Photo Challenge

Bridge

Think about the things, places, or people that connect us. What’s your take?

Image by Cheri Lucas Rowlands

I grew up in a neighborhood built on marshland, and growing up, I rode my bike along the levee, around lakes and waterways, and across footbridges that led from one housing development to the next. When I was five years old, these footbridges seemed massive, and crossing them by myself was an accomplishment. With the breeze on my face and tassels swinging from my handlebars, I loved crossing these bridges — I felt independent, adventurous, and powerful. I was going places!

Bridges grew to be significant symbols in my life. My dad, who I’m very close to, spent over a decade working on the new span of San Francisco’s Bay Bridge — a bridge I’m quite fond of, despite the more famous and golden one on the other side of the city. I love how bridges are imposing and utilitarian at once, and how they reveal a lot about a place and its people — and where they go.

The Hertford Bridge in Oxford, England — commonly referred to as the “Bridge of Sighs” — is a notable skybridge joining two colleges. It’s a beautiful structure, especially the shapes and details of the windows. As you approach it from Queen’s Lane, as shown in this photo, the bridge becomes more and more magnificent the closer you get to it.

And after you walk underneath it, Queen’s Lane meets bustling Catte Street, and you find yourself facing the Sheldonian Theatre — and steps away from stunning buildings like the Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera. The bridge not only physically connects two buildings; it’s a crossroads for those exploring the city’s streets for the first time.

For this challenge, interpret the theme “bridge.” You can go the same route as I did and capture any type or style of bridge where you are, or go deeper and take a snapshot of something or someone that acts as a bridge in your life: a link, a connection, a mediator.

Have fun — we look forward to your takes!

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  3. Poetry – the sturdiest bridge that connects. Being touched with the absence of touch! Something so terrifyingly beautiful about that. WP lends great support.

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  18. I think sometimes people don’t realize this is a photo challenge. They see the word (i.e. “bridge”) and just write a post without a photo. I happen to know the photo challenge prompts appear only on Wednesdays and only around noonish Eastern time. The actual post that appears in the Reader is not that obviously a photo challenge to all people.

    Liked by 1 person

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  29. I was expecting she is going to write more about the bridges by the end of the essay. Anyway, the beginning was really great and simple but attracted me to read it… I felt that she can draw something deeper in the end.,. But I guess the author is quite young so… great !

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