Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

[benvendetta]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Yes, converging verticals are a problem when you're close to the bridge, without either a tilt-shift lens or the movements of a large format camera. In some of the shots I thought blow it, just go for the shot converging verticals and all, and in some it took a bit of thought to try to avoid them. And yes, the bridge has to hang because at this point you're about half way under the entire bridge.



Thanks Brian. Yes, maybe I'll have to plan a trip when the tide is higher. To get the right tide and the right weather might be tricky though!

One thing I forgot to mention before is that when I was at the bottom of the slipway being careful where I put my feet on the slippery mud and seaweed, I was bending over looking at the camera screen when something furry suddenly touched my hand. I nearly jumped out of my skin! It was a dog come to say hello and he stayed with me for the rest of the time I was taking photos.

When I'd finished and got to the top of the slipway I suddenly thought, why hadn't I taken any photos of the dog with the bridge in the background? So this was a bit of an afterthought, a quick grab shot as he walked past me.



Don't know who he belongs to, and the coastguard didn't know either, but he was very friendly.

That's why I prefer the SSC - there is a really good spot on from the end of the Caldicot industrial estate that I have used many times.

[cariadus]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

A very interesting subject and the choices of the ideal aspect is difficult. I love images that have perspective and the first and last in your set do it for me. Nicely exposed too.

Hope that super dog made it home.

Thanks, David. Yes, I hope the dog was OK. There were various locals about when we got to the top of the slipway so hopefully someone was able to sort him out if he didn't make it home. I could have been tempted to take him home myself but I'm not sure what my greyhound would have made of that!

That's why I prefer the SSC - there is a really good spot on from the end of the Caldicot industrial estate that I have used many times.

I've corrected the lean in No 2 now in Lightroom, although my browser is still showing the old version on this page. 4 and 5 needed too much cropping to correct them in LR.

The 2nd Severn Crossing is definitely on my list! And thanks for the tip about the industrial estate.

[benvendetta]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

I will try and post a pic later from where I mean.

[cariadus]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

By the way, I don't know if you heard on the news but while I was taking photos there was suddenly an almighty roar and a grumble from the ground which shook the stanchions to their foundations, but the bridge stayed intact.



Or then again, it might have been movement of the camera during the exposure.
I was taking a shot and thought, is it my imagination or is the camera moving? A look at the screen revealed that it was. I hadn't tightened up one of the screws on the tripod head. I quite liked the effect, though, and with a few adjustments I got it to move in roughly the same direction as the bridge was appearing to lean.

A few more - first an abstract close up of the bridge taken at 200mm with the 45-200.



And finally a shot looking upstream along the Severn:



Probably not often the water is that calm, even allowing for the smoothing out effect of the 17 second exposure.

[Dewi9]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

If you get the chance, try and go to the Open Day at Gwent Police HQ, Cwmbran (we used to live just across the road from them).

They have a TV control room which monitors the cameras on the M4 - including the old bridge. Two cameras are situated on the towers, and on a windy day they have to rotate the operators who watch the cameras because they get motion sickness. You would not believe that concrete towers can sway, but they do.

It gives a unique view of the bridge traffic also. Their 'patch' of the M4 covers from the Bristol side of the Severn down to the other side of Cardiff.

[benvendetta]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Here's one of the Second Severn Crossing, as promised.

It is a popular location.

[cariadus]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Dewi, I've been to the control centre at Almondsbury, but not Cwmbran.

Dave, thanks for that - great shot, perfectly composed.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Here's one of the Second Severn Crossing, as promised.

It is a popular location.

WoW ! MEGA WoW! that lead in and out and the arches - I have never seen it from this angle before - excellent and love the mono

[gregles]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

WoW ! MEGA WoW! that lead in and out and the arches - I have never seen it from this angle before - excellent and love the mono

It is a beasty of a shot

Well done Dave.

[benvendetta]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Thanks Chevvy and Gregles It was taken a couple of years back. The place I used to have my car serviced was a ten minute walk away and I always killed a couple of hours around this place.

[skids]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

Love those old Severn Bridge pictures. I have a deep affinity with the old Severn Bridge; it’s 11 miles from my home and has a cycle track on the Westbound side so it’s my main route into Wales for rides to Tintern, Monmouth and the Forest of Dean. Still remember being taken to Aust by my parents when I was about 4 years old just to have a look at this new wonder.

[alfbranch]

Re: Sunrise, Old Severn Bridge

That last shot is great too.