Brenda and I sat down about a week ago and asked each other, “How many more bridges and gatehouses are there to photograph?” and “How many months are left before the May show?” Just then I realized what Brenda had been saying for sometime; we might not finish the project at the rate we’re going. It seemed so simple when we started: 17 bridges and plenty of time. But after sitting down with a calendar and considering: holidays, earlier sunsets, and rescheduling for weather – the thought that we will be cutting it close is a big concern. Now, we’re going push for one extra bridge in September, October and maybe even November to give ourselves a buffer just in case the perfect schedule starts to deteriorate.

Okay, let’s try squeezing in Jordan Pond Dam in between the every-other-week shoot. It’s small and easily accessible, we won’t bother with the usual reconnaissance mission. We’ll shoot from the hip and hope for the best. Brenda had a vision of getting the Bubbles behind the bridge. Tom and I looked at the bridge and figured out that we couldn’t get the Bubbles, but we could include the all important ‘U-Shaped Valley’. The only way to capture the u-shaped valley was to gain elevation in the middle of Jordan Stream. That meant we would need ladders: one for the camera (notice tripod taped to ladder) and one for me.

We contacted a few “hard-core light painters” and asked if they would help us with this extra bridge; we only needed a hand full of painters. I asked folks to come a bit earlier to sort out how we were going to shoot the bridge, given no recon mission. They showed up even earlier, which was great. Tom and I started setting up the ladders and camera, while lots of folks were hiking over the bridge wondering what was going on.  Just then a fellow with a camera and tripod was coming by asked, “Are you painting?” I shouted, “Brenda give that guy a flashlight!” Justin stuck around for a few minutes and then decided to continue with his own plans of light painting around Jordan Pond. He meet up with us at the end of the shoot and we shared pictures.

The before shot.

After a few attempts of sorting out the lighting details and positions, here’s the shot we came away with. This image does a great job of incorporating the environment. The light painters did a fantastic job! I think it’s beautiful.

Of course the group shot of the painters. I was painting the bridge in the group shot.

We all enjoyed watermelon cubes and Molasses Krinkle cookies baked by Brenda.