Bixby Bridge
Have you ever been driving and then realized the massive undertaking that we make to build things around us? I've driven across beautiful roads and never even gave it a thought on how it was created. Bixby Bridge made me stop and reflect on the power of human potential. Architecture has always fascinated me; as humans we take the earth and design our very own landscapes. We dig up iron and mix it with carbon to make steel. We take a mixture of sand, rocks, limestone, and water to make concrete. We clear forests down to make lumber. We cut through, reshape, take down, and move the crust of the earth. In every way imaginable we change our planet to build some of the most incredible architecture. Bixby Bridge represents the beauty of Mother Nature and our need as humans to shape our environment.
The first time we visited we planned on arriving as the sun was setting and boy did that pay off. The perfect hints of blues pinks and oranges hitting every angle of the bridge. On our return visit, much more common to what our Northern California trips consisted of, fog blanketed the coast. With the bright noon sun, and the grey fog it made for some harsh lighting, perfect for a black and white shot.
History and Locality
Located 120 miles south of San Francisco and 13 miles south of Carmel this bridge is not shy of a photo op. A must see on your journey through the famous Pacific Coast Highway. It sits on sheer cliffs while below it's met by the Pacific Ocean. Built in 1932 it was part of the 18 year project to build the highway connecting the coastal towns of California while giving access to its beaches. The designer and engineer originally planned between two ways to build, steel or concrete. Steel would cost more to build and to maintain from the corrosive sea air while concrete would cost less, and compliment the look of the cliffs.
