Photo Challenge: Chronicling the bridges that connect us to our neighbors, each other

Clifford Oto, The Record
·3 min read
1

This month’s Reader Photo Challenge assignment was “bridges.” Being situated in the California Delta, Central Valley residents know all too well the importance of bridges.

Without them communities would be stranded from each other and cities would be split into sections by the network of rivers, canals and sloughs that are ubiquitous to the area. Bridges help to connect us to our neighbors and to each other. Eight readers sent in 31 photos. Here are some of the best examples.

Sydney Spurgeon of Stockton used a Nikon D750 DSLR camera to photograph her dog Lucca in the covered bridge over the Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry east of Oakdale.
Sydney Spurgeon of Stockton used a Nikon D750 DSLR camera to photograph her dog Lucca in the covered bridge over the Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry east of Oakdale.

Sydney Spurgeon of Stockton took a portrait of her dog Lucca in the historic covered bridge at Knights Ferry east of Oakdale. She got Lucca to sit quietly near one entrance to the bridge (not an easy feat for a young, energetic dog). With her Nikon D750 DSLR camera, Spurgeon exposed for the brightness of the outdoor scene and used the bridges interior darkness to silhouette Lucca which makes him stand out. She also used the opening to frame the dog, which highlighted him even more.

Kayla Jones of Stockton used a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach in San Francisco.
Kayla Jones of Stockton used a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach in San Francisco.

Most people see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco from the east or sometimes the north, but Kayla Jones of Stockton took a different approach. She shot the iconic structure with a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera from Baker Beach, near the southwest base of the bridge. You can see the Marin headlands to the left, and through the bridge Belvedere Island and the Tiburon peninsula can be seen. It looks to be a nice day with dozens of people populating the beach and a lone seagull flies by to serve as a nice accent to the photo.

Dave Skinner of Stockton used a Nikon D7100 DSLR camera to photograph a railroad trestle bridge over Lost Slough at the Cosumnes River Preserve near Thornton.
Dave Skinner of Stockton used a Nikon D7100 DSLR camera to photograph a railroad trestle bridge over Lost Slough at the Cosumnes River Preserve near Thornton.

Dave Skinner of Stockton used the surrounding landscape to enhance his photo of a railroad bridge at the Cosumnes River Preserve near Thornton. He used a Nikon D7100 DSLR camera to photograph a branch from a large oak tree as it arched above the bridge and lower shrubs along Lost Slough to provide a visual frame for the bridge. Its structured straight lines and hard angles contrast nicely against the vegetation’s freeform shapes.

Paul Engelman of Stockton used a Sony Alpha A6400 digital mirrorless camera to photograph the Eight Mile Road Bridge over White Slough in Stockton.
Paul Engelman of Stockton used a Sony Alpha A6400 digital mirrorless camera to photograph the Eight Mile Road Bridge over White Slough in Stockton.

Paul Engelman of Stockton captured a serene scene along White Slough near King Tract in Stockton. With a Sony Alpha A6400 digital mirrorless camera photographed the Bridge over the slough as the sun was setting. The low sun imbues the scene with a slightly overall warm. The free-form clouds in the sky at the top of the frame contrast nicely against the angular, hard-edge rip-rap stones at the bottom. The wind-rippled waves of the slough add some nice texture to the scene.

Anthony Mignone of Stockton used a Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR camera to photograph the historic Mossdale railroad truss bridge over the San Joaquin River in Lathrop.
Anthony Mignone of Stockton used a Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR camera to photograph the historic Mossdale railroad truss bridge over the San Joaquin River in Lathrop.

Anthony Mignone of Stockton used a Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR camera to photograph the historic Mossdale railroad truss bridge over the San Joaquin River in Lathrop. When the bridge was put into service it was the last link to complete the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. The low angle from which he show emphasizes the structure’s size and imposing nature.

All of the entries can be seen in an online gallery at recordnet.com and the all of the top picks can seen at recordnet’s Facebook page and Instagram. A new challenge assignment will be issued on May 24.

Record photographer Clifford Oto has photographed Stockton and San Joaquin County for more than 37 years. He can be reached at coto@recordnet.com or on Instagram @Recordnet. Follow his blog at recordnet.com/otoblog. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Readers Photo Challenge: The bridges that connect the California Delta