Wednesday, June 9, 2010

(Day 160) A bridge (not) too far

I've driven past this particular bridge more times than I can remember. It's much easier to see from the road during winter when the trees don't obscure the view. It's not too far from the road - only about 150 metres/yards, but it took me about 20 minutes to reach a spot from which I could make some photos at its base where it crosses the Rideau River near Merrickville. I had to scramble through the brambles and walk gingerly over soft mud using old bulrushes for temporary underfoot support.

After I made my photos, packed my equipment, and was headed back through the dense brush, I heard a train approach - as luck would have it. I tried to get back to my previous vantage point, but the last cars of the freight train crossed the bridge as I reached it. From there it was impossible to scale the steep hill to the tracks above. However, just before I reached the road again, after another arduous trek, I managed to pull myself up the 12 metre/40 foot slope to the tracks. And 15 minutes later I was rewarded for my efforts.

(70-200mm  f8  1/125 sec  ISO200)
















(18-55mm  f8  1/400 sec  ISO200)
















(18-55mm  f11  1/80 sec  ISO200)













(18-55mm  f6.3  1/200 sec  ISO200)

24 comments:

S. Etole said...

Great series ... I enjoy the diversity you are sharing with us.

Rick said...

@S. Etole - thank you Susan; I'm trying to keep it interesting :-)

Katherine said...

Your efforts certainly were rewarded Rick ... the photos are great. I really like the 3rd photo from the ground track level & the fourth of the train & it looks to be a very long train too! :)

Rick said...

@Katherine - I worked up a real sweat getting up there for those ;-) Yes, it was quite a long freight train - long enough for me to try some panning shots - need some more work on those!

Carolyn Ford said...

Oh, I love to photograph trains and bridges. This is such a great bridge and you were obviously there at just the right time to catch a train coming through. Wonderful photos!

darlin said...

Rick, these are fantastic photos and great exercise involved in the trek to take them. I am curious have you ever written? Your writing is amazing! A man of many talents I see.

Rick said...

@Carolyn Ford - I've always been fascinated by trains (are there boys who weren't ?). I think I got lucky with the trains - it was the second one in about 1/2 hour. Thanks Carolyn.

Rick said...

@darlin - thank you - beats going to the gym ;-)

The only creative writing I've done in the past was emails at work :O and now this blog - which I enjoy a whole lot more!

My name is Riet said...

Mooie foto's van de brug Rick.\
Fijne dag!

Costea Andrea Mihai said...

i live trains...beautiful image! regards

chasity said...

these are fantastic rick.
so many great vantage points....

Rick said...

@Riet - bedankt Riet, en ook een fijne dag.

Rick said...

@Costea Andrea Mihai - thank you Costea; I've always had a fascination with them.

imac said...

I love the way you show all sides of this bridge, it looks different from all angles.

Rick said...

@chasity - thank you chas; it was a good 'exercise' day!

Rick said...

@imac - thanks mac; I've been trying to find some history on the bridge but nothing so far.

Unknown said...

He ran through the briars and he ran through the brambles,
Ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go...

;o) I love the story of you scrambing through the brush and up the hill and up to the bridge. I almost was out of breath just thinking about it! And you were heftily rewarded with some great shots!

J.J.S. said...

It was definitely worth the effort (for us, your readers anyway) to take those shots. They've turned out really well. Great set !

Unknown said...

I love railway bridges!

Greetz,

Joseph

Rick said...

@Krista - sure, get another song stuck in my head tonight! LOL - yeah, that's exactly what I felt like ('cept no one was firing at me at least!). Thanks Krista!

(just getting caught up on comments tonight; will be around for blog visits tomorrow)

Rick said...

@J.J.S. - thanks for your compliments Joel! I appreciate you stopping by - I'll be visiting tomorrow.

Rick said...

@CarreraCaballo - I love almost anything related to trains! Have a great weekend Joseph - I'm coming by for a visit tomorrow.

Jeanne Frances Klaver said...

I like this post...a story.

Rick said...

@Jeanne Klaver - thank you Jeanne (it felt a bit like an epic ;-)