it was foggy a few days ago so i grabbed my S22 and headed for Fredriksvern Verft-the park that was a naval base in the days of wooden ships. i took shots from all around the park but this post features the footbridge over the canal. the canal was dug to provide docking area for the naval vessels, the old crane that once loaded and unloaded the smaller boats at dock is still standing but not in use. during the summer the docks are lined with private boats but only a few fishing boats dock year round,
i took the photos in color then edited all but the last one to black and white. it seems to bring out the structure and even the emotion more. crossing the photogenic wooden bridge brings one to the outer section of the park with the historic yellow wharf buildings and the stone barracks. beyond that is the gunpowder house and access to the three beaches
all the photos of people are purely candid. while i did take more shots than are presented, there was no interaction between any of the subjects and myself taking the shots
as soon as there is a person on the bridge the photo changes dramatically. it's about her. her gait, the bounce and the energic forward motion. of course we cannot know what she is thinking but whatever it feels positive. there's nothing gloomy about the fog, it's spring and she is crossing from winter to summer. before you know it the leaves of the trees will be budding .
without her presence all that energy is gone. it's almost as if we are once again pondering the mysteries of life. the details of the design and structure of the bridge become prominent. the x of the chain is mirrored in the cross beams underneath. as above, so below with the stairs as a connection
people again, from another angle. the harmony these two project is unmistakeable. not only are they perfectly in step but their upper bodies align perfectly. i like how the back foot connects with the stair railing with reference to the stairway down. but they are not interested in going there. together they are crossing up and over and when they reach the other side they will still be on the same wavelength.
more people from yet another angle with the first of the wharf buildings across the bridge in the background. i like how the curve of the older man with the dog connects the wharf with the stairs on this side of the canal. again nobody going down everybody's crossing at their own pace. the two in front are going faster while the children in the middle are stopping up taking in the scene. no matter what the pace we can see that all are eagerly crossing, especially the dog.
here the women are returning from the other side. what i like most about this shot is how the front woman's arms and baby wheeler continue the slope of the wharf roof. it feels a little like she is holding back the wheeler as it rolls downhill. i doubt there's much pull to it but the woman carrying the child is also leaning back.
that's the ships crane in the background. the mechanics of it have some great details and i have posted phots of it a couple of times earlier- i like how it works with the lamppost and how they relate to the bridge and railings.
not much to add in this photo except the perfect alignment of the black leg with the stair railing and stairs. in my eyes that really adds to the photo
we are all more connected to the world around us and to the past in ways we tend not to consciously perceive.
and here is a color shot of the two women with their children in the middle of the bridge.