Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

This past weekend I journeyed to Madison County here in Iowa to photograph the Bridges made Famous in the book and movie "The Bridges of Madison County". I had an idea in my mind that I researched for a week or so before I went. My original intention was that I wanted to catch the sunrise thru one of the bridges. In researching I discovered there are only 6 bridges left out of 19, so using this information I searched for them on Google Earth and found that only 3 are still spanning water. Of these 3, there is only 1 oriented more or less with the sunrise - Hogback bridge. With this knowledge I took off early to get there before sunrise. When I arrived I found something I had not been able to see in the satellite images on Google Earth - directly to the east of Hogback bridge is a hill high enough that it took 20 minutes past sunrise for the sun to rise high enough to cast light on the bridge and it was high enough in the sky that I couldn't get it thru the bridge. As I waited, fog came and went increasing and decreasing in thickness a couple of times - kinda weird but I'm here to tell you it was changing quickly. Anyway, here is one resulting photo of the day's shoot of the 3 bridges still over water. For Your Consideration.

Walt

(Download)

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Are all the bridges covered?

It's always interesting to see a new approach to an old subject. Thanks!

BTW - you might as well locate the other three bridges - with an approach like this, lack of water doesn't really matter.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Wow, talk about making lemonade and adjusting one's expectations!

I like this image very much, Walt. Great light, textures and details + a wonderful perspective. Only thing I'd do is a slight adjustment so that horizon line is perfectly straight (according to my little Chromebook app it's about 7/10 degree tilted).

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Number one Walt I must say I admire your dedication in dragging yourself out of your pit at such an unearthly hour. For me the aging process has meant I need less booze to get absolutely smashed every night which is a good thing thing but I cannot get rid of the shakes and hangover before 9am which makes dawn patrols impossible.
You snap my friend is rather nice but I am finding it slightly awkward to view. Its seems that the there is water in the distance and the horizon line has not been leveled. That would affect the timber inside so some perspective adjustment may be needed. Overall the image is just a little flat possible due to strange lighting conditions. If you have NIK filters you may find a touch of Tonal Contrast will bring that beautiful timber to life.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

No, not all bridges but the very old ones were in order to protect them from the elements. I won't be returning soon so I won't be trying to locate the rest. As it was I spent a pretty good part of the day with the 3 bridges, locating them, taking pics from different angles & perspectives, etc.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I had a difficult time with leveling this one Linda. No matter what lines I used to adjust it, something didn't quite look right. In the end I used the camera left vertical side of the interior opening but I can see now I probably should have used the horizon line.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Well Billy, you won't often find me getting up that early on a weekend either. Weekends are for doing what I want to do unless Mrs H has other ideas, but she was out of town and I had this idea in my mind so for this one time I decided I could nap later. Now as to the issues you touched on, I spoke about the leveling in my comments to Linda and that is something I will need to try & correct. What I think you're interpreting as water in the distance is a tree covered hillside entombed in fog or perhaps the road that cuts across. I do have NIK filters & tonal contrast is one I rarely use. When I rework this for level I'll have a look at it but I don't see the flatness you see but then that's why I posted here. I don't always see the flaws that others do.

Walt

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

From my perspective, the view through the bridge is kind of boring, but I didn't comment on it because I have been in Iowa {and I've lived in Kansas} so I know there are times when you just plain can't do much about the background; I suppose you could introduce a yellow ducky into the scene.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Okay Linda & Billy, I gave it another shot using tonal contrast to boost it a bit and toggling back & forth from this version to the original I do see a bit of flatness in the first as a comparison. I took another look at the leveling and declined to change that at all. Using the camera left side of the opening and the ends of the white floor boards at the end of the bridge as my guide, it's very level. I think what's throwing folks off is the gravel road cutting thru just above the white fence just outside the bridge and the narrow edge of grass along the top side of it. That isn't a horizon but actually a road that goes uphill a bit from right to left. Thanks to everyone for the input.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

[quote=Whuff]Forgot to attach the reworked version.

Walt

(Download)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Your second version has got the lift it needed Walt!!!!!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

This is an interesting shot made more so by your story of course. It's interestingly composed too, though I am distracted by the perception of tilt (perception is sometimes different from reality as you've explained but it is still how we see). The second version has more contrast and the textures are more appealing after the extra touches you put on it. What is confounding me is the sky. Is that what it really looked like? It looks like clouds are disappearing beneath the horizon and gives the whole image a surreal feel as if the bridge is suspended in the sky. It isn't unpleasant but is hard to figure out. There is a bit of haloing or perhaps lost highlight at the top of the arched opening that might be fixable if you fiddle with it a bit.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Walt I wished you'd start sharing more of your work. Version 2 is good. I think the cock eyed view at the end is the tunnel effect exaggerating the brain's perception a bit. Not an issue for me but you can cheat, look here (https://youtu.be/8tJQMtRs0IM) the more detailed you are in selection and brushing the better you can make it, I just was giving a quick over view. I also found a square crop closing in makes another image where the bridge still seems straight. Well done Walt....let's see more.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Well Minnie this is a bit of an optical illusion as there's no sky visible in the photo. The upper part of the opening shows a tree covered hillside bathed in fog. That hillside thwarted my plan to catch the sunrise thru the bridge.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I'll check out the video when I get home tonight. With winter not too far off I should have more time on my hands to spend on UHH & share more pics. I believe I'm way behind y'all in my abilities with PP so a lot of my stuff wouldn't meet the standards set here. I'm learning all the time so hopefully I can catch up.

Walt