Brad Carlile Photo Blog

A new bridge has been proposed by ZGF, as discussed in the PORT blog some of us feel it really may not be strong enough of a design. Jeff Jahn wrote a comment to that entry that he will host a “design off” for alternatives using Google’s sketch up and asked if I could get a decent photo from a similar vantage point.

This set me off on a vantage scavenger hunt. Luckily my spatial ability is actually pretty good. I actually think this is key for a photographer since we often need to quickly find our way around a location to find the right perspective.

Unfortunately I don’t often get to the area that this shot must have been taken, but the first place I stopped, I nailed it. Armed with a b&w laser of the jpg from PORT I was able to take a few steps to what must be the exact place. The image above shows my shoes at that exact spot. I verified this by carefully checking the alignment of street lights-to-buildings and buildings-to-buildings. Ah I’m done… except for all of the pesky branches obscuring the view. It must have been 1 to 3 growing seasons since original photo.

But just like any shoot, you work for alternatives. I think I have a decent alternative on this somewhat hazy day. Bellow is my version (I’ve sent Jeff higher resolution jpg for his “design off” so check PORT for details and official images):

Here is what was on PORT (with the ZGF design):

I’m blogging this while sitting on a beach chair in downtown Portland in the process of doing a new shot for my “Night Amalgam” series, using Portland’s Free Metro-Fi.