We love a bridge. It is right up there with canyons, mountains, waterfalls and baby bears! When we arrived in the Tampa area we anticipated photographing Clearwater beaches. But, that quickly became a hassle and a half with crowds of tourists and traffic snarls that rivaled LA. We retreated! Our focus changed to photographing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida's "flag" bridge. Built between 1982 and 1987, the bridge is just a tad over 4 miles long and spans Tampa Bay. It replaced the old bridge that was damaged by a collision with a large ship. The old bridge has been turned into the world's longest fishing pier.

There are many approaches to shooting such a long bridge.  To Steve, the best photo was one where both ends were attached to land.  That required a very wide angle lens and a finding a spot from which one could see the whole thing!  W… — There are many approaches to shooting such a long bridge. To Steve, the best photo was one where both ends were attached to land. That required a very wide angle lens and a finding a spot from which one could see the whole thing! We settled, after some research, on two potential places. Ideally, one would offer a golden hour opportunity.

This angle was taken from De Soto Island.

I believe this photograph was taken from the edge of a rest area just on the south edge before one gets onto the bridge.

There are more interesting things on De Soto Island.  These Fiddler crabs were a wonderful distraction to planning a good golden hour opportunity! — There are more interesting things on De Soto Island. These Fiddler crabs were a wonderful distraction to planning a good golden hour opportunity!

We took in lots of interesting looks.  Not sure all of them are worth sharing, but we sure had fun! — We took in lots of interesting looks. Not sure all of them are worth sharing, but we sure had fun!

OK!  Just turn your back on me and walk away. — OK! Just turn your back on me and walk away.

What fun we have had today! We started at Newport's marina. Then we drove to Eugene with a nice stop at Cape Perpetua to check out Thor's Well and the Spouting Horn. Throw in a lighthouse . . . Sound exciting? See below.

I was really drawn to the small boat with the red windows.

Our stop at Cape Perpetua proved to be more challenging or disappointing than we had hoped for. Thor's Well is a big item in all the 'must stop and photograph' lists. When tides are high or there is a storm, water is forced up through a hole in the lava rock, much like a geyser. It then drains back into the hole. We were there at high tide. The activity was not at all geyser-like. We had seen photos of Thor's Well and now that we have been there we know that the photographers went way beyond the fence and sign indicating danger!!

Shot on Nikon D800 and processed in Final Cut.

Also on Cape Perpetua there is a spouting horn. As you watch the video, imagine trying to capture all of that with a still photograph. It appears that there must be some construction behind the spout. The video has been edited so you don't have to wait so long for the next 'big event'.