Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #223 – Flights of Fancy

This week, John (photobyjohnbo)” leads Flights of Fancy. He encourages us, “…consider sharing images of interesting or unusual subjects that represent notions or ideas that seem incredible even today or seemed unrealistic at some point in the past.” I choose Brooklyn Bridge for this theme.

The original idea of this suspension bridge was to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. It has two levels. The lower level carries cars, with three lanes in each direction. The upper level carries pedestrians and bicycles. The design was unusual and imaginative, even today.

Demas Barnes

It was a beautiful day when we were walking through the bridge toward

Manhattan.

This bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m). It’s hard to image that they could build this bridge with the tools they had in the early 19th centry.

When Washington Roebling suffered a paralyzing injury as a result of caisson disease shortly after ground was broken for the Brooklyn tower foundation. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling began to oversee the day-to-day construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Emily W. Roebling understood mathematics, calculations of catenary curves, strengths of materials, bridge specifications, and the intricacies of cable construction. She spent the next 11 years helping supervise the bridge’s constructio, taking over much of the chief engineer’s duties, including day-to-day supervision and project management — NY History.org. A woman engineer at that time probably was unheard of.

A view of the Manhattan Bridge from the Brooklyn Bridge.

on May 24, 1883, thousands of people attended the opening ceremony, and many ships were present in the East River for the occasion. Officially, Emily Warren Roebling was the first to cross the Brooklyn Bridge.

photo source above:NY History

We hope you’ll sharing your images and stories. Click here to view John’s photos and stories of Flights of Fancy. Inspiring, indeed!

The night scene of NYC:

Thank you for your responses for the Mountains are Calling theme. I had the privilege to travel magnificent mountains around the world with you through your lens. And, your stories and travels are fascinating.

Florin (Florinpopa) reminds us that we should not only admire the beauty but also listen to mountains, because “They all have something to say and to teach if we could just silence ourselves long enough to listen.”

Donna shares her thoughts beautifully, “The stillness that encompasses us, allows us to hear quiet. It is here we find peace. It is here we find tranquility. It is here we discover an unexplained reverie, a connectedness to nature, and to ourselves.”  — Donna (Wind Kisses)

Dawn (Peaceful at Dawn) says,”… if the mountains are calling, it is worth answering!” Seeing her Yosemite Half Dome image turning orange at sunset makes me want to go now!

Next week, Sofia hosts challenge #224, Exposure. If you’d like to join in on the weekly challenges and want to know how to get started, click here.

 

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