Before the bridge, North Kingstown and Conanicut island were linked by a system of Ferries from the late seventeeth century up until the late nineteenth. In 1873 a steam-powered ferry was established between Jamestown and Newport, followed in 1888 by a steam ferry from Jamestown to Saunderstown in North Kingstown. At 6,892 ft long it is Rhode Island’s second longest bridge. It incorporates 69 spans of varying design including a massive continuous cantilever Warren truss with a 600 ft wide center span 135 ft above the water. Planning for a bridge at this location began as early as 1920 and was spurred by the financial woes of the Newport Ferry Company. The noted bridge engineering firm Parsons, Klapp, Brinckerhoff and Douglass, which also designed the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Lift Bridge, won the engineering contract along with Waddell and Hardesty. The bridge was completed in 18 months on an accelerated schedule. In 1940 the bridge cost $3,002,218, almost $118,000 under budget. The bridge was important during World War II as a link between area military bases including the U.S. Naval Training Station in Newport and the Quonset Naval Air Station in North Kingstown, as well as several coastal defense batteries. The entire old Jamestown Bridge, including the proposed fishing pier, will be torn down on April 18, 2006 and turned into aquatic reefs or recycled. The state Department of Transportation has canceled plans to turn one-third of the 66-year-old bridge into a fishing pier on the North Kingstown side because of structural problems. Concrete has fallen off the columns to the point where the reinforcing steel is visible, the deck is beginning to crumble and the some of the steel is starting to deteriorate. R.I.P.
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I like the contrasts in this photo: water vs bridge vs foreground rocks, old vs new bridge, and warm sunset vs cool dusk. The pattern of the girders makes an interesting silhouette. The wide tonal range from bright sunset to dark rocks is captured very well, as is the range of colors. The long exposure makes the sea very, very soft, and gives a nice, rather nostalgic feel to the photo; perfect for the tribute this photo appears to be.
I don't particularly like the composition, which leads my eye out of the frame on the left. I think turning the camera a bit to the left to get the focal point in the frame would be more compelling; the pier on the right is interesting, but not essential to the message of this photo.
The photo would also benefit from a bit more contrast and a lot less sharpening. And of course it would be nice if the bridge was in focus.
Overall, not a great photo, but an interesting and beautiful one.
Ahhhh...the old Jamestown bridge is no more. I didn't get out to shoot it and now I wish I had. I didn't watch the demolition either. This is a lovely tribute..
Pic feels a bit dark, like the histogram is just a bit too far left, and there's no real contrast or punch to the shot. Not a bad effort, but it needs something to make it kick. Sorry I can't help more. 7
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