As a photographer, I'm drawn to structures with a clear purpose and unique look. While old bridges offer history, modern engineering also provides compelling subjects. In Tacoma, Washington, the East 21st Street Bridge, opened in 1997, is a prime example.

This bridge appears sleek next to Tacoma's older structures. However, it presents a more rugged and strong look compared to other cable-stayed bridges globally, aligning with Tacoma's working-class past. A striking fan of cables extends from its towers, forming sharp geometric patterns that change with the light, offering dynamic photo opportunities.

Final Image: East 21st Street Bridge, Tacoma WA

Why return to a location?

Returning to a location deepens your understanding of it. You'll observe subtle changes in light, weather, and seasons, which refines your compositions and storytelling.

Frequent visits also build familiarity with the terrain, helping you find optimal vantage points. This allows you to master techniques like leading lines and framing, improving your overall photographic skills.

By revisiting throughout the year, you capture diverse conditions and develop a unique perspective, leading to more personal and meaningful photographs.

The Location

The East 21st Street Bridge spans Tacoma's Thea Foss Waterway, a redeveloped urban waterfront. The nearby Foss Waterway Esplanade offers a park with public art. The Museum of Glass and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass are a short walk away. A walking path, starting at 21st Street Park and curving around the Foss Waterway's tip, provides a perfect vantage point for capturing photographs of both the waterway and the urban skyline.

Initial Visit

Despite the promising surroundings of the Foss Waterway, my first attempt at photographing the East 21st Street Bridge was a bit of a letdown. Arriving well before dawn, I hoped to capture a dramatic sunrise, but with minimal knowledge of the location and a quick Google Maps search, I lacked any preconceived ideas about composition or framing. My initial setup, an attempt at an oblique angle, quickly proved unsatisfactory, leading me to move further down the walkway to set up directly in front of the bridge.

Second Try

For this second visit, I had a better composition in mind informed by my last visit, but the weather remained uncooperative. The sky was mostly clear, offering only light fog, clouds, and smokestack fumes that, with a slight breeze, blurred into a foggy mass during a 45-second exposure.

It also soon became clear that a morning shoot wouldn't yield the results I truly wanted. Nevertheless, I continued shooting, eager to learn from the experience and explore the site's possibilities for future visits.

Third Time's the Charm

For my last visit, I decided to try a late afternoon shoot, using The Photographer's Ephemeris to optimize the timing for my desired composition. This software proved invaluable. With a four-minute exposure, the clouds rendered perfectly, avoiding convergence with the bridge, and the late afternoon sun added a welcome warmth to the scene.

The Importance of Revisiting a Location