31
Hello Mariusz
This work is more than fantastic
A beautiful bridge you captured with perfect focus and excellent sharpness.
Exposure is perfect,nice lights efects.
Colors and motive are stunning.
Photograph: perfect quality.
Beautiful composition.
Respect
Saša
sandpiper
(6788) 2011-06-10 4:31
Hi Mariusz
Excellent POV and composition. Great expsoure and light.
Chris
jemaflor
(146382) 2011-06-10 8:22
Hi M,
Well managed your night shot, interesting effect with the curve of the road and good light capture, well contrasted.
chawax
(20764) 2011-06-10 13:47
Hi Mariusz,
Great blue hour shot of this impressive bridge. I love how we feel hidden because of the leafs. I love the lines drawn by car lights. Excellent sharpness too.
Regards,
Olivier
delpeoples
(60342) 2011-06-11 7:39
HI Mariusz
Fantastic! I imagine with a Bay that large, San Fran would have to have other bridges, but we never see them. So thanks for bringing this to us. I love the way it starts in the corner and snakes its way through the frame. The exposition and colours are absolutely superb. But it is the way you've composed this shot that wins it for me. Congratulations and I wish you a good weekend.
Warm regards
Lisa (PS: Taking a break from TE for a while due to heavy work & study, so I'll see you round. Take care)
npecanhuk
(79329) 2011-06-11 7:49
Hi Mariusz!
Unfortunately we cannot go across that one (on foot)!!!
I was real close to it, but didn`t go to the other side of the bay!
Your picture is very attractive and original!
I love it!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan
francio64
(39888) 2011-06-11 13:40
Hi Mariusz,
ottimo POV dove il ponte diventa protagonista della scena.
Ottima gestione della luce che accentua il grafismo già ottenuto dalla struttura del ponte.
Well done! TFS!
Francesco
fabianoleite
(13575) 2011-06-11 14:07
Great view in the night shot. The effect of the headlights was perfect, with no overexposition. Very well done, congratulations!
claudeD
(47754) 2011-06-19 11:03
Hello Mariusz,
amazing shot of this wonderful bridge. You realized a perfect light managment here.My compliments for that excellent fotojob.Very good contribution to TE.TFS.
With regards from Luxembourg
JC
sacavem
(18620) 2011-06-21 8:15
Olá Mauriusz,
The 5 seconds, created a nice effect with the entrainment of automobile headlights.You chose a very interesting POV, showing the bridge in the most interesting part of the architecture.I think I have seen a film made this bridge.Nice work.
Cumprimentos,
Filipe
Hansaphotos
(11381) 2011-06-24 3:00
Hello Mariusz
This is a very nice capture of the less known SF bridge. Excellent light and choice of POV and angle. Good sense of depth and great effect of the car lights. Very nice work, like it a lot! TFS. Have a nice WE.
Best regards, Erling
sevy
(58) 2011-06-27 1:31
Hello,
I drove on this bridge. Nice point of view, but it is mainly the management of the light which makes the success of this shot using perfectly the light tracks from traffic.
Yves.
jafadabret
(56501) 2011-07-04 23:44
Bonjour Mariusz,
J'ai bien aimé l'histoire de cette photo avec la recherche du meilleur POV. La photo est très réussie avec les rubans lumineux qui suivent la belle courbe du tracé de la chaussée.
Belle maîtrise de la lumière et de la composition !
Amicalement
Jacques
s_lush
(16602) 2011-07-09 13:39
Hello Mariusz,
You have captured a really beautiful and interesting scene at the very good time of the day. Excellent camera settings that gives unbelievably high photographic and aesthetic qualities of this wonderful postcard-like picture!
Best regards,
Sergiy
Disabled_A
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1389 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2011-08-02 15:06
Hello Mariusz,
this is a very beautiful night view!
of course it would be possible to create such a technically perfect photo only with a tripod.. the composition is very interesting. The photo looks rather soft (if you see what I mean), and full of life, lights and dynamism :)
best regards,
Elena
danos
(110407) 2012-06-29 0:38
Witaj Mariusz,
a really nice POV with the curve of the bridge to adds depth in the image.I like the blue hour view of the image with the informative note to complete perfect the knowledge about it.
Have a good day,danos
ikeharel
(112521) 2012-08-23 2:05
Hi Mariusz,
It not true to say "the less known...", becouse whoever comes to SFO must cross this bridge.
You taken a grand POV at night, extraordinary light management with 5 sec. exposure, and great DOF as I can see the city lights very clearly.
My applauses.
Ike
No_One
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 4179 W: 26 N: 9240]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-n.gif){kind=small}
(4) 2012-09-11 5:17
Hi Mariusz,
I really love those light trails, and another aspect of photography I have not managed to succeed in yet. This looks brilliant, leading the eye into the image perfectly, and the bridge itself is an engineers delight!
Best wishes
Noel
COSTANTINO
(115605) 2019-02-08 23:25
Hello dear friend and have a nice time
and a happy new day
spectacular view of this bridge
you capture it perfectly and my personal
opinion is that this photo is artistic
destinated for an exhibition
regards
Costantino
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Mariusz Kamionka (mkamionka)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 7284 W: 106 N: 19181]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(73500) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2011-05-18
- Categories: Vida Diária, Transportes, Arquitectura
- Camera: Canon EOS Kiss X4, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
- Exposição: f/5.6, 5 segundos
- Details: Tripod: Yes
- Map: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Relato de Viagem: Northern California 2011
- Date Submitted: 2011-06-08 2:42
Discussions
- problem with critique (1)
by Juntas, last updated 2011-06-24 03:04
