wwp@yahoogroups.com:
Re: the next theme
Robert C. Fisher 2004-Aug-12 19:15:00
On Aug 12, 2004, at 11:56 AM, G. Donald Bain wrote:
> Here's my proposal:
>
> BRIDGES -- A World Wide Panorama -- September 18-22, 2004
>
> Every place on earth has bridges, from heroic suspension spans to
> graceful arches over the canals of Venice. There are scary swinging
> bridges, busy bridges over urban rivers, high arched bridges in
> Japanese gardens, picturesque covered bridges in the countryside,
> bridges that open for shipping, floating bridges, Roman bridges still
> in use, ancient bridges in China.
>
> Bridges are interesting, in their engineering, their materials, their
> setting, their history. They are important, providing vital access
> across rivers and to islands. Some carry huge volumes of traffic,
> others cross international boundaries. Bridges can be short but
> complicated, the soaring loops of a freeway interchange, or immensely
> long like the causeway connecting the Florida Keys. Some cross deep
> narrow gorges in the mountains, others span turbulent tidal channels.
> They can be symbolic, like a Chinese nine-turn bridge, or strictly
> utilitarian, like the ubiquitous Bailey bridges.
>
> Bridges can be beautiful, in and of themselves. From the classic spans
> of ancient times, to the bravado of the industrial revolution, to
> dramatic new shapes by Santiago Calatrava. Bridges sometimes provide
> the grace-note to a dramatic scene, the focal point of a landscape.
> Bridges over lakes and streams in gardens and parks are often works of
> art, carefully designed for visual effect as well as utility.
>
> Many bridges are famous: the Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge,
> London Bridge (in Arizona) and Tower Bridge (still in London), the
> Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Eads Bridge over
> the Mississippi, the new bridges over the Inland Sea in Japan, the
> Tagus River Bridge in Lisbon, the Firth of Forth bridges in Scotland.
>
> Taken metaphorically, bridges can be anything that helps us to progress
> from one place to another, spanning barriers and obstacles. There are
> social and cultural bridges, economic and business bridges, emotional
> and psychological bridges.
>
> So, I think we can all find something exciting to contribute on the
> theme of BRIDGES.
>
> More information later.
>
> Don
> ----------
> G. Donald Bain
> Director, Geography Computing Facility
> University of California, Berkeley
I think this is an excellent choice of themes. There are bridges
everywhere it seems...
Now off to find the right one!
Cheers
Robert C. Fisher
QTVR Photography/Cinematography
www.rcfisher.com