Lower Park Bridge

Iconic Lower Bidwell Park:

For many years, I crossed this bridge several times a week. When we first started having children, I learned to rollerblade while pushing a jogging stroller. This quickly became a double jogging stroller and then ultimately Emily pushing a single as well. Honestly, to this day, I can only rollerblade while pushing a jogging stroller.

For my first lower Park image this location was a no-brainer. I wanted rich green foliage. It’s easy for a bright sunny day to leave a totally green forest looking boring and flat. My solution was a party cloudy day with the sun shining brilliantly across only a portion of the scene. This day checked that box! Unfortunately, it was also a weekend morning. The people of Chico love this park, and they were out enjoying it in numbers.

After dialing in the angle, I was still left with 2 variables, nature and the public. While patiently waiting for the right light, more than one person told me I picked the wrong day for this. Several times I had to watch the perfect light come and go with groups of people traveling over, visiting on, and looking out from the bridge.  I knew what I was getting into when I set out, but at this point I was starting to question myself.

As you can see, eventually, all the variables aligned in my favor at the right time. I love the natural vignette! It was the key feature needed to complement the bridge. I think of this image as dynamically peaceful. Can those two words be used together? In this case, yes!