Hunters Sty Bridge, a photo from North Yorkshire, England

Photographer's Note

We regularly pass Hunters Sty Bridge when walking around Westerdale in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, but rarely are the conditions right to take a photo as it is almost always in dark shadow. In summer the trees cover it and in winter the sun never gets high enough in the sky. One day in spring we found the light to be right around lunch time.

Has anyone else noticed that if you set up your tripod, passing people are always interested in what you are photographing? While we were set up trying different angles, three different people stopped their cars, got out and took a photo of the bridge and then went on their way.

Oddly the bridge doesn’t go anywhere; it just sits there over the River Esk. Presumably back in the mists of time before the road was built, there was a cart track or pack horse path. There doesn’t seem to be much information out there, so I’ve no idea how it got its strange name. It is thought to have been built by the Knights Templar, who had a Preceptory in the nearby village of Westerdale between 1119 - 1309. The ribbed stonework underneath the arch is dated from around that time. If you look closely you can see the ribbing. It was restored in 1874 by the Duncombe family from Helmsley about 20 miles away. I presume at that time it was on their land.

I have marked the approximate place of the bridge on the map, (link right) but you can’t see it for the trees. It is opposite the cricket field. If you follow the trees you can glimpse the River Esk here and there.

Alternative in the WS

ISO100, FL42mm

Sistercosmo, yedirenk, plimrn, shevchenko, cbrman, Graal, Royaldevon, Philippe, holmertz, snunney, vasilpro, mortijo, ChrisJ, subhendu_bagchi, Cricri, carper, saxo042, josepmarin, gunbud, paura, bona, buscape, alvaraalto, Angshu, JCG, Emile, Longroute, Bluejeans, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sistercosmo (242) 2009-10-05 14:03

Hi my dear,

if I hurry up, I get the privileged of being the first!! :-)

Love all the details here, sharp and perfectly composed! Plus another great note. Fantastic!

Have a good night - it's late enough for you too! :-) Hugs!
Linda

gilou530 (34) 2009-10-05 14:07

salut kath
un pont pas du tout romain mais qui a du charme avec ces armoiries et dans une nature verdoyante, une lumiйre qui l'йclaire et lui donne du relief
amitiйs
gilbert

four (529) 2009-10-05 14:36 [Comment]

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john1 (4028) 2009-10-05 14:36

Hi kath,

Very beautiful composition with this bridge, I think he has a very specific architecture.
I am not an expert on the subject, it is original.
The details are superb and the trees that escorting beautiful.
The colors are a natural, beautiful lights clearly shown here.
Good evening kath.
john

devimeuxbe (58557) 2009-10-05 14:37

Hi Kath
This is a beautifull picture. The bridge in the trees is a nice vision. Good quality for this picture
all the best
Bertrand

Bartleby (13552) 2009-10-05 14:39

Hi Feather,
a well thought-of POV and an interesting light! Lovely bridge. WS is good as well but I have a slight preference for this one where the bridge is more visible.
The note made me laugh...I gotta try this thing with the tripod next to a busy road to see what happens!

Best,

Philippe

emka (158784) 2009-10-05 14:44

Hi Kath, it is funny observation about people interested in tripod. Probably they would notice themselves that something is interesting to shoot. i do not use tripod :( so i cannot tell about my experience. here you had splendid light conditions. Beautiful early spring photo.

Regards

Malgorzata

yedirenk (11244) 2009-10-05 15:16

Hi Kath,
very impressive old stone with nice architectural details.like an elegant ring..sharpness and ligth are excellent..sьperb presentation..tfs
greetings

Cevdet

jwmunro (286) 2009-10-05 15:54

Hello Kath -

A very attractive bridge to say the least. Your spring composition and lighting works very well. I see the yellow Daffie's are starting to bloom and they add a bit color.

Drop me a private e-mail and let us know how you civil duty went.

Thanks for sharing.

John

InasiaJones (31566) 2009-10-05 17:23

Hi Kath,

This bridge have character and I like the way you have framed it.

Light filtering through branches and leaves brings lot of textures. Good angle to see the narrow river coming in from a corner of the image and leading towards the bridge.

Somehow, I see an affinity with the photo from the door in Lanhydrock.

Cheers!

Andrй

plimrn (21344) 2009-10-05 19:08

Hi Kath,
As always, your instincts are good. The close-up detail of the bridge and the daffodils in the grass are just lovely. The patterns of sunlight and shadow are stronger here too. The WS shows the river better but there are many bridges and rivers...and of course your note is succint while still being detailed and inclusive.
HLJ, Pat

shevchenko (20560) 2009-10-05 19:16

Hello Kath,
What a beautiful and relaxing corner, the old bridge togather with the branches, grasses, lighting and shading create a poetic view. Lovely relaxing corner, sharp eyes to discover it, good frame, well done.
Sometimes I have the same experience, while I start it, immediately other passing people follow me to shoot the same view.
Ally

jurek1951 (42198) 2009-10-05 21:22

Hi Kath,
Really very nice your architecture photos this one is very sharp and very well composed.The lighting is fantastic.
Georg

cbrman (21685) 2009-10-05 22:35

Hello Kath,

Un trиs bel endroit ! Cet ancien pont porte des armoiries et semble solide et bien construit. J'aime bien ton point de vue qui laisse apparaоtre le cours d'eau et surtout les arbres qui sont trиs photogйnique.

A+

Dominique

pablominto (53746) 2009-10-05 23:00

Hello Kath,

A lovely bridge, still looking great after all those years!
The design can be found all over Europe, which makes me wonder if bridge building was an international trade, with experts moving from place to place from job to job...
A lovely spring atmosphere is recorded, with the beginning green and some wild flowers!

Greetings,
Pablo -

danyy (0) 2009-10-05 23:31

Bonjour Kath,
je reste sйduit sur chacune de tes photos, par les belles petites choses toutes simples que l'on trouve dans ce coin et ton art а trиs bien les photographier.
Mes compliments.
Daniel.

Graal (103040) 2009-10-06 0:11

Hi Kath,
fine construction of old bridge. Good composition and interesting note. Pleasant sight of the bridge in WS also. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

rodgerg (55767) 2009-10-06 0:34

Hello Kath,

A very nice and very bucolic place and an excellent shot. The POV is very well selected and the old birdge give a framing with a prospect to the barrier. Very plesant pay of shade. i like too the harmony between the green color and the another warm colors.
Have a nice day,
Roger

pajaran (117033) 2009-10-06 0:52

Dobro jutro, kod nas je poceo lep suncan dan.
Dobra arhitektura ...
Dobra kompozicija, dobre boje i ostrina snimka.
Traje dobri stari most.
Uspesan dan, zeli vam Paja.

dta (98848) 2009-10-06 1:11

Hello Kath ,
A superb old stoned bridge , very well framed .
perfect !
Regards

Royaldevon (86438) 2009-10-06 1:23

Hello Kath,

The first thing I usually notice about a photograph is the composition. This is superb! I love how you have the triangle of grass in the f/g with the stream beyond; then the bridge at right angles, leads the eyes across the frame.
Excellent sharpness and lovely shadows.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Philippe (11836) 2009-10-06 1:49

Hi, Kath. A very nice traditional bridge like the ones you still can find in England. In Belgium they have been demolished for a long time! As you say in your note, you've found a very good light here and the details of the bridge architecture are clearly visible. The stream is well used to lead us into the picture and the contrast between the bridge and the grass, where the first daffodils appear, is well marked. Nice view through the arch of the bridge.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

holmertz (103596) 2009-10-06 2:28

Hello Kath,
A beautiful bridge, almost hidden among the trees. This picture gets its real value through your note, e.g. from your description of how this was such a rare moment when the light-conditions were suitable. You certainly used that opportunity well. I espeially like the fine shadows of the trees.
Kind regards,
Gert

snunney (130967) 2009-10-06 4:21

Hello Kath,
Certainly an out of the ordinary bridge even if it doesn't lead anywhere these days. The detail in the stonework is beautifully rendered and I like the shadow play offered by the bare trees. Good light and natural looking colours.

vasilpro (41801) 2009-10-06 4:40

Hello Kath,
Excellent composition with lovely colors, very good POV, interesting architecture stone bridge.
Have a nice day, Vasilis.

mortijo (12828) 2009-10-06 5:04

Hi Kath, Excellent shot of this old bridge. Perfect composition and lively colors. Great note too. I used a tripod once shooting a sunset near my village. The car was parked off the road, and I was standing in the twilight on the other side. Number of atomobilists slowed down, thinking hat they were running in a radar control :-). They certainly didn't stop to see what I was doing.
Have a nice day
John

ChrisJ (172430) 2009-10-06 6:26

Hi Kath

Good repetition & graphism of the trees against the blue sky. Good sharpness & reflections in the placid stream. The bridge makes a superb focal & anchoring point. Good textural details on its facade. Tfs!

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2009-10-06 7:54

Namaste Kath,
nice presence of grey colour. It almost like monochromatic except the greens in foreground. Lovely way of water under the fantastic construction. The dry trees in background nicely balance the compo. Very well done. Tfs.
Have a nice time.
Subhendu

Cricri (176) 2009-10-06 8:06

Hi Kath
Belle note sur l'architecture et dйtails de ce vieux pont, un cadrage serrй pour mieux l'apprйcier, j'aime beaucoup aussi la vue plus йloignйe en WS, amusante le rйcit avec les personnes..
Friendship
cricri

carper (96) 2009-10-06 8:15

very nice Kath,
well composed shot of this old bridge, good contrast and fat colors, fine atmosphere, very nice photo job here.
regard jaap

saxo042 (38078) 2009-10-06 8:37

Hi Kath,
Interesting note and a very good picture. The bridge is well placed in your composition and the shadows of the trees, playing on the bridge, are an attractive part also. Funny note, I must admit that I sometimes like to take pictures of people taking their own pictures of something else. Maybe we will see yourself, taking this photo, here on TE...
Kind regards
Gunnar

Dyerco (10185) 2009-10-06 9:44

Hi Kath
I like both POV's that you provided. I love old stone bridges in the countryside. Something we don't get much of in BC. Must be my English roots. Anyway you have captured the textures well and it's nice to see daffodils blooming.
Cheers
Phil

PixelTerror (0) 2009-10-06 10:27

Hi KAth
Quite many trees overloading the image here and perturbating the reading a bit but I guess cutting them before taking the picture was not an option... Great soft light and nice heritage bridge allowing our friends the sheep to safely cross the river ;-)
Have a nice evening jY

josepmarin (59385) 2009-10-06 10:51

Hello Kath,
I like your way of catching the elegance of this bridge in an asymmetric framing and with an angle of vision slightly in diagonal, which creates a good 3D sensation and offers us a nice perspective of the landscape across its arch.
A superb management of the light, with a great chromatic result and a few beautiful shades.
Great work.
Best wishes,
Josep

darek1978 (13361) 2009-10-06 11:03

Hi Kath,
This is a really wonderful shot! The combination of the low POV and the old bridge really works well. The architecture of this bridge is very interesting so as your complete notes.
Thanks for sharing,
Darek

gunbud (34066) 2009-10-06 20:20

Hi Kath,
You have caught this old Roman style bridge in wonderful light that brings out all its craggy details and lays some tranquil shadows on its old stones.
Regards, Tom

baba_flies (8829) 2009-10-07 2:53

Hello Kath! Yes the light, so many times it is not possible to take decent shots when the leaves are all out but then we are there and find the solution we were always looking for. But there is also almost never a second chance because something is ALWAYS a little different but maybe a new side which is worthwile too to take a second look. Very peaceful mood in this one, the bridge is just beautiful. About the tripod: This is why I am a little shy sometimes to take it with me, THESE looks. Since I have my Nikon D300 people think that I am a professional photographer asking me very often if I am from the press :))) Pretty funny but also handy, I used this "privilege" to stand in the front line ... LOL. Have a good day ... Barbara.

mauro61 (53429) 2009-10-07 3:19

ciao kath,
bellissimo POV con la vista del ponte con gli alberi spogli intorno.
Belli i colori e la tonalitа che crea una particolare atmosfera.
buona giornata
maurizio

paura (25802) 2009-10-07 14:51

Kath,
A precious loose in the countryside well shown in this very well composed photograph.
I like especially the excellent framing and the well executed pp. Well done.

Regards

Paulo

bona (15057) 2009-10-07 20:47

Very funny your comment about people stoping when the tripod is set up. I never notice that next time I'll.

Beautiful old bridge. I'm glad for this nice day to you take this photo for us.

Thanks
Andre

batalay (41261) 2009-10-07 21:56

Hello Kath,

The conditions were optimum for this capture, and all the more pleasurable when the usual lighting is poor. Along with a superlative note, the bridge is restored not to 1874, but to its 13th century origins.

Warm regards from Virginia,

Bulent

Waylim (25436) 2009-10-07 23:31

Hi Kath,
So much detail under this bridge. Such a lovely early spring shot, very sentimental as we heading into fall. I see some of the wild flow starting to pop out of the carpet of green. the streams lead us right through the half dome of the bridge. Beautiful light and colors. Thanks Kath.
Way

buscape (6219) 2009-10-08 8:41

Hello Kath,
beautiful light on this old bridge. I especially like the shadows of the trees on it. Good natural colours and fine perspective. Sharpness and exposure is well done too. Thanks for your informative note and your patience to wait for the perfect moment (light) for taking this lovely shot.
Best wishes,
Helmut

alvaraalto (42804) 2009-10-08 13:24

Hi Kath,

End of next week I will visit Sussex for one week, so your pictures brings me in the right mood for England. As well as enjoying the landscape we hope to see (and hear) something of the Canterbury festival.

Groet Rob

bosskokoss (2272) 2009-10-08 22:54

Hello Kath. Well chosen viewpoint and well done composition! Interseting colours and good lighting. Regards Piotr.

Angshu (56760) 2009-10-09 4:48

Hello Kath
Interesting picture yet again...the trees create a kind of mesh which makes this quite different, of course thanks to your framing. Offcentre bridge, the grasses and the small yellow flowers on the right. The WS is also interesting, a wider view, but this is definitely much better. I liked your experience about people stopping by to photograph the bridge, seeing you with a tripod :-)
Best regards
Angshu

JCG (35153) 2009-10-10 7:29

Hello Kath,

You made the good choice by proposing this image like principal photograph, it is true that the sight of the bridge in its environment in WS is very beautiful with the river which runs in its center, but here we can appreciate the details of architecture well. I like much this light which threads through the trees giving of the interesting shades and also relief to the landscape. A pleasant walk Kath and thank you for the note.

With all my friendships and very good WE,

Jean-Charles

jusninasirun (17529) 2009-10-10 7:45

Hi Kath.

Beautiful details and framing of this bridge. The light and shadow are so well metered showing a very good post for TE.

Well done.
Jusni

Emile (20352) 2009-10-10 14:51

Hola Kath.
I am convinced that you make a great picture of anything you take for simpler it is, this is an example for which I admire you very much, a stone bridge surrounded by leafless trees and you create a magnificent photo, a superb composition. Thank you for teaching us.
Have a nice Sunday.
Best wishes.

coco (30439) 2009-10-13 9:28

Hi Kath.

Beautiful work with the composition on this photo and also very nice subject and exposure.
It looks a classical place and also a classical work.

Regards.

foozi (7101) 2009-10-13 18:52

Hi Kath,
really a very sharp capture of the bridge. The graphical effect bythe trees and the shadow give a god impact to the view. The clear water nd the diagonal positioning of the stream add beauty to the lndscape.
Well composed shot with pleasant view.

Regards,
Foozi

Longroute (19600) 2009-10-17 7:29

Hello Kath,

this is a photo which cannot be appreciate properly by the thumbnail, it's beauty and justification is due, in my view to the elegant lines of this old bridge and its lovely textures plus the fine and interesting arabesques created by the neaked tree branches. Yet without the sight of the bg beyond (and below) the arch of the bridge it would have lacked depth. Last but not least the light that filters through the branches gives to it a painting-like atmosphere.
Have a nice weekend,

Donato

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-10-22 12:50

Ola Kath ,
Que linda esta velha ponte de pedra, gostei das бrvores em volta dela , bons detalhes, bonitas cores, parabйns!!
Um abraзo Gonзalo

Didi (61589) 2009-10-27 10:33

Hi Kath
Nice view on the old bridge surounded by trees.
I dont't think so if there is another good POV
Very good lights.
Best regards

jmcl (14535) 2010-01-14 10:09

Hi Kath,

evocative place and bridge. I love the light and the contrast of the green against the old stone and leafless trees .. it is perfect that the bridge does not go anywhere. very nice. take care, John