roadhound
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Posts posted by roadhound
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There ought to be a law! That photo of Mono Lake beats all, and I’ve seen most. I lost all interest in the old roads for a few minutes just looking at that image. I know you will be modest and claim you took 100 photos, but it is more than that. Much more. That is magazine cover quality. It is a grabber.
Thanks so much for the kind words KtSotR. From your keyboard to the photo editor's screen. I didn't exactly take a hundred of that particular shot but kept it down to about a dozen. I was really pleased with the way that particular Mono Lake shot turned out. I can truthfully say that it wasn't a snapshot and I was very deliberate with shutter speed and f/stop settings. I got exactly what I was looking for. Here's another. I have more but they will have to wait until after I finish processing my Lincoln and Victory Highway pics from the previous trip.
I still don’t quite understand why Conway Summit was ever a preferred route. In snow country it is steep, and seems to unnecessarily climb a mountain. I guess I will look at Google Earth to see what it might reveal.The Road across Conway Summit didn't make much sense to me either, especially for the times. The road through Bridgeport Canyon has some rises but nothing that compares to the Conway Route. The terrain would have easily accomodated a 2 and even 4 lane road without to much difficulty. The only advantage I see with the Conway Route is that it shaves 5 or 10 miles off of the total distance to Bridgeport.
On To Cottonwood Canyon
The road leading in and out of the south side of Bodie is called Cottonwood Canyon Road. It is not hard at all to let the imagination drift while you drive along at a comfortable 35 MPH and imagine the stagecoach or wagon team rounding the bend trailing a cloud of dust. The road itself had a bad case of the washboards which would shake the car pretty good at lower speeds. Coming from the south the road has about a 1500 foot climb before you get to the top and head back down towards Bodie.
I did find out during my visit to the Lee Vining Historical Society that there was a mule station near where Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Coyote Springs Rd. and Goat Ranch Cutoff all meet. The station was there to provide fresh teams to the wagon trains going through the two canyons. The foundations of some buildings still remain but I unfortunately found out about them after I journeyed through the area.
Cottonwood Canyon Road looking north towards Bodie from the Summit
Cottonwood Canyon
Southern end of Cottonwood Canyon
Roadhound
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Terrific!! Another “mystery” solved. Sounds like Norm knows his stuff. The person I talked with when I was through Lee Vining last wasn’t very savvy on the old route.
It is interesting that Conway would consider a haul over that grade as easier than one up Bridgeport Canyon, but then I have never been up the canyon.
I’m looking forward to the photos and the “rest of the story!!”
I did a couple of days on a mixture of old auto roads and a touch of stage routes in north central Oregon and just got back myself.
Keep the Show on the Road!
It's about time I started putting some pictures up to illustrate the the terrain that we have been discussing.
First let me share a picture of some of the tufa towers found in on the South Shore of Mono Lake. I left the Tuolomne Meadows campground at around 4:00 am and was at the tufa towers as the sun rose. It was the start of a long and fruitful day.
As I attempted to explain in a previous posting the road now know as Coyote Springs Rd. was once the primary route between Mono Lake and Bridgeport to the north. The locals know this as Bridgeport Canyon. The road didn't require high clearance although it is a bit rough in spots and there are a few washes were lower riding cars should take it slow.
South end of Coyote Springs Rd. just north of Goat Ranch Cutoff looking south towards Mono Lake
Coyote Springs Rd. midway between Goat Ranch Cutoff and Bodie Rd.
North end of Coyote Springs Rd near Bodie Rd.
Coming up next: Cottonwood Canyon Road from Goat Ranch Cutoff to Bodie.
Roadhound
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Love it!!! Not that you’d know about it!! And Tokyo Rose....that's great. Wish I could top that! And I wish I had made it to Hamilton.
Yes, there is a discontinuity on Cemetery. Your on site report will tell the tale! I’ll bet that Cemetery Road is the starting point off US395, but beyond the line of trees I saw this winter, I have no idea.
I’ve had better luck with GPS, but not with my current device which can’t find itself much of the time, and when it does, the batteries die. And I find it as user friendly as my income tax forms.
Keep the Show on the Road!
I believe I found the definitive answer for the 1917 route as well as the origins for the route over Conway summit. During my travel I stopped at the Lee Vining Historical Society and the curator, Norm, was nice enough to confirm my suspicions and correct a few of the assumptions I had.
Starting at Main St. (US 395) and Mattly Rd. the original highway followed Mattly Road northward. The route can still be followed today but turns into a gravel road once you cross the entrance to the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center and begin your descent down the bluff. The original roadway followed the waterfront, which was higher back then, and part of the original road is under the current 395 roadbed.
The original route was along what is now Cemetary Road, past the park and the cemetary. Just after the cemetary the road goes from asphalt to gravel. Just after E. Mono Lake Dr. the original road turned northward and now goes under 167 to Goat Ranch Road. The present routing of Cemetary Rd. continues eastward and joins 167 further east. The original section is clearly visible in the satellite images but barely visible from the ground as the sagebrush has taken over. On the 1917 map this area is identified as being brushed, very rough, and sandy.
From Goat Ranch Rd. the path turned north through Bridgeport Canyon (Coyote Springs Rd.) and followed Bodie Rd. through to Bridgeport.
In the early 20's the owner of the Conway Ranch began to build a road across what is now Conway Summit so that his mule teams could deliver hay to Bridgeport more effeciently. The original path that he cut later became the first 395 roadbed across the summit. Of course, the road has since been altered significantly.
Pictures of Bridgeport Canyon, as well as Cottonwood Canyon, to follow shortly (as soon as I have time to download and process them).
roadhound
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Roadhound,
Somebody’s got his new GPS working! If I knew the way, do you think I’d be suggesting you go?
No wonder you got home from the Nevada wilds safely! Doesn’t knowing where you’re going before you go spoil all the adventure??!!!
Besides all my maps are old. They didn’t have GPS in 1917!
I started to confirm your coordinates, but got sidetracked with a couple of additional thoughts. I noted a Mono Inn Road just south of Cemetery Road at 395 which might lead to something interesting (like the Mono Inn on the old maps!).
Also, the Cemetery Road takes you to a park where you can walk out on a boardwalk to view the Tufa Towers. Interesting and very photogenic!
Tufa Towers
I suspect the old road isn’t 167 or Goat Ranch but probably Cemetery Road (Goat Ranch is also a candidate, but doesn’t conform as well to the earliest maps). I stopped on Cemetery last winter and the old trees suggested the early alignment (nice photo op!).
Note also how close the old road follows the lake on the old maps. Cemetery does this. Goat ranch doesn’t. Cemetery crosses 167 and connects with Coyote Springs.
I think you are also right in believing that 270 follows the other old alignment to Bodie.
Keep the Show on the Road!
I like that picture of the tufa with the snow. I've got to get there in the wintertime.
What I am failing to see is the natural connection between Cemetary and Coyote Springs that appears on the older maps. One one hand Cemetary is closer to the lake and in line with the older maps while Goat Springs seems to fit more naturally with the alignment between itself, Cottonwood Canyon, and Coyote Springs where they join. I do notice a dirt trail on Google Earth that takes off of Cemetery at 38,02'33.16N 119,07'04.51 that appears to be buried under 167 as it crosses and connects with Goat Springs. It is not very wide and may not be driveable unless your in a small vehicle. Looks like it is overgrown.
I'll plan on driving both Cemetary and Goat Ranch, as well as Mono Inn Rd, and report back.
Yes, we did use the GPS and it did come in handy at times. Other times it led us astray and we had to backtrack to get on the proper path. We nicknamed it "Tokyo Rose" since it always seemed to know where we were but sometimes gave us the wrong advice. I would say our success rate was 50/50 with some of the navigational errors being our fault and others being the machines inability to read our minds. Bottom line is that they can be very helpful on the major roads but you need to know where your going when it comes to the backroads, otherwise you could end up following a very narrow 4x4 road through the White Pine Range trying to find the ghost town of Hamilton when staying on the main forest road would have got you there. Not that I would know anything about that, I was just using it as an example.
roadhound
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Roadhound mentioned he may be in the Mono Lake area and on Yosemite’s Tioga Pass this weekend. There are a couple of old roads that might be worth a visit.
To cut to the bottom line first...I suggest taking the Coyote Springs Road up Bridgeport Canyon to Bodie, then returning by the Cottonwood Canyon Road. The reasons follow.
The old road between Mono Lake and Bridgeport, what is now US 395, did not go over Conway Summit. It went via Bridgeport Canyon to the east. And the Cottonwood Canyon Road further east is the old stage road between Bodie and Mono Lake and is described in the 1865 “Trip to Bodie’s Bluff” in Harper’s Magazine.
The short and sweet is that the old road (1923 and before) between Mono Lake and Bridgeport went via Bridgeport Canyon along what is now called Coyote Springs Road. The name alone demands a visit! After 1923 or 24 it went over Conway Summit.
Let’s begin with a couple of maps from my collection. The first is a section from a 1917 Automobile Club of Southern California strip map.. Note that the main road goes northeast from Mono Lake through Bridgeport Canyon. Also note the road continuing northeast to Bodie. This is the Cottonwood Canyon road.
1917 MapThe following is the 1923 map from the ACSC. Note that a new road is under construction. This is the road over Conway Summit
1923 MapThis next map isn’t dated, but it is circa 1925. The main road now goes over Conway Summit.
Circa 1925 MapKeeping that in mind, lets also look at an 1865 article in Harper’s Magazine titled "Trip to Bodie’s Bluff and the Dead Sea of the West”. I happen to have that issue, but if you don’t
, go to the terrific Library of Congress American Memory site (memory.loc.gov/ammem) and search for Bodie. One of the citations will be at the wonderful Cornell University collection of old periodicals with the title “Trip to Bodie’s Bluff.” (Both the American Memory and Cornell sites are essential sources for Americans interested in our heritage.)Beginning on the second page of that article is the description of a trip down Cottonwood Canyon to Mono Lake. (Incidentally, as you read the article it may be helpful to know that the “Big Meadows” is the area where Bridgeport, California is now located and Aurora is east of Bridgeport, in Nevada. It might not be a bad guess that the tragedy described occurred along the Aurora Canyon Road, but that is a digression.)
The article goes on for several pages describing the Cottonwood Canyon and Mono Lake. So, I hope that Roadhound (or someone) will take the old highway through Bridgeport Canyon on Coyote Springs road, go into Bodie, and then return via the Cottonwood Canyon Road, and report to us. Bodie is obviously worth a trip in any event.
The last map, also from the ACSC is undated but after 1923 and probably pre 1930. It shows the road over Conway Summit, the Bridgeport Canyon road, and the Cottonwood Canyon Road.
Undated but After 1923 and Probably Before 1930And, it might be interesting to see if there is a location along the route between Aurora and Bridgeport (Big Meadows) that fits the site of the tragedy described.
As an aside, I find it interesting that none of the maps shows Lee Vining, which therefore must not have existed in the teens or 1920’s.
If I can help, post a note, and Keep the Show on the Road!
Keep,
Doublecheck me on the coordinates.
Starting on CA 167 I will be turning northeast onto Goat Ranch Road at 38,02.772N, -119,09.386W My assumption is that this is approximately the old 395 alignment that is shown on the 1917 and 1923 road maps.
Following Goat Ranch Road turn north on Coyote Springs Road at 38,06.046N,-119,03.503W
Following the dirt road that is Coyote Springs (I just got the dirt from the last trip off of the Rickmobile) turn east on CA270 at 38,09.703N, -119,08.158 W and follow it into Bodie. Question: is the alignment of CA 270 heading west from this point part of the 1917 alignment of US 395? There doesn't seem to be many other options to getting to Bridgeport from that spot.
Leaving Bodie follow Cottonwood Canyon Rd starting at 38,12.452N,-119,00.875W. Cottonwood Canyon turns into Goat Ranch Cutoff just before reaching Coyote Springs Road at 38,06.046N,-119,03.503W.
The loop is now complete.
roadhound
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The American Road Garage is a typical 1950’s service station. There are two pump islands. Each island has two pumps, one for “Regular” and the other for “Premium.” Premium is 100+ octane for our high compression engines and “regular’ runs at about 87 octane. Regular is 32 cents a gallon, and Premium is 36 cents a gallon.
When you look at a pump island head on, there are air and water hoses at both ends, the two pumps, and between them the oil rack with its cans of oil. At the end of the island nearest the station the cash drawer is hung ...
Although I am a little young to remember the garage that you describe your presentation did a masterful job of painting the picture for me. Thank you.
BTW, does this garage have a place where I can wash my car? It got a little dusty. I'd even settle for the local high school charity car wash.
This was on day 2, before the Pony Express\Lincoln Highway drive.
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Roadhound hasn’t been seen for days, not since he headed out for Utah last week. We figure he’s trying to find the Lincoln Highway.
The Lincoln Highway was been found and I am happy to report that it is alive and well through Utah and Nevada.
I was especially impressed with Nevada and the way they have provided LH road markers along the route(s). We saw many of the concrete markers along US 50 as well as much newer, but smaller, markers of the 4 inch wide by 3 foot tall flexible type along the side of the road. There were also larger 12 x 18 inch roadsigns mounted on poles.
The Pony Express Trail through Utah is a dusty one but worth every mile of it. There was one 120 mile stretch from Simpson Springs, through Fish Spring, Ibapah, Tippets, to Schellbourne were we only passed 3 other cars. I think it was about as far away from civilization than I had ever been before. It gives one an appreciation of what the journey was like for early auto travelers (with the exception of air conditioning, more horsepower, more reliable vehicles, graded gravel roads, GPS...)
More stories and pictures to come once I get back home and have a chance to go through and process all the pictures I took during the journey.
A road weary roadhound
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Roadhound didn’t mention he is off tomorrow on a Lincoln Highway adventure including the Utah and Nevada sections east of Ely. Your guests will have terrific stories to tell about sites in that area...Stone House, Tippets Ranch, the Pony Express, Gold Hill, the Goodyear Cutoff...on and on...oh, how I wish I could be at your affair to enjoy the evening!
I can't begin to say how much I wish Michael and Brian's planned stops in California were a month earlier.
Yes indeed, I am off on my great adventure tomorrow. One of the great things I have found in the short time that I have been visiting this site is the information that you can get just by asking. A few months ago I didn't know what route the Lincoln took through Utah. Thanks to Keep the Show On the Road, ypsi-slim, DennyG and others not only do I now know that there was a number of different routes but also what to look for along the route that I choose. This is a great group here. Talk to y'all in 10 days give or take.
LH Bound Roadhound
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Hello, my name is David Martin. I've been a roadfan since I was a kid, although working full-time and leading a generally busy life has prevented me from travelling as much as I would like. I live on Lincoln Highway a half-mile west of where it intersects with Dixie Highway, in an 80-year old apartment building. I have a keen interest in local history (which for me, means the Chicagoland area and Illinois in general).
I am a reference librarian and director of adult programs for Flossmoor Public Library (hence the screenname). We are hosting an event with Michael Wallis and Brian Butko Friday July 27th, at 5 PM in the afternoon. It'll definitely be an exciting event for me personally and I am looking forward to meeting them both.
I found this board through doing internet research on the authors and on the Lincoln Highway, it turns out some of the posts here are indexed by Google. When I saw the post about the Lincoln Highway Book Tour I thought I would sign up and contribute some information.
Welcome FlossmoorLibrarian. Let me be the first to welcome you to this little piece of the internet devoted to the American Road. I look forward to hearing of your LH explorations in Illinois and nearby states. Since you're a research librarian we expect your reports to be fully researched and validated.
Roadhound
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Visually, it looks like the I Street Bridge in Sacramento. I haven't confirmed the auto routes but a rail line looks to have crossed it, so lets ask "Is it the I Street Bridge?"
Keep the Show on the Road!
Yes, it is indeed the I Street Bridge in Sacramento.
Here's a link with a bit more info: http://home.pacbell.net/hywaymn/tower_bridge_history.htm
As the winner of the first quiz you get the honor of posting bridge quiz#2. I am looking forward to seeing what you can pull out of that vast archive of yours. Postcards and photos are all fair game.
roadhound
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If old US 40 crossed this bridge it was in the dead of night!
The only way to go form Memphis along I40 for as many as 1679 miles is via Barstow. And unless Mapquest backtracks (it doesn’t), that necessarily places the subject section of US 40 in Northern California.
The only north south US highway intersecting US 40 in California is US 99 E & W. The only place US 40 runs with either is between Davis and Roseville.
To reinforce that possibility, this is a pivoting bridge which exists only on navigable waters, which could be any of the sloughs or associated waters of the Sacramento or San Joaquin Rivers.
That said, I have scouted every bridge along that route and find no two bridges so close beside one another.
So I will ask, is this bridge geographically between Davis and Roseville within 10 miles on either side of I80?
Keep the Show on the Road!
You are getting closer. It is geographically between Davis and Roseville and within 10 miles of I-80.
Don't forget that it is also a railroad bridge.
roadhound
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The new W & W book is formatted much like "Route 66: The Mother Road", full of many fine images across the route. Most of us road dogs know a good deal about the L.H., but I think this and Brian's "Greetings from the Lincoln Highway" are really going to make Route 66 look over its shoulder (no pun intended), because the L.H. will soon be making up ground in the battle for attention. I would say it's already starting to take off, as it's being talked about by many 66ers. Granted, it's because of the author, but it's getting talked about like never before. I know a former editor of this magazine and staunch 66er is heading on a L.H. journey into Nebraska and into Nevada later this month, so the interest is there, though I wouldn't say it's soley because of the book. I think a lot of folks in the 66 community who've been in the movement for nearly 20 years have seen just about everything there is to see on it and are wanting a new, fresh adventure, and the L.H. offers that....plus you get several hundred more miles out of it than 66 offers. I think in the next five years you're going to see even more L.H. books, videos, maps of abandoned alignments, keychains, hats, decals....you name it. And believe me, this ain't a bad thing!
It's OK to be a fan of both, right? As a newbie to road dogging I find them both (as well as the other older roads) fascinating and intruiging. The more I read the more I want to explore and discover what was once there, what remains, and the changes that have taken place in between.
One thing you neglected to mention is that centennial of the founding of the L.H. is just around the corner. I believe that as we get closer to that date more communities will realize what they have running through their front yards which will generate more interest.
That's my
on the subjectroadhound
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Hold it!!
I see you have snuck in the word "officially" in saying that the road no longer exists. Now it no longer "officially" exists. Very tricky. Have you considered a career in politics!? OK, that fixes this bridge on old US40.
Keep the Show on the Road!
OK, on old 40, the north south US highway is probably US99E or US99W, or whatever they are today, so off to Google.
Keep the Show on the Road!
You are getting warm my friend despite my attempts to muddy the waters by including the reference to Memphis and the road that runs through it.
roadhound
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This is not a question (but it may sound like one
! Are you sure that the number is 1697 and not 1679? Not a question!!! Just a reaffirmation 
!Keep the Show on the Road
My bad. It should have been 1697.
What I originally wrote was :
but if you Mapquest the driving directions from the bridge pictured to Memphis 1697 of the miles on the recommended route is an Interstate that is numbered the same as one of the US Routes that went across the bridge.Let just say its more than a 1700 mile drive between Memphis and the bridge and leave it at that.
roadhound
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Only 1 guess so far? I didn't think this was that tough. Time to pull out the maps and start figuring this one out.
Let's recap what we know so far:
-The bridge once hosted 2 US Routes, one north-south the other east-west
-One of the US Routes no longer officially exists
-The other US Route is now 695 miles away
-The bridge is at least 1697 miles from Memphis
-The number of one of the US Routes that once crossed the bridge is the same number as the Interstate that passes through Memphis.
-the bridge is in either California, Nevada, or Utah.
Next guess anyone?
roadhound
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Roadhound,
Just a thought, but “Is the bridge in California, Nevada, or Utah?
Yes
Thats 1 question.
Tell me again your departure date as I am moving things out of boxes to new shelves and drawers and hope to find the Brush book before you leave.I will PM you with the info.
roadhound
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Apparently that idea was not isolated to that bridge. Here in Memphis we have the Harrahan Railroad bridge, built in 1916. In 1926 wings were added to each side, covered with wooden planking and provided auto traffic an east/west access. Routes that used this bridge were 61, 64, 70 and a couple others (my reference material is at the other house). At one time part of the roadbed burned, set fire from sparks from a locomotive. At 108 feet in the air I think I'd rather swim the river!!!!
You can read more on my website @ http://www.freewebs.com/yankeetraveller/index.htm - click on "Memphis Day Trips" and scroll down to the 2nd entry, "1 January 2007.
Safe travels.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis? My brother lives in Memphis, or near Memphis I should say. He lives in Rossville. I will have to remember that you live there next time I go out there to get some tips on places to see.
Nope, the bridge is not in Memphis but if you Mapquest the driving directions from the bridge pictured to Memphis 1697 of the miles on the recommended route is an Interstate that is numbered the same as one of the US Routes that went across the bridge.
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Thanks for posting this string, especially the photos, KTSOTR. I really enjoy seeing those old black and white photos and when you match the location up its magic. Do you think there might be a gene for 2 lane roadways that was passed down from your grandfather?
I have one old black and white photo that I would like to match the location of someday. My Great Grandfather was a Superintendant of a section of the Trans Canada Highway in Ontario sometime back in the 20's or 30's and my mother has a picture of him standing on the roadbed as it was being constructed near a summit that was named after him (Bain Summit). I haven't located the summit on a map yet and who knows when I will have the chance to get to Ontario.
roadhound
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This combination railroad and auto bridge once carried traffic for 2 US Routes, one was east-west, the other north-south. One of the routes no longer exists and the other is now 695 miles away. Can you name the location of the bridge and the two US Routes that used it?
For bonus points what year was the bridge built and when were the US routes moved to a newer bridge?
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Since you are going in a single vehicle, I’m sure you will travel smart
1. Carry plenty of water (not only to drink, but to cool off if you stall), gas up in Wells, and check your spare. (VERY BIG CAUTION: NO KIDDING! DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ABOVE 105 ARE PREDICTED. VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)
2. Carry a couple of good FRS walkie talkies
3. Advise someone that you will telephone them when you arrive at your destination and give them the FRS channel you will use in emergency. They should know the phone number of the county sheriff in your intended travel area in case you don’t call.
4. Carry a GPS so you can give your coordinates in an emergency.
5. Plot GPS waypoints on your map prior to leaving.
6. Carry extra batteries.
If I find the story of the couple who did this route in about 1908, I’ll e-mail it.
Have a fun and smart trip and Keep the Show on the Road!
Good advice for any trip, thanks. Last thing that I want to have happen is for the whole country to hear about my trip on the evening news. To many of those type of stories lately. I had not thought of getting the Sheriff's phone numbers prior to departing, excellent idea.
GPS? Believe it or not I don't own one yet. Any recommendations?
Believe me when I say that I am taking the preperations very seriously, especially when it comes to the weather. I have already purchased 3 cases of water and have 2-3 gallon jugs that I will also fill up with water. Since we will be camping on part of the trip we will also be packing a fair amount of food at the beginning, mostly prepackaged stuff like fruit cups and the like, that won't require refrigeration. I've got a repair kit for the truck and a fully stocked tool box.
If you have a chance to e-mail me the 1908 story I would like to read it to help give me a sense of perspective.
roadhound
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After looking at a multitude of maps, reviewing the turn by turn description provided by Keep the Show on the Road, and exploring the area with both Google Earth and Mapquest I am fairly confident that the section of road between Wells and Cobre that was once known as the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway is still there.
I am also fairly confident that the PPOO utilized a section of railroad bed that was once part of the Transcontinental Railway and may in fact be the original road bed graded by the CPRR during the original construction. The radius of the curves are just like those that would be have been built for a railroad plus they are alongside the current railroad bed which was likely a replacement for the original.
The question of whether or not the road is driveable still remains. The roadbed looks intact on Mapquest, which had a better image of the area than Google Earth, and there doesn't appear to be any areas that are washed out. Only the onsite research can truly determine whether the PPOO still lives.
The true test will come when we actually drive it. I will report back at the end of the month. I've printed out the posted scans from the 1916 TIB and 1922 ABB and we will see how accurate they are.
roadhound
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Nothing wrong with your picture Cityboy1968, keep them coming. It's very interesting the way that the earth has been removed right up to the supports. They really didn't want anybody driving on that bridge.
Why not start a new thread just about Mississippi roads, or maybe the Jeff Davis or Jefferson Davis in the U.S Highways and Auto Trails[/b]. (Note who is now the moderator there.......ah the fame! )Be careful Keep the Show on the Road! Don't let that fame go to your head.
roadhound
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Rick, I'm glad to hear that you get good results by practicing the fundamentals. It's encouraging to me because I'm just learning composition myself. I've been practicing the rule of thirds as best I can, and also trying to frame shots so motion is suggested, and am seeing improvement. I hope I learn the patience you seem to have, setting up so many shots just to get that one!
jim
The key is practice, practice, practice. Back in the day when I was shooting film I would be happy if I got 1 really good picture out of a roll of 24. Even with digital the percentage of successes is still about the same except that the cost per image is a lot less now than with film. I have on occassion shot as many as 600 pictures in a single day.
So go forth and take pictures...of a bridge, and post them on this forum!
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Rick,
That last shot you posted of the bridge, with the road leading up to it, is wonderful. To me, a road running through a photo is like a verb running through a sentence -- it creates the action. That little curvy road segment says come-hither, and the object is the bridge. And then you can see some of the bridge's architecture from that angle! You have a nice eye for composition.
jim
Thanks so much Jim. I try to stick to the basics as much as possible, use the rule of thirds, try not to have the focus of the picture in the center of the frame, etc. The other thing I do is take lots of pictures. "Let's hear it for digital! For every one of the shots that I posted their is 15 or 20 shots at different exposure levels, different focal lengths, different angles...
I know what you mean about a road running through a picture. The eye naturally follows the road in any picture and if you position it properly in the frame the viewer is drawn into the image and you have their interest. It's a tool that I try to use often.
Rick
Tour For New Lincoln Highway Book
in Lincoln Highway / U.S. 30 / U.S. 50
Posted
The tour made our hometown paper this morning.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/books/ci_6...?nclick_check=1
Roadhound