Photographing The Newest Man-Made Marvel

Photographer Jamey Stillings speaks very casually about his relationship with bridges. Even though his photo studies began over 20 years ago when he was an MFA student. Even though he has been obsessively documenting the construction of the Colorado River Bridge at the Hoover Dam for over year. Oh, and he almost forgot to mention that his son's name means "bridge" in another language. In fact, Stillings seems almost surprised at the recurring theme.

Hide caption Lake Mead, near Hoover Dam, March 4, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Arizona view, March 5, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Nevada arch segment, April 29, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Ironworkers on arch, April 30, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Nevada arch foundation, May 21, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption View of arch segment from Arizona side of Black Canyon, June 29, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Colorado River Bridge, aerial view of bridge and Hoover Dam, June 30, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Colorado River Bridge, view from atop the pylons, or towers, toward the evening sunset in Nevada, July 1, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Cable stays extend from the pylons, or towers, down to their anchor points on the Arizona side, July 1, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Colorado River Bridge, the arch is complete, view toward Nevada, Sept. 9, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Bridge, dam and Lake Mead, Oct. 21, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Nevada side pier construction, Nov. 24, 2009 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Colorado River and Black Canyon, Feb. 3, 2010 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings)

Hide caption Tub girders aerial view, Feb. 3, 2010 Previous Next (Photos by Jamey Stillings) 1 of 14 i View slideshow

"Certain types of projects encourage you to keep going," he explained over the phone. Almost accidentally, Stillings stumbled across the construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass while on a road trip last year, and beheld the sight with awe. What began as a few photos has morphed into a full-fledged documentary project — because he keeps finding reasons to go back. Or, as he puts it, the project encourages him to keep going.

The bridge is being built for various reasons, mostly to alleviate traffic congestion. Once complete, "it will be the longest concrete arch span in North America and the fourth longest in the world," Stillings wrote in an e-mail, citing Dave Zanetell, project manager of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project.

He explains that his ongoing series, which was initially featured in a 2009 architecture issue of The New York Times Magazine, is a "win-win" undertaking. Engineers will enjoy it. The government will appreciate it. Historians and, this goes without saying, photographers will love it. Even the philosophers in us will have fodder for thought: "The bridge challenges us to examine the juncture of nature and technology on a scale that is both grand and human," Stillings writes in his artist's statement.

toggle caption Jamey Stillings

My initial reaction was: "Who would have thought construction could be so majestic!" But Stillings' aerials, russet dusk landscapes, and night panoramics are a fresh take on classic American West photography. In a sense, he's continuing the legacy of photographers like Lewis Hine, who documented the construction of the Empire State Building.

Stillings will continue photographing until the bridge is complete at the end of this year. As for what will come next ... he'll cross that bridge when he gets there.

Learn (and see) more on his Web site.

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