Standing underneath the Brooklyn Bridge is like standing underneath a lot of other bridges in that i always expect a 4×8 foot sheet of 1″ thick steel to break free and come crashing down… (that’s cause i live in san francisco and that’s happened a few times around here). you might figure that from that high up it’ll gracefully float down like a maple leaf leaving plenty of time to dive out of the way. But perhaps not..

From underneath the bridge you can really see how it was constructed. Most major bridges are now made from steel girders that are larger and longer than a lot of office buildings. this bridge – having been built over the course of 13 years in 1870 appears to be made from materials that could be moved into place by a few people with a pulley system – it’s rather impressive to stand underneath it and listen to the people and cars go over it.

The first time i walked over the bridge was about 4 years ago; I was in the New York around the holidays and had just purchased a spanking new high-end tripod from B&H to replace my old ailing heavy metal one. I decided i’d carry it around with with me just in case i needed it. Later that day a walk over the bridge was on the schedule and i figured it would be the perfect opportunity to use it to make some long exposures. That bridge rattles around more than a dryer full of old tennis shoes.

That was the first of many times that i’ve carried that tripod around and not used it. Fortunately i’ve used it many more times than i haven’t and on this trip to the Brooklyn Bridge it got used quite a bit.

Anyway – an homage to my (now completely beat up and very well-traveled) tripod is not what you’re here for. Go visit the bridge, walk over it, stand underneath it. Just remember that from about 110 feet above and falling at 9.8m/s^2 it’ll take that piece of steel (or wood – pick your pleasure) about 2.5 seconds to smack you in the head, so look out!