Bixby Bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

Driving an old familiar road, the sun is shining while California has its 15 minutes of spring green. The iconic Bixby Bridge has been attracting tourists since 1929. My partner’s love of curves has rubbed off on me. Instead of posting an improved version of my prior Bixby Bridge post, as I intended, I found I prefer the POV I learned from him. It not only features the support curve under the bridge but the curve the toad makes entering the bridge and the road’s faintly seen curves past the bridge as it winds its way up toward the notch on the hillside.

besnard, avene, ribeiroantonio, pablominto, Henryk_Bilor, jwmunro, gunbud, danos, josepmarin, xuaxo, JCG, bona, ktanska, robertosalguero, denisn72, yedirenk, Kielia, JudyR has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (36210) 2009-06-07 9:44

Hi Pat,
Very good pov and very nice scene with a very special message : fight between the nature and the technology.
The way after the bridge cuts sharply in the landscape. Nice graphical effect as well.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

besnard (30072) 2009-06-07 9:46

Bonjour Pat
Un bon cliché de ce joli paysage avec des couleurs naturelles et bien saturées. Une très bonne profondeur d'image.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

rodgerg (22953) 2009-06-07 9:52

Hello Pat,

Superb view with an incredible depht of field. An excellent POV very well selected. The shade of the barier give an excellent graphic effect. Good managment of light too, this light give beautiful colours and contrast.
Best regards,
Roger

avene (10842) 2009-06-07 9:55

hi Pat,
I had to laugh about "15 minutes of spring green" :) I miss spring too, those few weeks when it is just warm enough to forget about coats and jackets, but still fresh and crisp, all the colours not yet faded from the heat. unfortunately, the last coupole of years NYC has been jumping from freezing winter right into scorching summer, no true spring in between :(
but back to the photo - love it, especially the curve of the bridge leading the eye towards the lush green mountains. the touch of ocher is just the right colour accent in this mostly blue and green scene. nice :)

best,
Kristine

ribeiroantonio (21711) 2009-06-07 10:05

It really is a beautiful picture with superb composition and excellent colours. The bridge, the little beach and bit of ocean, the mountain cut on the left of the road are all good details to be observed. Well done.
Antonio

lestans (15377) 2009-06-07 10:21

Hi Pat! this place is gorgeous, a famous fantastic place. I like the way you framed it in the left side, opening the glance with many curves and shadows. Nice also the beach in the right.
Ciao, a kiss!!
Livia

pablominto (39872) 2009-06-07 11:34

Hello Pat,

Good point of view to show this piece of engineering in rural surroundings!
Good impression of the rugged coastline, where i notice the deep green vegetation clinging to the rocks...
Sharp fine details and a good sense of depth in this dynamic composition!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Henryk_Bilor (20365) 2009-06-07 11:44

Hi Pat
Great view of the road over the rocky cliffs. I like the perspective and great light:).
Regards

goutero (444) 2009-06-07 12:14

Great colours from blue, through green to blue again

jwmunro (6859) 2009-06-07 17:50

Hello Pat -

Truly a different perspective and takes advantage of the multiple curves while giving us a sense of place in to locations. I like it! You captured it on a perfect afternoon with blue skies, green hills, and wonderful shadows to add contrasting elements. Well done! And what great guy to show you a different perspective.

Thank you for sharing.

John

gunbud (27515) 2009-06-07 18:05

Hi Pat,
Wow! what lovely varing shades of green seen against the brilliantly contrasting cloudless blue misty sky.
Larry is spot on about the effectivness of this curving bridge as an impressive leadin to this fantastic coastal image.
Regards, Tom

gneufeld (14989) 2009-06-07 19:26

Hi Pat,
This is a very creative and impressive image. I love the way the curves of the bridge on the left seem to invite us into the frame to enjoy the gorgeous colors and landscape in the distance. Must have been a stunning spring day when you took this one. Well done and TFS. GErald

danos (31562) 2009-06-08 0:01

Hello Pat,
nice the panoramic view from this POV of the entire region with the great depth.I like the green Mts, as the brilliant light of the day, that is enchasing the colours.The shadows on the bridge from the rails,create a graphical effect of the scene.Well done.

Have a nice week,Danos

josepmarin (33571) 2009-06-08 9:06

Hi Pat,
A great POV in this capture. The depth of the image and the perspective of this bridge is impressive.
I like how this great curve of the bridge and the road takes our look towards very far across this magnificent landscape.
Excellent light and beautiful colors, in a good work.
HLJ
Josep
PS: thanks for your kind words in your comments on my last post.

xuaxo (5623) 2009-06-08 9:19

Olá Pat,
Good choice. What you wrote in the note is also why I like this picture. Wonderful mix of the several curves: the bridge, the road, the landscape.
Nice blue sky.
SAA
Francisco

JCG (24783) 2009-06-08 11:09

Hello Pat,

This coastal road is splendid especially with a weather like that of the photograph. I like much your catch of sight and your choice of framing with the bridge which gives a good depth to the image. The natural colors are very pleasant. A good puff of fresh air, thank you Pat.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

bona (2063) 2009-06-08 11:23

Hi Pat. This place is so beautiful! The POV is really inpressive. I like the bridge on the left side with nice 3D effect. The bakground is very pretty too.

Thanks
andre

ktanska (16375) 2009-06-09 3:42

Hi Pat,
All those curves really make this view a pleasure to look at. Beautiful colours, even that red cut adds character. Bridge and rough coast look impressive. Only minor issue is that text flowing out of the frame.
Kari

robertosalguero (2759) 2009-06-10 22:31

Hi Pat,

Long time not visiting your gallery and I see what I have missed. This is awesome. For someone like me who enjoy long roads this would be heaven. I can just imagine the many beautiful views along this highway. Excellent framing of this view with the bridge giving us a strong focal point...Indeed my little girl is growing and with that also her temper :-) Thanks Pat

Roberto

Dyerco (8842) 2009-06-10 23:18

Hi Pat
The "S" curve works well here as do the beautiful mixture of colours. The contrast is superb and the image is sharp from front to back.
Phil

Angshu (33215) 2009-06-12 2:12

Hi Pat
A very good perspective using the curve of the bridge leading us to the cliff plunging down to the sea. In the BG we see the same road winding its way through the hills. Fine contrast between the sea & the green. I also like like the deep shadows of the bridge in the FG. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

denisn72 (6867) 2009-06-16 14:27

Hi Pat!
The picture is perfectly clear and sharp. I like the contrasts and the colours. The curve created by the bridge is amazing. You chose the perfect point of view. Excellent deep of field too. I can see the huge things that the man can built dealing with the nature. Good jod indeed!
Best regards
Denis!

yedirenk (7123) 2009-06-29 13:24

Hi Pat,
an extraordinary green tones and nature under the blue sky.cliffs and sea are eye-catcher.superb depth with good point of view.sharpness and clarity are great.very peaceful scene,like a bridge to heaven.well done.TFS
Best regards

Cevdet

Kielia (8159) 2009-07-08 11:10

Hi Pat,
this is a very spectacular sight! Excellently composed impression of this fascinating bridge in this fantastic surroundings. The management of the light is outstanding and the colors are very harmonious. Looking at the other images of the bridge here on TE, I must admit that you have chosen the most elegant POV! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Wandering_Dan (3169) 2009-07-16 19:31

Hi, Pat -

A familiar scene, but very well done. Crisp, vivid, and well positioned to include the start of the bridge in a sweeping curve that draws the eye into the center of the image and to the distance beyond. Did I mention the vivid colors?

Best,
Dan

npecanhuk (12947) 2009-07-26 6:58

Hello Pat!
Another wonderful view! Pov and composition are highlight here too!
Sharpness, exposure and colors are excellent!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

BilboCA (734) 2009-08-12 12:49

Hi, Pat,

This is one of the very fine images in your catalog; it exhibits numerous virtues.

Technically, the image is flawless. Clear and sharp details throughout, nicely balanced composition, well-rendered colors. Lighting conditions were excellent when you took the shot and so was the atmospheric clarity.

I think the composition is simply terrific. There is an interesting three part symmetry in the space that you have devoted to sky, ocean, and roadway on the left side of the bridge. Your commitment of a large part of the frame to the land mass is well conceived and it is great that we can see near, mid-distance and far away along the road leading away from the bridge. I also like that the road roughly bisects the land space in the image.

There are lots of nice details to study, too: the surf, the rugged bluffs, the lovely arch beneath the bridge, the pattern of shadows on the roadway.

Regards,
- William

JudyR (783) 2009-10-16 15:04

Very intriguing point of view on this lovely shot which captures it all, beach, ocean, and wonderful old Highway 1. You bring back great memories! Thanks. Judy

macjake (1191) 2009-11-09 21:29

Hello Pat

its lovely how the bridge in your composition leads the viewers eyes from left to right.
The level of depth of field is superb, rolling hills, ocean, sand, grass...a visual delight!
Thanks for this post
Craig