Lowry Avenue Bridge

I just learned last week that they are going to start taking down the Lowry Avenue Bridge this week. I didn't even know it had closed a year ago! I guess when they were repainting the bridge in 2004, engineers noticed that Pier 3 had rotated 11 inches out of vertical alignment. By 2008, they'd noticed it had rotated even more, and were afraid that normal temperature expansion could put too much stress on the superstructure.

So I wanted to get out and get a few documentary photos before they take it down. This bridge was a significant memory in my early childhood. When mom and dad only had one car, we used to drive dad to work a lot. And this bridge was always part of the drive. To me, this was the "Woo Woo" bridge because of the sound the tires made as you drove over it. It could be the dead of winter, and I would still roll down my window and stick my head out to look through the grates as we drove over. The see-through aspect of the bridge fascinated me as a little kid.

Who am I kidding? I'm still fascinated by see-through bridges.

So long, Woo Woo bridge. I hope the bridge that replaces you is just as interesting.

Hennepin Avenue Bridge at Night

A shot of the Father Louis Hennepin Bridge wraps up a week of images along the Mississippi River. The current incarnation was built in 1990. I love the pretty lights dotting the bridge.

Next to it is the Grain Belt Beer sign, an icon that has stood on Nicollet Island since around 1940. I wish they would light it again. The letters used to light up in sequence, which mesmerized me as a little kid.



Techie Corner
Since I was still working without a tripod, I had to lean up against a light pole for this pic. I also couldn't get the whole bridge in the pic with my 75mm equivalent lens, so I had to settle for one of its two towers.

Electric Lime

While we were checking out the St. Anthony lock, we noticed that they had fixed the LED lights on the new 35W bridge. It was now sporting an intense lime green color. The waves coming out of the lock were moving so fast that they looked dreamy with the long exposure. The whole scene looked surreal with that electric lime in the background!

Here is another view of it. I wonder what color it will be next?



Techie Corner
Yep, still no tripod with these shots. Yep, they are blurry. But I thought the dreamy waves were so cool that I used them in my blog anyway. This scene also would have been a possible candidate for HDR. The bridge is hopelessly overexposed when I'm trying to show the dreamy water. Not sure how it would have worked with water motion though.

Weisman Art Museum at Night

While out and about, we stopped so I could get this shot of the Weisman Art Museum. The evening sky was just the right density and color; and the setting sun highlighted the museum nicely.


Techie Corner
I had to brace myself against a tree for this shot since I didn't have my tripod with me. With a little sharpening in Photoshop, it worked out really well. It's going to look a little grainy online because I don't put high quality images on my blog.

Roar of the Mississippi

After the bike show March 28th, we drove around for awhile. With all the snow melting and all the rainfall we'd gotten in the last few days, the Mississippi was at full roar. Here's a shot by the Ford dam. Anything going over that would be chum in a matter of seconds!


Here's another shot further up. That's the U of M bridge in the background. The river looks peaceful here, but don't let that fool you. The water is moving very very fast!


Here is the lock at St. Anthony Falls. They just opened it up and let it flow. Looks more like the gates of Hell with the orange lighting!

The Mississippi: best to just stay out of her way when she's angry.


Techie Corner
It didn't occur to me that I might be shooting night photography after the bike show, so I didn't bring a tripod along. The camera blur reflects that. Note to self: always bring tripod.

I love when slow shutter speeds slow down the motion of water. In the case of the St. Anthony lock, it makes the water look even more spooky.

Tangerine Dream

I'm wrapping up my bike show week with a nice chopper from the show. I really like the fluidity of this bike and the full back fender.



Techie Corner
Working within my challenge again, I was standing at least 25 feet away to get all of the bike in the shot. I had to be patient and wait for a guy to quit drooling over it so I could get the pic.

Riding Free On Three

Today on my bike show themed week, I want to highlight my favorite class of motorcycle--the trike. I wish I could have gotten a wider-angle shot of this trike, because it's just gorgeous! It's custom made in Moorhead, Minnesota. You can check out their website right here. This is the 2009 HLE model. It has a powerful VW engine. The faux gas tank opens up to store your helmet! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and wished I could take it home with me.



Here's another trike I liked at the show. That's a blue dragon on the gas tank.

Techie Corner
Like I said the other day, I was working with a 75mm equivalent lens. This made it even harder to get a full pic of a trike with all the bikes and people crammed in there. Note to self: don't give myself that kind of challenge again!

The Forerunners

Continuing on with my bike show pics, we can't forget the forerunners of all the cool bikes and trikes we have now. There were a lot of antique bikes at the show too, and this 1949 Indian Arrow was one of them.


Long before "pocket rockets," there was the Doodle Bug. A swarm of 40,000 Doodle Bugs took to the streets between 1946 and 1948.