The Golden Gate Bridge, now the icon of the west and named one of the “Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World” by the American Society of Civil Engineers, was built during the challenging times of the Great Depression between 1933 and 1937.
After the completion of what many considered a mission impossible, spanning the Golden Gate Strait, the bridge opened exactly 75 years ago, on May 27, 1937
Thanks to consulting Architect Irving Morrow, the bridge got it's distinctive orange color, called "International Orange".
Other colors considered were carbon black and steel grey. The navy even opted for yellow and black stripes for better visibility.
Why visibility is a major factor is easy to see...the infamous fog, worst during the summer months, forms when the frigid Pacific clashes with the warmer inland, causing the air to rise, thus drawing in the fog from the sea.
International Orange also protects the bridge from the high salt content in the air which rusts and corrodes the steel.
My favorite spots to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge are Kirby Cove, Battery Spencer
and Baker Beach
Walking the bridge is also an option, the entry to the walkway greets you with a sign that explains everything you need to know.....
...but I will leave that for the tourists in the future. I ventured out there, to get some different photographs for this blog, but it wasn't pleasant.
Cold and windy to start with, but worse was the tremendous noise coming from the passing cars together with their exhaust fumes, arrg, just ugly....
I think my favorite time to photograph is at dusk or night, when the lights go on and give the bridge it's magical glow!
Battery Spencer
and with the "Super Moon" from the Berkeley Marina!
Hi Susanne,
ReplyDeletenice series of GG images!
Meggi