Great Places for Great Photos

Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser known destinations, as well as the famous “Icon Locations” for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to insure a quality guide to great locations for photography.

Covered Bridges Photographic Destinations

A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered wooden bridges typically have a lifespan of only 20 years because of the effects of rain and sun, but a covered bridge could last over 100 years.

Typically, covered bridges are structures with longitudinal timber-trusses which form the bridge’s backbone. Some were built as railway bridges, using very heavy timbers and doubled up lattice work.

Most bridges were built to cross streams, and the majority had just a single span. Virtually all contained a single lane. A few two-lane bridges were built, having a third, central truss.

Many different truss designs were used. One of the most popular designs was the Burr Truss, patented in 1817, which used an arch to bear the load, while the trusses kept the bridge rigid. Other designs included the King, Queen, Lattice, and Howe trusses.

Early trusses were designed without an understanding of the engineering dynamics at work. In 1847, American engineer Squire Whipple published the first correct analysis of the way a load is carried through the truss, which enabled him to design stronger bridges with fewer materials.

Interactive Google Map

Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.

Covered Bridges

Covered Bridge Destinations
    State Road Covered Bridge State Road Bridge is a covered bridge spanning Conneaut Creek in Monroe Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. The bridge, one of currently 17 drivable bridges in the county, is a single span Town truss design. Constructed of 97,000 feet of southern pine and oak, it features a 4-foot-tall window which extends the length of the bridge. This bridge was constructed in 1983. The 152-foot Town lattice span was the first covered bridge designed and built by County Engineer John Smolen, Jr. The original covered bridge was built in 1831, by Ira Benton, and David Niles, for a cost of $100. The bridge stood until 1898. The dedication of the bridge in 1983 was the forerunner of the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival. Where it is: State Road Covered Bridge is located approximately 3.9 miles east-southeast of North Kingsville Ohio. 5899 State Rd., Kingsville, OH 44048 Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: 41°53’10.362″ N 80°37’13.41″ W   Cost: There is no cost to visit. Hours: Always Open Facilities: There are no facilities at the bridge. Location Contact Information: Contact Details Phone 440-599-7697 Address 5899 State Rd., Kingsville, OH 44048 State Road Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Ohio Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Randall Covered Bridge The Randall/Burrington Covered Bridge is a historic queenpost truss covered bridge in Lyndon Vermont is one of five covered bridges in Lyndon. It formerly carried Burrington Bridge Road across the Passumpsic River; it has been bypassed by a modern bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.  The bridge, constructed in 1865, is a 68-ft-long, single span structure that spans the East Branch of the Passumpsic River. The bridge is 14 ft, 8 inches wide overall and utilizes Queen Post trusses spaced 13 ft apart to support the deck and roof. The bridge is covered by a gabled roof with wide eaves, and has vertical board siding rising about halfway up its sides. The trusses include iron rods running from the peaks of the diagonal bracing down to the truss’s bottom chord. The bridge decking is wooden planking. The portals project beyond the ends of the trusses, and are faced in vertical board siding. The portal openings have diagonal corners.   Where it is: The Burrington Covered Bridge is in a rural area northeast of downtown Lyndon, just south of Vermont Route 114 and west of Burrington Bridge Road. 58 Burrington Bridge Rd, Lyndonville, VT 05851 Get Directions on Google Maps Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: 44°33’12” N 71°58’10” W Cost: There is no cost to visit the bridge. Hours: The bridge is accessible at all times. Facilities: There are no facilities at the location. Location Contact Information: Lyndon Vermont 119 Park Avenue P.O. Box 167 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Randall Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Vermont Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Kymulga Mill and Covered Bridge Kymulga Mill is a working gristmill built in 1864 by German contractor G.E. Morris for Confederate Army Major George H. Forney, who was later promoted to lieutenant colonel. Forney died at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia before construction was completed, but his wife allowed Morris to finish it. Union Army soldiers burned most of the gristmills throughout the area during the Civil War, but Kymulga Mill was missed. The mill was sold four times before being purchased by the Childersburg Heritage Committee from latest owner Edward Donahoo in 1988, though it remained in active service through many of those years. Three water powered turbines ran the four-story mill, including lights, grain elevator and millstones used for grinding grain. Two of its five sets are French buhrs, thought to be the hardest rock in the world. Kymulga Mill continues to operate to this day, though under electricity, still making corn meal with its huge millstones. The building is now a tourist attraction open for guided tours. It also serves as a gift shop and park office.   The Kymulga Covered Bridge is a wood & metal combination style covered bridge that spans Talladega Creek, located just east of Kymulga Mill within Kymulga Park. Built in 1861, the 105-foot bridge is a Howe truss construction over a single span. The Kymulga Covered Bridge is one of two 19th-century covered bridges extant in Alabama still remaining at its original location; the Waldo Covered Bridge, also located in Talladega County, is the other. The bridge once provided access to the Old Georgia Road or the McIntosh Road, a Native American trade route which was used by settlers and frontiersmen who ventured the area. Eventually, farms and communities spawned along the former trail. The United States government purchased land adjacent to Kymulga Mill in 1941 for the Alabama Ordnance Works, a military installation. Settlements within the tract had to be relocated. Today, the Kymulga Covered Bridge leads park visitors to a series of nature trails north of Talladega Creek. People may still find remnants of the Old Georgia Road, as well as other traces of the past. Where it is: Located on Grist Mill Road four miles northeast of Childersburg, Alabama. 7346 Grist Mill Road Childersburg, AL 35044 Get Directions (256) 378-7436 Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: Mill 33°20’2.1931″ N 86°17’59.102″ W Covered Bridge 33°20’3.738″ N 86°17’57.972″ W Cost: ENTRY FEE $3.00 Daily – per person – Children 5 and under free $20.00 Yearly – Individual membership / $30.00 Yearly – Family Membership Hours: Normal operating hours – Wednesday to Sunday, 9AM to 5PM.   Facilities: There are restrooms and camping facilities are available at the park as well as a pavilion rental. The part of the park near the bridge offers a venue for musical instruction and performances. Festivals, featuring folk music and dance, pioneer arts and crafts, storytelling and reenactments of local historical events could be held. Location Contact Information: 7346 Grist Mill Road Childersburg, AL 35044 Get Directions (256) 378-7436   Kymulga Mill & Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Alabama Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Knox Covered Bridge   A History of the Knox Covered Bridge Originally built in 1851 at a cost of $843, its span was 50 feet. The bridge was made of white pine, light in weight and resistant to worms and weather. Like other covered bridges, it was covered for protection from the weather, to keep off the rain, snow and sun. The superstructure over the bridge kept water out of the joints, where it might freeze during the winter or cause rotting in the summer, and also kept the bridge from drying. The 1851 bridge was washed away in 1865 by a flood. A replacement was built that year at a cost of $1,179. With slightly longer a 65-foot span. In 1958 the bridge was damaged by fire. When it was rebuilt by the State, steel girders were added to reinforce and strengthen it. For many years the bridge was known as the Valley Forge Dam Bridge. In the 19th century there were a number of mills and factories along The Valley Creek with a dam near what is now Route 23 providing water power for their operation. The lake formed by the dam was a “very pretty body of water” but with the water level only a foot or so below the road, it also caused flooding from time to time. Today the bridge is usually identified as the Knox Bridge – though there is some disagreement over which Knox its name is taken; Senator Philander C. Knox or General Henry Knox. It seems more probable that it took its name from the former. In 1903 he purchased 256 acres of land adjacent to the bridge and moved into the old farm house west of the bridge that had been the quarters of General William Maxwell during the Valley Forge encampment. He was an attorney and prominent in the Republican party in the early years of the 20th century, serving as Attorney General under President Theodore Roosevelt and as the Secretary of State in the cabinet of President William Howard Taft. He also served two terms as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. The suggestion that the bridge may have been named for General Henry Knox stems from the fact that, during the Valley Forge encampment, the 300-pound commander of the Continental artillery had his quarters in the old farm house to the east of the bridge. Where it is: Knox Covered Bridge in Valley Forge National Historical Park across Valley Run (creek) near Lord Stirling’s Quarters. On (or at the end of) Yellow Springs Road as it joins Valley Creek Road (PA 252). Confusingly, the last bit of Yellow Springs Road, and part of 252 are also known as Baptist Road. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: 40°5’13.914″ N 75°27’23.262″ W Cost: Entry to Valley Forge National Historical Park is free of charge.   Hours: Open daily, year-round 7 AM to dark Facilities: Restrooms, snacks and refreshments are available to the visitor center. Knox Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Pennsylvania Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    [...]Read more...
Kidder Covered Bridge The Kidder Covered Bridge carries Kidder Hill Road across the South Branch Saxtons River, just south of the village center of Grafton, Vermont. The bridge was built about 1870, and is Grafton’s last surviving 19th-century covered bridge. It is the shortest historic covered bridge in Windham County, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The original covered bridge was constructed circa 1870, and was the town’s last 19th-century bridge until it was rebuilt in 1995. It is the county’s only example of a queenspost truss bridge, and is one of a handful of covered bridges in the state built with a skew. The bridge was replaced with a new wooden (covered) structure in April 1995. The Kidder Covered Bridge consists of a single span supported by two flanking timber queenpost through trusses. Iron suspension rods augment the vertical timbers in the trusses. Timbers, joined longitudinally by steel plates, have been added to the bridge under the trusses. The bridge has the form of a parallelogram, with. a skew of 15 degrees from the perpendicular between the flanking trusses. The abutments which support the ends of the bridge are constructed of stone· slabs faced with concrete. The bridge is 66 feet long and 15 feet wide, with a 12-foot roadway. On the exterior, the heavy timbers which form the queenpost trusses of the bridge are sheathed with flush boards hung vertically. Similar siding protects the ends of the trusses immediately inside the portals. There are no windows or openings in the siding. The gable ends are flat and sheathed with vertical flush boards. The roof of the bridge is covered with corrugated metal sheeting.   Where it is: The Kidder Covered Bridge is located about 0.3 miles south of the center of Grafton Village, on Kidder Hill Road. Address:  99 Water St #53, Grafton, VT 05146   Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on map for a larger version. GPS: 43°10’8.664″ N 72°36’19.116″ W   Cost: There is no cost to visit the Kidder Covered Bridge. Hours: The bridge is on a public road and is always open.   Facilities: There are no facilities at this location. Location Contact Information: Grafton Town of Grafton, Vermont Municipal Web-Site Kidder Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Vermont: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Groveton Covered Bridge The Groveton Covered Bridge is located in Groveton Village, in the town of Northumberland. Built in 1852 by Captain Charles Richardson and his son, the Groveton Bridge is 126 feet long, has a clear span of just over 108 feet, and its overall width is 21 feet. The bridge spans the upper Ammonoosuc River, and connects Route 3 in Northumberland to Route 110 in Groveton. The Groveton Bridge is an example of a Paddleford truss bridge, a truss style developed by Peter Paddleford of Littleton, New Hampshire. The Paddleford truss, found only in New England, is an unpatented regional variant of the Long truss style that was originally developed by Stephen H. Long. The Long truss is made entirely of wood and the diagonal members are under compression while vertical members are in tension. The fact that almost all Paddleford truss bridges, including the Groveton Covered Bridge, eventually required strengthening suggests an inherent design flaw. Fortunately, the flaws were able to be remediated with relative ease by adding Burr arches to the structures. The Burr arch, invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, is a combination of an arch and multiple kingposts, one of the simplest truss styles consisting of two angled supports leaning into a common vertical support. The Groveton Bridge was bypassed following the reconstruction of Route 3 in 1939. Covered bridge restoration experts, Milton Graton and his son, Arnold, repaired the bridge between the years of 1964 and 1965. Historically, covered bridges were a popular infrastructure investment towns made throughout New England and the northeast. Timber was an abundant resource, and the remote location of the desired crossing often necessitated a small bridge. The humid Northeastern climate favored wooden construction, and in order to keep a wooden bridge sound for a much longer period of time, the bridge was constructed with a roof which protected it from the elements, allowing a covered bridge to be used for a century or more. The Groveton Covered Bridge is no exception, as the bridge has remained a sound structure (with repairs) for over 160 years. Where it is: East of U.S. Route 3 in the village of Groveton/Northumberland New Hampshire over the Ammonoosue River.   Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.   GPS: 44°35’44.502″ N 71°30’39.282″ W Cost: There is no cost to visit the bridge. Hours: The bridge is accessible at any time. Facilities: There is a picnic area at the bridge, there are no restroom facilities.  The bridge is located on the edge of town where there are restaurants and stores. Location Contact Information:  The bridge is maintained by the town of Northumberland New Hampshire PO Box 128 17 Catherine Street Gansevoort, NY 12831 (518)792-9179 Groveton Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in New Hampshire Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Bridges of Madison County 19 covered bridges were built in Madison County Iowa during the late 19th Century. The bridges were covered to protect the roadway, because it was cheaper to replace the boards of the roof and walls, then the heavy beams of the actual bridge. The 6 covered bridges which remain in Madison County, Iowa, were made famous by the Clint Eastwood movie The Bridges of Madison County. The Movie The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama film based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment. The film was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with Kathleen Kennedy as co-producer and the screenplay was adapted by Richard LaGravenese. The film is about an Italian war bride, Francesca (Meryl Streep), who lives with her husband and two children on a farm in Iowa. In 1965, she meets a National Geographic photographer named Robert (Eastwood) and has a four-day extramarital affair with him that changes both their lives forever. The film earned $182 million worldwide and was well received by critics. Streep received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination in 1996 for her performance in the film. Admission & Hours  Open year-round, no closures Entrance Fees There are no fees to visit the covered bridges. Maps: Map provided by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Click on map for a larger version. Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Facilities All facilities are located in Winterset, which is in the middle of the bridges. Location Contact Information: Madison County Chamber of Commerce 73 Jefferson St. Winterset IA 50273 515.462.1185 chamber@madisoncounty.com Visitor Center Hours May through October 9:00 to 4:00, Monday – Saturday Noon to 3:00, Sunday November through April 10:00 to 3:00, Monday – Friday Nearest City or Town:  Winterset Iowa Bridges of Madison County Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Iowa: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Bollinger Mill State Historic Site After receiving a Spanish land grant, George Frederick Bollinger led a group of families from North Carolina to this area and in 1800 began construction of a mill and dam on the Whitewater River. The mill quickly became successful and by the 1820s, a road linked Bollinger Mill with surrounding communities. Bollinger himself became well known, entered politics, and served as a senator in Missouri’s first general assembly. mill machinery inside the millThe mill and dam, originally constructed from logs, were rebuilt in stone in 1825 and this limestone foundation and dam are still visible today. When Bollinger died in 1842, his daughter, Sarah Daugherty, and her two sons continued to operate the popular mill. During the Civil War, Union forces burned the mill to prevent the passing of flour and meal into rebel hands. Only the stone foundation survived. After the war, the family sold the mill and 640 acres to Solomon R. Burford, who rebuilt the mill of brick upon the original stone foundation. The present-day, four-story stone and brick mill was completed in 1867 and Burford’s initials are still visible on the wall inside the front door. It was probably at this time that the method of powering the mill was changed from a water wheel to a more efficient, water-driven turbine. It was also at this time that the town of Burfordville came into existence. Construction of a covered bridge, begun before the war, was completed in 1868 and linked Burfordville to the main road. Made from nearby yellow poplar trees, the bridge was built by Joseph Lansmon, a well-known builder from Cape Girardeau. He used a Howe truss design, wherein diagonal wooden compression members are used with vertical iron rods in tension to form trusses. Historical records show that there was a toll house on the east end of the 140-foot-long bridge. several vintage old cars parked in front of the millFrom 1897 to 1953, the mill was owned by the Cape County Milling Co. After the milling company went out of business in 1953, the mill was sold to the Vandivort family, relatives of George F. Bollinger. The Vandivorts, interested in seeing the mill preserved, donated it to the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society in 1961, who in turn donated it to the state in 1967. That same year, the Missouri legislature authorized the state park system to maintain all four of Missouri’s remaining covered bridges.   Burfordville Covered Bridge is the oldest remaining covered bridge in Missouri. Joseph Lansmon began its construction in 1858, but it is unclear if the bridge was completed before or after the Civil War. The bridge was not mentioned in St. Louis newspaper accounts of the 1861 burning of Bollinger Mill, located next to the bridge. After the Civil War, the bridge became a vital link, especially to farmers driving wagonloads of grain destined for the mill. The bridge exhibits Howe-truss construction, named for William Howe, who patented the design in 1840. The essential feature of the design was its use of vertical iron rods to draw the diagonal wooden members tight against the top and bottom of the truss. The Howe-truss span was built mainly of yellow poplar. Burfordville Covered Bridge, which spans the Whitewater River, is 140 feet long and has a clearance 14 feet high and 12 feet wide. The road going through the bridge was part of the toll-road system between Burfordville, Jackson and Cape Girardeau. At that time, toll roads and bridges were commonly operated as private businesses. Tolls were charged until 1906 when local farmers, tired of waiting for the courts to abolish the tolls, broke down the gates and used the roads without paying. Although there were many advantages to the shelter provided by the roof and sides, the main purpose behind covering the bridges was to protect the intricate structural network of iron and timber trusses from the weather. The coverings also added strength, which reduced sagging and listing. Riders in uncovered buggies and carriages often used the bridges as shelters from wind, snow and rain. What to Photograph The historic mill, the dam on Whitewater River, and the Burfordville Covered Bridge. Where it is: Directions: From the intersection of US-61 and MO-34 (south of downtown) in Jackson take MO-34 west approximately 7 miles to County Road 360. Take a left and go south on County Road 360 approximately 2 mile to Bollinger Mill Road. Turn left on Bollinger Mill Road and proceed to the site. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.   GPS: 37°22’5.867″ N 89°48’10.865″ W Cost: There is no fee for access to the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site. Hours: PARK HOURS Historic Site Grounds: Sunrise to sunset, year-round (except New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas days) BOLLINGER MILL HOURS Tours: Tours are given on demand. Summer Hours (On-Season) March 15 through Nov. 15 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday (last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.) Noon – 4 p.m., Sunday (last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.) Winter Hours (Off-Season) Nov. 16 through March 14 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday through Saturday (last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.) Noon – 4 p.m. Sunday (last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.) No tours are offered on Tuesday or Wednesday. The historic site is closed New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas days. HISTORIC SITE OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round Facilities: Presently, there are two accessible picnic tables. Picnic sites are accessed over natural turf. The vault toilet is accessible via a concrete ramp and there is an accessible parking space. An accessible drinking fountain is along a concrete path near the parking space and vault toilet. Location Contact Information: Bollinger Mill State Historic Site 113 Bollinger Mill Road Burfordville, Missouri 573-243-4591   Bollinger Mill Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Missouri: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Bay Covered Bridge BAY BRIDGE (1876) (Also called TINKER) Moved from its original site  over Little Raccoon Creek in 1967 (near Lake Rupert) to the Vinton County Junior Fairgrounds which is 1 1/2 miles north of McArthur on State Route 93. The move was precipitated by the construction of Lake Rupert. The bridge remains a unique attraction on the fairgrounds and is open to pedestrians. Where it is: Vinton County Junior Fairgrounds which is 1 1/2 miles north of McArthur on State Route 93. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: 39°16’10.71″ N 82°28’29.556″ W Cost: There is no cost to visit. Hours: Open when the fairgrounds are open, it is visible from State Route 93 North when the fairgrounds are closed. Facilities: There are facilities at the bridge which are part of the fairgrounds and only open during events. Location Contact Information: Vinton County Fairgrounds Map Unavailable Address 31471 St. Rt. 93 McArthur Ohio 45651 United States   Bay Covered Bridge Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Ohio Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...