2. Landscapes

Covered Bridges, New England

Fall colors plus charming structures in Vermont and New Hampshire made for two great days of photography. New Hampshire was sunshine filled, while continuous rain marked the following day in Vermont. I had never set foot in either state, so I searched images online for the more picturesque sites. GPS addresses were loaded up in order of visitation for time management. Building and confirming that data took some time, but saved a lot of time when it counted. There were three occasions when GPS took me down a one-lane dirt road with no posted name, nowhere on my paper map, and not the road I had expected to use. Traveling alone, I trusted the electronics to guide me and it always worked. New England roads are poorly identified, and GPS really helped, as I only had those two days to work with. All meals were after sunset-a notable sacrifice for a guy who loves breakfast and lunch! (Crackers and Twinkies at 60MPH don't count, do they?) Very mild HDR editing pulled out shadow detail while maintaining color integrity. Most modern road signs were removed in editing to capture the vintage look these bridges had in days passed. All rights are reserved for these images.
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  • Sleepy Hollow Farm, north of Woodstock, Vermont on Cloudland Road. This farm was for sale when I saw it. I have been told the asking price is under 4 million. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry bought it in 2005. Thanks, Linda, for your insider info!

    Sleepy Hollow Farm, north of Woodstock, Vermont on Cloudland Road. This farm was for sale when I saw it. I have been told the asking price is under 4 million. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry bought it in 2005. Thanks, Linda, for your insider info!

  • The Mill Bridge in Tunbridge, Vermont. Elsewhere in this gallery is another photo of it with an interesting history anecdote.

    The Mill Bridge in Tunbridge, Vermont. Elsewhere in this gallery is another photo of it with an interesting history anecdote.

  • INTERESTING STORY ON THIS ONE. The original Mill Bridge in Tunbridge, Vermont was built here in 1883. It was knocked off its mounts and slowly carried away by a huge ice jam in the rapid spring thaws of 1999. Ironically, the damaged and unrecoverable bridge had to be set ablaze to keep from taking out other historic bridges downstream. This new bridge was built the following year exactly like the old one. I mean EXACTLY-four teams of oxen pulled the new, fully completed 50 ton structure into its final position! At $230,000, the new bridge cost less than the cheapest steel/concrete version, but still quite a bit more than the original bridge, which ran up a tab of $523.32.

    INTERESTING STORY ON THIS ONE. The original Mill Bridge in Tunbridge, Vermont was built here in 1883. It was knocked off its mounts and slowly carried away by a huge ice jam in the rapid spring thaws of 1999. Ironically, the damaged and unrecoverable bridge had to be set ablaze to keep from taking out other historic bridges downstream. This new bridge was built the following year exactly like the old one. I mean EXACTLY-four teams of oxen pulled the new, fully completed 50 ton structure into its final position! At $230,000, the new bridge cost less than the cheapest steel/concrete version, but still quite a bit more than the original bridge, which ran up a tab of $523.32.

  • Pemigewasset River Bridge at Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire on the western edge of White Mountains National Forest. The bright red glow on the end gable was a natural effect, coming from the wide stand of trees to the right as they reflected hard sunlight back to the bridge gable, which was in shade.

    Pemigewasset River Bridge at Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire on the western edge of White Mountains National Forest. The bright red glow on the end gable was a natural effect, coming from the wide stand of trees to the right as they reflected hard sunlight back to the bridge gable, which was in shade.

  • The famous Jenne Farm, Vermont, taken about 5PM. I stood here for about 45 minutes as the cattle slowly moved closer, my car totally blocking the narrow road, and never saw a soul. A cold, steady rain that had fallen since 8AM had me and my "water resistant" coat totally soaked. I was chilled and shivering by this point, but savoring the photo op to the max. The soft patter of rain was the only sound. Normally in October photographers will have to take turns here for this prime viewing spot, but it was all mine for those peaceful moments. A thin but distracting electric fence magically vaporized in editing.

    The famous Jenne Farm, Vermont, taken about 5PM. I stood here for about 45 minutes as the cattle slowly moved closer, my car totally blocking the narrow road, and never saw a soul. A cold, steady rain that had fallen since 8AM had me and my "water resistant" coat totally soaked. I was chilled and shivering by this point, but savoring the photo op to the max. The soft patter of rain was the only sound. Normally in October photographers will have to take turns here for this prime viewing spot, but it was all mine for those peaceful moments. A thin but distracting electric fence magically vaporized in editing.

  • My first stop of the trip, Squam River Bridge, was a good predictor of things to come. It looked much better in person than in any of the photos I saw on the internet. The breaking clouds were spectacular that morning.

    My first stop of the trip, Squam River Bridge, was a good predictor of things to come. It looked much better in person than in any of the photos I saw on the internet. The breaking clouds were spectacular that morning.

  • This was my first stop on the two day covered bridge tour. Clouds were colorful and the dawn light was perfect. Squam River Bridge, Ashland, New Hampshire., looking northwest.

    This was my first stop on the two day covered bridge tour. Clouds were colorful and the dawn light was perfect. Squam River Bridge, Ashland, New Hampshire., looking northwest.

  • Slaughterhous Bridge, Northfield Falls, Vermont

    Slaughterhous Bridge, Northfield Falls, Vermont

    This road only went to one place- the old slaughterhouse. Coming up with a name for the bridge did not use a lot of brain cells-the Slaughterhouse Covered Bridge.

  • Slaughterhouse Bridge, looking east.

    Slaughterhouse Bridge, looking east.

  • View of the Dog River looking North from inside the Slaughterhouse Bridge in Northfield Falls, Vermont.

    View of the Dog River looking North from inside the Slaughterhouse Bridge in Northfield Falls, Vermont.

  • The Dog River, viewed to the South from the Slaughterhouse bridge, in Northfield Falls, Vermont..

    The Dog River, viewed to the South from the Slaughterhouse bridge, in Northfield Falls, Vermont..

  • This is one of those targets of opportunity I ran across while on GPS-selected dirt roads. I was approaching Kingsbury Bridge from the west when I passed this well-used barn. I had to stand in nasty mud from the runoff to get above the barbed wire fence for a clean shot. No problem-the shoes are old, and the car is a rental!

    This is one of those targets of opportunity I ran across while on GPS-selected dirt roads. I was approaching Kingsbury Bridge from the west when I passed this well-used barn. I had to stand in nasty mud from the runoff to get above the barbed wire fence for a clean shot. No problem-the shoes are old, and the car is a rental!

  • Wide angle close up of Pemigewasset River bridge in Franconia Notch State Park.

    Wide angle close up of Pemigewasset River bridge in Franconia Notch State Park.

  • Kingsbury Bridge, South Randolph, Vermont. Road signs were plentiful around the bridge. Editing them out was tedious but worth it. The angle and distance in this composition was carefully selected to just hide the string of signs on the other side of the bridge, lined up behind the narrow side of the structure.

    Kingsbury Bridge, South Randolph, Vermont. Road signs were plentiful around the bridge. Editing them out was tedious but worth it. The angle and distance in this composition was carefully selected to just hide the string of signs on the other side of the bridge, lined up behind the narrow side of the structure.

  • Kingsbury Covered Bridge, South Randolph, Vermont. Large sections of the plowed field and trees were obscured by 4 road signs and editing them out took some time. Many clone patches of varied sizes were placed in the field and tree line to avoid the repeat patterns often seen in clone patch programs currently in use. The final touch was adding adjacent colors along the clone edges, a few pixels at a time, for seamless blending.

    Kingsbury Covered Bridge, South Randolph, Vermont. Large sections of the plowed field and trees were obscured by 4 road signs and editing them out took some time. Many clone patches of varied sizes were placed in the field and tree line to avoid the repeat patterns often seen in clone patch programs currently in use. The final touch was adding adjacent colors along the clone edges, a few pixels at a time, for seamless blending.

  • A variety of truss designs were used on the covered bridges. All the designs have names, such as this multiple kingpost. This is the Kingsbury Bridge in South Randolph, Vermont.

    A variety of truss designs were used on the covered bridges. All the designs have names, such as this multiple kingpost. This is the Kingsbury Bridge in South Randolph, Vermont.

  • This was my toughest photo of the trip. I ran out of daylight before I got to one of my more anticipated stops, the long red bridge in Bath, New Hampshire. Except for the single street light way back behind me, the bridge was in total darkness. I tried a number of time exposures using car headlights to get at least some image of it and this was the most successful one.

    This was my toughest photo of the trip. I ran out of daylight before I got to one of my more anticipated stops, the long red bridge in Bath, New Hampshire. Except for the single street light way back behind me, the bridge was in total darkness. I tried a number of time exposures using car headlights to get at least some image of it and this was the most successful one.

  • My notes told me when sunset was and the exact mileage to the next stop, so I rushed my visit a little in Franconia Notch State Park to allow time to make it to Littleton, New Hampshire prior to darkness for this scene. The Mill is right downtown and the adjacent covered bridge is one of the longest covered bridges I saw. The sun had already dropped below the horizon, but I was delighted I made it in time.

    My notes told me when sunset was and the exact mileage to the next stop, so I rushed my visit a little in Franconia Notch State Park to allow time to make it to Littleton, New Hampshire prior to darkness for this scene. The Mill is right downtown and the adjacent covered bridge is one of the longest covered bridges I saw. The sun had already dropped below the horizon, but I was delighted I made it in time.

  • Trees around the parking lot of Franconia Notch State Park.

    Trees around the parking lot of Franconia Notch State Park.

  • Albany Bridge, White Mountains National Forest, along the Kancamagus Highway. This is on the south bank of the river, looking northwest. Human bridge traffic was brisk at all times, but a little editing left me with just one lady to scale the scene.

    Albany Bridge, White Mountains National Forest, along the Kancamagus Highway. This is on the south bank of the river, looking northwest. Human bridge traffic was brisk at all times, but a little editing left me with just one lady to scale the scene.

  • An old barn near South Randolph, Vermont, on Hwy 14. At the back of the barn, gravity is winning the battle of time.

    An old barn near South Randolph, Vermont, on Hwy 14. At the back of the barn, gravity is winning the battle of time.

  • Gifford/Braley Bridge, 1.5 miles south of East Randolph, Vermont. The winding approach road was a nice finishing touch to an already picturesque composition.

    Gifford/Braley Bridge, 1.5 miles south of East Randolph, Vermont. The winding approach road was a nice finishing touch to an already picturesque composition.

  • Gifford/Braley Bridge. Protecting these bridges is a big deal. Numerous preservation groups oversee and care for them with large memberships, newsletters, announcements of improvements and celebrations when major improvements are dedicated . All modifications and maintenance are carefully monitored and pre-approved for historical correctness.

    Gifford/Braley Bridge. Protecting these bridges is a big deal. Numerous preservation groups oversee and care for them with large memberships, newsletters, announcements of improvements and celebrations when major improvements are dedicated . All modifications and maintenance are carefully monitored and pre-approved for historical correctness.

  • Gifford/Braley Bridge.

    Gifford/Braley Bridge.

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