Complementary Colors -- Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California

by Darin Volpe

Title

Complementary Colors -- Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California

Artist

Darin Volpe

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Taking advantage of a beautiful blue sky over San Francisco, I pointed my camera skyward on what is perhaps the most photographed bridge in the world.

Designed by a team led by Joseph Strauss and built between 1933 and 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge has been a symbol of San Francisco ever since. Its towers stand 746 feet over the bay, and with a main span of 4,200 feet, this engineering marvel remained the longest suspension bridge span in the world until 1964. Thankfully, the US Navy's desire to have the bridge painted in black and yellow stripes for visibility was rejected in favor of the iconic International Orange, a color which not only afforded high visibility, but was also much more aesthetically pleasing. Interestingly, it was a color chosen quite by accident when consulting architect Irving Morrow saw some of the steel arrive at the site covered in the reddish-orange primer.

The Golden Gate Bridge spans the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. This landmark attracts around 10 million visitors each year. Most cross by car, but by walking across the Art Deco span you'll be treated to views not seen by car. Millions of rivets and strands of wire that make up suspension cables are only some of the details you'll see.

Uploaded

May 2nd, 2013

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