Hawthorne Bridge, Portland, Oregon

Even the Queen of Squares admits sometimes only a oblong will do; and the photo above is a case in point. The bridge didn’t look right squared up close. It deserved an oblong.

Hawthorne Bridge is one of twelve that cross the Willamette River in Portland. It is a truss bridge with a vertical lift. Built in 1910, it is the oldest bridge of its type still in operation in the United States. It is painted in green with red trim, but it was once yellow-ochre. Now that colour would have been perfect for a golden rectangle but the above image is not that shape either.

So here’s a square to make sure I meet the main rule of the Squares Challenge.

Steel Bridge, Portland, Oregon

The squared eyed members of the Squares Gang will have spotted it is not just the shape of my second image that looks different, the content looks different too. That’s because whilst the bridge pictured is a truss bridge with a vertical lift crossing the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon it is not the same bridge.

This is Steel Bridge, built in 1912 and it replaced a 1888 double-deck swing bridge of the same name. As you can see it still has a double-deck but they are now moved with vertical lifts. On the lower deck are pedestrians, cyclists and trains and on the upper deck light rail and road traffic. Amazingly each deck moves independently of the other, and the lower one telescopes into the higher one when the lift is fully raised. Now that’s impressive geometry!

113 thoughts

    2. me again – I think the WP gremlins are hiding some of my comments this morning, so please do explore your spam folders if you have a chance

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. ah sorry it is because I approve the direct links, and so they only get approved as and when I am online. A link in a comment should always appear though 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Phew. Glad you finally got in a square. I thought for a moment you were going rogue on me. 😉😘. I do agree that sometime only a rectangle gives the best look to a photo. But since we’re doing squares…

    Either I can’t put in a link while on your site or it doesn’t show on the comment box. I’ll try from the Reader.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. thanks, and do hope you are finding my comments on your posts. I am leaving them but think the WP gremlins are hiding them in your spam folders

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. thank you, and no need to apologise I just wanted to make sure you knew so you could also leave a comment on Cee’s post. I’d hate her to miss your lovely feedback. She will be so appreciative of it

      Liked by 2 people

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