The raising of the bridge
Terry Baker
printed on Giclée Epson Semi-Gloss
One of a series of fine art prints entitled 'Chicago Surreal'. This bascule bridge (one of forty three operational mobile bridges along the Chicago River) was photographed in 2009 doing what it was designed to do. However, to give the image dramatic impact and not simply languish as the record of a daily event, it was extensively reworked in Photoshop. The sky was converted to black and white and contrast increased for dramatic effect, the bridge and buildings given more presence by saturating the colours, and the river was converted to black and white and re-tinted with a yellow photo filter. Overall sharpness and clarity were also augmented. The aim in all of this was raise the image above the mere ordinary and imbue it with an obvious dramatic and surrealistic presence.
