Bridge Day - 75 Years of Golden Gate Bridge

This year, the Golden Gate Bridge was 75 years old. Photographer Siegfried Layda was at the birthday party.

Bay Area and Golden Gate Bridge: Why did it always draws me back here? For many years. So, why? The answer is almost everyone who was with the camera on the ground, imagine: The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the few buildings in the world, which blends harmoniously into its surroundings incomparable. It represents such a perfect match that you look at the landscape of Marineland and the Golden Gate - the well a mile wide entrance to the Bay of San Francisco - with the green hills and the vast areas of water without the bridge hardly can imagine.

It's only 75 years ago that the massive structure - built in four years for 35 million U.S. dollars - for was opened to traffic on 28 May 1937 it was time. The first cars rolled over the Golden Gate Bridge, and the formerly standard ferries became obsolete almost overnight. Today one of more than 100 000 vehicles per day, which pass the bridge to six lanes.

Nine hour wait
Nine hours before the announcement of spectacular fireworks jubilee I stood here - on a site that I had chosen the day before. The car was parked but about four kilometers away, because all parking spaces were already full in the immediate area and the traffic is blocked. That initially an extended walk and then, wait, wait, wait. Nine hours is a long time, but it was a little more bearable by performances at the sky and talk shop with other photographers.

At sunset, the blue hour and then arose at the way some shots, the tension grew. The space below the bridge was closed to ships. From 21 clock could also no car drive over the bridge. To the disappointment of many photographers is now clear: the bridge would probably not during the fireworks illuminate as usual, even the street lights were turned off.

The then incipient fireworks were very impressive, but a challenge photographically -. Due to the extremely high contrast between the glare of exploding fireworks and the unlit bridge with dark surroundings As for me and the other photographers already made wide disappointment, someone had probably but relented: The lights were turned on, and I still came to more great pictures.

A civil engineer sees red
The orange-red color of the bridge is actually a rust preventive. Or more precisely, it is a commonly used in aviation safety orange, the International Orange is, however, has a slightly reddish tone, and special anti-rust properties. If you make yourself fully aware that it is just that color, much of which constitutes the charm of the Golden Gate Bridge, it's hard to imagine that the civil engineer Joseph B. Strauss, the bridge originally had planned in gray.

But it's not the building itself, which is a source of fascination for me as a photographer. The often unpredictable, not beloved by all the weather in the region makes the scenario for natural work of art. The weather actually changes constantly: Blue sky, in a rolling fog, low clouds, wind and storm - all of which can be experienced even during a short stay. And make no mistake: Just a few miles it will appear quite different.

Photo Tips for the environment
The coastal region (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) offers good roads to the various vantage points, destinations and starting points of the paths. And if not just an event is pending, you can find a parking space. The entire field is wide and also offers other interesting places such as the redwoods in Muir Woods and Point Reyes National Seashore.

Even more than the eight-kilometer, double-level constructed Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland is worth seeing. It was another six months before the Golden Gate Bridge, opened in November 1936. There are two visitor centers (Visitor Center): One is located at the city end of the bridge (Presidio). Here you will find everything about the Golden Gate Bridge. The Marin Headlands Visitor Center is located on the other side of the bay, here are obtained mainly information and literature on the coastal area, and nature trails. Both centers are worth a visit, with the information available in it, you can plan your stay and make good.