New York: Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge
Inspiration: "All I did was cross the bridge and I was in Brooklyn. Amazing." Cary Grant playing Mortimer Brewster in the movie, Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
After our drive past the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday (see the post below), I decided use my first official vacation day to do something that I have never done in my ten years in New York. I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn on foot. And it was awesome.** Before I left my apartment to cross the bridge, I learned a little bit of its history so that I could better appreciate the experience.
So, the Brooklyn Bridge, designed by John Augustus Roebling, was completed in 1883 and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. This beautiful bridge took 13 years to build and has a wild history. The designer died from a tetanus infection prior to the commencement of construction leaving his son, Washington Roebling, in charge of building the bridge. But Washington suffered an injury shortly after the commencement of construction leaving him bedridden and unable supervise the construction in person. It was Emily Roebling, Washington's wife, who physically oversaw the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge as one of the first female field engineers in the United States. She learned everything about bridge building from her husband and thereafter devoted herself to this bridge. On top of that, she battled politicians and other competing engineers to make sure that her husband remained Chief Engineer of the bridge's construction even though he was unable to leave the house. Wow! Girl Power Forever! (LOL)
About the photographs. I decided to narrow my F-stop for these pictures as I wanted the entire photo to be clear and without the bokeh that I love to use in portraits. I also used my 35mm lens for all except the second photo (where I used my 135mm) having forgotten the 24mm at home (darn). I took the first one at the start of the trip and centered the shot to highlight the symmetry of the bridge. The second photo shows midtown Manhattan in all of its glory (as well as the building in which I work). The third, fifth, sixth and last photos show downtown Manhattan, the first developed area of the city a few hundred years ago (albeit not with skyscrapers). The fourth photo, which happens to be my favorite, shows the Williamsburg bridge from the Brooklyn Bridge. For this photo, I used the same composition as this photo to show the real relationship between the man-made world and the natural world.
** The last time I was a tourist in my city, I went to the top of the Empire State Building. See those photos here and here.
Love the third and last. And I really need to find a reason to visit NYC soon, not that any is ever needed ...
Posted by: lauren | November 24, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Stunning black and white. I especially loved the two with the grid, the last one even more.
It was nice to see the view from Empire State Building again, I didn't remember those shots.
Thank you and byyyyee
Posted by: Céci | November 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
This bridge is such an Icon. Lovely to see your perspective. Great Shots. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. Xxxx
Posted by: Fashionistable | November 24, 2010 at 01:23 PM
What incredible shots! Makes me feel like I'm standing right there enjoying the view!
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2010/11/jullien-herrera-for-sean-jean-ready-to.html
Posted by: lisa petrarca | November 24, 2010 at 02:30 PM
stunning photos of an architectural wonder. i like bridges.
Posted by: Style Odyssey | November 24, 2010 at 03:36 PM
The view from that bridge and the manhattan bridge is breathtaking. Some days Ill skip the train and walk across there.
Posted by: Kath Beeh | November 24, 2010 at 03:53 PM
Wow !! I really love the last photo !!!
Posted by: FH | November 24, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Brooklyn bridge still looking good. I shot these views so many times, makes me nostalgic ;) thank you!
Posted by: Carole | November 24, 2010 at 05:10 PM
you have presented your city in such supreme magnificence and i commend you for that.
Posted by: the nyanzi report | November 24, 2010 at 06:16 PM
A beautiful homage. I especially love the 3rd frame--the lines, the lines, the lines!
* I was secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of your beau in one of the frames.
Posted by: Bianca | November 24, 2010 at 07:21 PM
I never get tired of pictures of the brooklyn bridge.. And I must say that you have really mastered B&W photography, I never get tired of looking at your pictures ^^
Posted by: Marilynka | November 24, 2010 at 11:59 PM
oh! i love to be a tourist in new york .... after all those years, i am still finding surprises everywhere ....
happy turkey day, xx
Posted by: unocosa | November 25, 2010 at 02:00 AM
I like the 6th photo for the light in it, the 1st for its human proportion, I mean, the wooden deck and stone, mix with metal with people in it gives the photo a more human vibe, more approachable, the last one for the geometry against the skies - light gradually turning to shade, the city slowly invading the image.
But my favourite is the 3rd - enclosed city, suffocating under the metal! Unsettling!
Thanks for all these great postcards!
Posted by: C | November 25, 2010 at 05:56 AM
Oh, and thanks for the "story of a strong woman"!
I didn't know that story! Spread the word, Brooklyn Bridge owes its existence, as it is, to an amazing, resilient woman!
Again, congrats on this set of photos in B&W!
Posted by: C | November 25, 2010 at 06:33 AM
Playing tourist in your own backyard can be such a liberating experience. I love these shots! Particularly the 4th one, the composition is great.
Posted by: Journey Photographic | November 25, 2010 at 06:59 AM
STUNNING!
Posted by: Photographer Benedikte Bull | November 25, 2010 at 10:49 AM
It's amazing how we never do the things tourists do in our own cities! And - I love the collection of images. Wonderful - how you captured the bridge and the skyline beyond!
Posted by: Marcie | November 26, 2010 at 04:13 PM
Absolutely stunning photographs! I hope to make it to NYC next year, can you believe my hubby has never been?!?
xx
Posted by: Brigadeiro | November 26, 2010 at 09:01 PM
Wow B! That would be awesome. And no . . . cannot believe that your hubby hasn't been. But can you believe I haven't been to Australia? Hoping to fix that next year!
Posted by: The Photodiarist | November 26, 2010 at 09:13 PM
These photos are incredible. Have only been to NY once, this past summer, and only got a brief glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge at night - looking on from Brooklyn from behind a bunch of barbed fenced... and it was even magical then. Absolutely love how you've captured it from so many different points of view. Really incredible. Hopefully a well spent vacation day - by the looks of it at least. xx
Posted by: the style crusader | November 28, 2010 at 06:21 PM
THE 4TH IMAGE OF THE bridge is incredible hunny...
Posted by: prutha | December 1, 2010 at 06:09 PM
I like the 2nd one with the beautiful art deco buildings.
Posted by: Prêt à Porter P | December 2, 2010 at 07:00 PM
love it a lot!
Posted by: Julia | December 4, 2010 at 06:10 AM