Bixby Bridge
“Bixby Bridge By Moonlight” – Big Sur, California – Matt Granz – Featured Photographer
Highway 1 through Big Sur in California is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Bixby Bridge is one of the many highlights. You have probably seen this bridge before even if you have never been to California. It is very popular with car commercials and TV shows in the U.S. Matt’s version is very unique because it is photographed at night using only the available moonlight and the car’s speeding headlights. Please read his story below then check out one of his portfolios for more intense night shots of California.
Enter Matt:
To those who haven’t seen my work before, my name is Matt Granz and I am a Fine Art Photographer, who is trying to achieve intensity in imagery, an obsession that has been driving me daily for the past five years. I am fascinated with night photography, light painting, storm chasing, and both seascapes and wilderness landscapes. You can find my images at:
http://mattgranz.zenfolio.com/
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/mattgranz
https://www.facebook.com/mattgranzphotography
The story behind this image is that I have had the goal of photographing the Bixby Bridge for three years, but being a person who wears many hats, life just kept getting in the way… until this night. I actually passed over this bridge without noticing in the dark of night but was lucky enough to glance in the side view mirror and see it.
I arrived to find myself alone except for my friend who I was out photographing things at night with. We immediately started finding interesting ways to shoot this bridge, and this image was from the last spot I shot from.
The only trouble with shooting this bridge was that I really wanted to get some light trails and in the middle of the night there are very few cars that travel Highway 1. The good news was that I had time while waiting to perfect my exposure. After around a half hour a car finally came around, going southbound. This is that image.
I am constantly out shooting and updating my sites (except for the facebook one which is undergoing some transformation). I hope you enjoy the imagery as much as I enjoy going out and finding and then shooting them.
Exposure 96 Seconds
Aperture f/6.3
Focus 20mm
ISO 40
Share and Enjoy
PhotoBotos thinks that these photos are related to today's photo:
Golden Gate Bridge – Javier Acosta – Featured Photographer
”Brooklyn Bridge” New York, New York – Enrico Lachin – Guest Photographer
Dangerous Bridge – Herbert Wong – Featured Photographer
Night Dreams – Jorge Maia – Featured Photographer
“Lights of Cape Town” – Camps Bay, South Africa – Jakob Wagner – Featured Photographer
Harvest Mouse – Matt Binstead – Featured Photographer
“A Splash of Light”- Morro Bay, CA – David Pasillas – Featured Photographer
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Amazing photo I’d ever met … Cool and Love it ..
Highway 1 should be on everyone’s Bucket List. Great Picture.
It almost became my last picture I would ever take. The very next morning a woman crossed over the double yellow lines to get into the pullout on our side in order to take a picture of the ocean with her iPhone, and wound up hitting my friend and I head on. Everyone survived OK but I’m in pain to this day and my camera and wide angle lens both suffered damage, the lens so much so that it’s not working at all. The lesson is, be very careful about the other drivers on Hwy 1. The Highway Patrol officer told us we were lucky to come out of the wreck alive.
Stunning, thank you!
Thiis is absolutely breathtaking!
Amazing light, colours and focus of interest.
Way to go, Mattman!
Deservedly beautiful photo.
No mention of Flickr, eh?
WOW!!
Thank you so much one and all for your most gracious and kind thoughts and sentiments. This image has introduced me to so many wonderful people and I am humbled and thankful for the time each of you have taken to share your observations with both myself everyone else on this page. Thank you for having me in your community!
~M@
I’m surprised that man made constructions can be so fab!
What a beautiful sight! The lighting is amazing.
Bella and Didi
Breathtaking photo!
Very good, one of the best Ihave ever seen at this location
Thats cool!
This is amazing. Congrats for your capture and thank you for sharing.
Absolutely breathtaking. Where ever you are headed, I long to go.
Thank you for another great photo, and introduction to a great photographer!
Like heaven to me looking into this one! Beautiful work…Thanks…
Gasp! Breath taking! Loving this image…
I love this photo, great colours on the bridge.
Beautiful.
Beautiful picture! Great work with the light.
Perfect shot of beautiful location, thanks for sharing.
Unusual light and simply breathtaking.
Beautiful!
very nice!
Love it!!! Just driving there is amazing!!! You capture its majestic beautiful escence!
I am not a photographer, but I can certainly appreciate beautiful photography.
Beautiful shot!
Breathtaking! We are heading to that area of CA in a few weeks.
Stunning photography. So glad you shared a photo of something I may never see. I can spend a lot of time viewing the photos on your site, Matt. Thank you Photobotos for sharing.
A trailblazing picture..stunning
At first glance, I thought of the south approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. But the scenery is different. I’ve been on Bixby Bridge often, but never at night. This was a treat.
This is on amazing photo … Have driven over this bridge in the early evening too .. but I can’t remember it so stunning. Excellent job.
I love the details of the bridge and the light trails that leads to the hill pass!
I love bridges so this is great. Didn’t know of it. So Charlie, when are we going to see you again. You haven’t posted one of your own photos in a while. Miss them.
Gorgeous photo…looks like a science fiction world. Great color!
This is a great photo. I love the warm light of the headlights on the rock face on the far side of the bridge.
Perfect time to catch that shot!
I’ve been across this bridge many times, but I’ve never so lovely as in this photograph!
Great job, Matt. I love how the light from the car illuminate the highway. It makes a wonderful contrast to the rest of the evening colors.
http://rakkav.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/bixby-bridge-by-moonlight-photobotos-com/
You keep a-postin’ ‘em and I’ll keep a-rebloggin’ ‘em… You have consistently top-notch work posted here. Keep it up!
(יוחנן רכב הסופר)
Love this….
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Beautiful picture – just captivating.
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Takes the breath away. This is surreal…so beautiful it seems beyond reality itself. But it’s not. Your eyes saw what they might have missed, had they not been looking. The luminosity of the bridge moves forward and expands from the confines of the railed highway to the mountain and beyond, leading to who-knows-where, and, given the beauty of the moment, who cares where. I could stay right there forever and be in heaven. Thanks for a great piece of art.
Only a person with an active, creative mind could capture this image. You did it. Thanks for sharing.
Love this – so high up!
I love bridges – like mountains made by people. Beautifully lit, good balance with the hills and ocean. Stunning