Discussion: Bridges of the World July 2026

I think it’s just the three of us (Pagal, you, and me) and a few rare contributors who got the reference 😏 (Jean-Michel, no hard feelings in particular)

“That’s a very narrow-minded view” “Such obtuse criteria” You’re all set for summer!

Besides, until now I didn’t take part in this kind of contest, and I think this will be my last entry.

Don’t do that, Djalma! Many of your photos are interesting. They’re even more so because, until now, you’ve kept them to yourself without sharing them, while others overshare. Plus, Pagaljavab already discouraged a long-time participant last month—at this rate, there won’t be many of us left.

For years, participants have shared their photos here simply, without obsessing over winning or being pretentious, while others are full of themselves. As Rouquine says, it’s this diversity that makes this game so rich.

And if a photo “tells a story,” that’s ideal, but it doesn’t need ten lines of text to do the storytelling for it. For example, in Marien’s latest contest photo, I don’t just see “women hurrying along” and even less “the husbands, brothers, sons, and cousins (who) are still laughing and having a good time with their friends.” It’s the photographer who tells the story.

@Kate

You’re being quite touchy, Jean-Michel!

Isn’t it unusual here for one participant to comment on another’s vote?

It’s at least unusual here for one member to comment on another’s vote, isn’t it?

Hey Voyou, It doesn’t particularly shock me. Plus, it’s not the first time Pagal has said what he thinks, no filter. You just gotta reply, that’s all (without pulling a DQ 😛). And I agree with you about Djalma’s photos.

No bitterness at all... nothing like that! I entered the photo contest with the landscape (natural?) theme because I wanted to express myself there... then I continued with the bridge theme, even though I knew from the start I didn’t stand a chance. I should’ve sat this one out. I really liked your photo—it could’ve easily fit the "people strolling" theme ;)

Hi Jean-Luc,

This is really nonsense—there’s hardly a single accurate point in this comment. It’s a pile of unverifiable conflations and confusion.

Don’t do anything, Djalma! Many of your photos are interesting

But where was it ever said that Djalma’s photos weren’t interesting or that he shouldn’t participate in the contest? That’s completely off-topic.

For years, participants have shared their photos here simply, without the obsession to win, without pretension, while others are full of themselves.

If that’s a dig at me, it’s totally off-base. I’m a beginner photographer and really don’t have any pretension to win. I’ve only recently started joining contests and discussions because I’m just beginning to get into taking better photos and admiring others’ work.

As Rouquine says, it’s this diversity that makes this game so rich.

I said that too—see my previous message. Why try to suggest I think the opposite, except to be off-base again?

And then, Pagaljavab already discouraged a long-time participant last month: at this rate, there won’t be many of us left.

That’s the best part! All I did was ask for clarification on the contest theme, and this so-called Long-Time Participant chimed in strangely to say I was making a big deal out of nothing—which wasn’t the case at all. Everyone saw it. Besides, even Djalma defended me! Otherwise, I have nothing against Tamadeen—I didn’t ask him for anything—and I don’t want him to leave the contest. Why would I do that? It makes no sense. Go re-read instead of making up paranoid nonsense.

And if a photo “tells a story,” that’s ideal, but it doesn’t need ten lines to tell it for the photo.

You’re mixing up Marien’s comments with mine. We’re not the same person—that’s a total conflation. That said, it’s revealing.

Isn’t it unusual here for a participant to comment on another’s vote?

"What? He dared to challenge the norm and comment on photo choices in a discussion about photos?? Oh my God, how awful, what a terrible blasphemy!"

Anyway, can I ask why you’re so often on my case, responding negatively to my posts when I’ve never asked you for anything? Or trying to play "mosquito hunter," as you recently offered to do on an ongoing travel journal. Are you the forum’s guardian or something? Do you enjoy that?

What’s the point of writing such a pile of nonsense?

It's lively in here. 😄

As usual whenever the discussion turns to why this or that photo was chosen...😛

Good evening

This photo also reminds me of that period of exceptional cold, as exceptional as the heat we're enduring here this summer. The thermometer dropped below -10°, -12° every night. Across Rajasthan, they were picking up the dead—from the cold—every morning in the streets.

Uh! I’ve been trying for two days to find out more about this deadly cold wave in India and... nothing 😐

Could you cite some sources to back up this information, which completely slipped past me?

All I found was this:

https://forums.infoclimat.fr/f/topic/37275-record-de-froid-en-inde/

It’s true, though, that it wasn’t very warm that February morning in 2012 in Churu (Rajasthan)



and also:

Northern India experiences its coldest temperatures in over 20 years...

Huh! I’ve been trying to find out more about that deadly cold wave in India for two days and... nothing 😐

Hello, um... Are you questioning what I said? It was in 2010. It was so cold that everywhere in Orchha where I was at the time, people on the sidewalks were burning just about anything to keep warm: plastic cans, bike or motorcycle tires—exactly like in your photo—and even old shoes (unfortunately, I can’t find the photo in my archives). I had 5°C at night in my room despite the electric heater kindly provided by the guesthouse owner. The temperatures of -10°C, -12°C he mentioned were what he’d told me (found in my travel notes). Maybe they were exaggerated? Or more precisely, he must’ve heard that on the radio or TV but probably further north in Himachal Pradesh or Ladakh. Here, I’ve heard people talking about 43°C, even 45°C, and yet the official 39°C was more than enough without people adding to it... Mea culpa. I shouldn’t have mentioned unofficial, unverified temperatures. https://fr.cctv.com/program/journal/20100113/101503.shtml

As for the deaths, I got the information from major Indian newspapers available everywhere in hotels. Maybe you could focus your research in that direction.

Sometimes, it's just a crush...

Hello,

The photo contests in this forum have been taking a hyper-intellectual turn for a while now. If, like me, that's not your "thing," if, like me, you only take photos to enjoy yourself, then do like me (from now on):

- Don’t participate in the contests (just post photos in the discussion chapter, if you like).

- And don’t vote.

What I find most laughable are the comments explaining the votes (for "ego"...).

Cheers,

Puma2A

With the heatwave, I guess some brains are overheating... I’m worried.

...

Pagal, I converted your photo of the Tibetan bridge in Andorra to black and white and tweaked it a bit. Are you okay if I upload it here, or would you rather I didn’t? Let me know...

Hey Alain,

The discussions about the contest go through what we might call "technical" phases and more "let's have fun" phases.

It’d be a shame if the "technical" side completely took over because that aspect can make some people lose interest in participating.

(I’m not saying the "let's have fun" side should be the only one to stick around either. A mix of both would be perfect.)

For the vote, we should be able to add: the choice can be explained in two lines...😇😏

You could also send it to them via PM. ;)

You could also send it to them via PM.😉

I think you can't upload photos in PMs... or maybe by copy-pasting?

For the vote, we should be able to add: the choice can be explained in two lines...😇😏

For the vote, everyone does as they please. No one has to impose rules on how to vote or ask participants to justify their choice. Those who want to explain their decision have the right to do so. What’s with this debate about what we should or shouldn’t do? 🤪

At most, the organizer can set the tone. I’ve noticed that Isabelle likes to explain her choices and comment on photos. A helpful tip for those who want to improve, which includes me.

I don’t see how this takes anything away from others. What’s the actual problem?

The so-called deterrent effect didn’t work very well. Between 52 and 59 photos were shared from the staircases, landscapes, and bridges—😇

Some "regulars" came back this month: Gaura after a few months away and Lulumae. It would’ve been a shame to miss out on their photos.

New members joined us too: Djalma, Pagal, and Marien. It’s always enriching to see different perspectives, especially when the images are beautiful.

@Puma2A

- And don’t vote.

Especially when no photo meets your standards? 😇 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=11461953;a=11461953

I’d definitely vote for a stunning photo of a modern bridge over a failed shot of a vine bridge in the jungle, and vice versa—because it’s a photo contest, not an ideological one.

Oops, it’s an emotion contest 😉

We’re not on a photographers’ forum, but a travelers’ forum where people often share suspended moments captured sometimes even with a phone.

I like it because it gives a voice to amateurs 😛. And I learn things from the pros’ comments🙂

: Is that three planks up close or a bridge from far away?

The crevasse would be massive if it were a big bridge seen from a distance. 😮

The footbridge must have been about a meter wide and at most 10 meters long.😉

Didn’t you maybe get the reference wrong too? 😛

If the contest wants to stay alive, we’ve gotta avoid turning it into just another photo-forum competition.

In short, don’t make it niche or too obscure for most people.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get technical or point out what’s wrong with a particular photo.

But if that’s *all* it becomes, it’ll not only discourage some folks but also turn into a full-on brawl...

You can laugh about anything, but not with everyone—same goes for criticizing... (Even if the criticism is constructive.)🤪

I think some topics should be handled privately first. Especially retouching other people’s photos.

Yeah, you just have to copy and paste. 😉

If the photo isn’t already on VF, here’s how to add a photo to a PM:

You open a reply window on any thread. You insert your photo into the message.

You copy it once it’s uploaded to VF.

You paste it into your PM.

You delete the reply window.

In any case, the photo will only be visible for a few hours (maybe a day or two). If the person checks VF regularly, they’ll see it when they open the PM.

Thanks for your explanations... I wouldn’t have thought of that on my own! 😊

Hi, For the vote, Gaura’s photo description isn’t number 3 but number 2... Shows how a little explanation of the choice can be helpful!

Yeah, you can just copy and paste in that case.😉

If the photo isn’t already on VF, here’s how to add a photo to a PM:

You open a reply window on any thread. You insert your photo into the message.

You copy it once it’s uploaded to VF.

You paste it into your PM.

You delete the reply window.

In any case, the photo will only be visible for a few hours (maybe a day or two). If the person checks VF regularly, they’ll see it when they open the PM.

Ah, thanks so much for the explanation! That’s really helpful. I might need this another time if I have to send someone a photo in a PM.

To add my two cents, here’s a photo of two bridges spanning the Elorn River between Le Relecq-Kerhuon (near Brest) and Plougastel-Daoulas: In the foreground, the Pont de l'Iroise, a cable-stayed bridge opened in 1994. In the background, the Pont de Plougastel—later renamed the Pont Albert Louppe—opened in 1930, a reinforced concrete bridge with three spans. Since 1994, it’s been reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately, the older bridge is in very poor condition. It hasn’t been maintained well enough and can’t be preserved without major repairs. Yet, it’s still useful for commuting, sports (I often cycle across it), or just family walks. If it’s demolished, there’ll definitely need to be a replacement solution.

I think the problem is also the written form. Verbally, there’s a tone, a nuance in the voice that’s hard to convey in writing. I’m sure if they’d been face to face, things would’ve gone better, and they’d be sharing a drink to talk about travels or photos.

I couldn’t agree more. Especially since the near-total lack of punctuation (and ignorance of its meaning) these days makes it impossible to replace the tone and nuances of speech.

: Is that 3 planks in close-up or a bridge from far away?

The gap would be huge if it were a big bridge from far away. 😮

The footbridge must’ve been about a meter wide and max 10 meters long.😉

I don’t really know this kind of setting—I didn’t realize that. 😏😏

Details are welcome too, but you still gotta recognize a bridge



On the Niger River

If anyone would like to improve this quick shot, I’d really appreciate it (I’d love to get better too, even if we’re starting from scratch ).

Great viewpoint for these two bridges that seem to merge into one, even though they’re about fifty meters apart over the Elorn. A little music to lighten the mood? 🙂 Brest by Gérard Delahaye Brest, Gérard Delahaye

@Pagaljavab

That long rant (post 305) really proves anger seriously clouds understanding. Cutting ties, huh? 🤪

Since there are still a few days left before the end of the month, I thought I’d share some photos of two bridges in Cornwall.

Hello, For the vote, the description of Gaura's photo isn't number 3 but number 2.. shows that a little explanation of the choice might be useful !

Oops, yeah, that's right... But I don't know how to change my vote 😕 @Rouquine38 you following?...

Hello, For the vote, Gaura’s photo description isn’t number 3 but number 2... shows how a little explanation of the choice can be useful!

Oops, yeah, that’s it... But I don’t know how to change my vote 😕 @Rouquine38 you following?...

No worries, Michaël, I’ll take it into account when counting the votes

Hi there, Just replying briefly since I'm in the mountains and only have my phone (same as when I take photos—I’ve never owned a camera). I’m also responding to everyone here. I’d like to clarify for Pagal that I don’t hold any animosity toward him, and when I asked to cancel my vote if the criteria I’d chosen were off-topic, I was addressing all voters, not him specifically. Also, my decision to stop participating in the photo contest was already made before his comment, so he’s not responsible for that choice. I’m just aware that I was "off the mark." I’ll add that I was pleasantly surprised by Voyajou’s message. After Pagal’s comment, I was expecting another earful 😅

Good evening, I’m replying briefly since I’m in the mountains and only have my phone (same as for taking photos—I’ve never owned a camera). I’m also replying to everyone. Just to clarify for Pagal: I hold no animosity toward him, and when I asked to cancel my vote if the criteria I used were off-topic, I was addressing all voters, not him specifically. Besides, my decision to stop participating in the photo contest was already made before his comment, so he’s not to blame for that. I just feel like I’m "off the mark." I’ll add that I was pleasantly surprised by Voyajou’s message. After Pagal’s comment, I was expecting another earful. 😅

Please don’t leave. I’m just like you with my little phone—I don’t have the skills or the desire to improve my photos, but I’m happy when someone seems to appreciate them.

Everyone sees this contest their own way, and it’s always great when perspectives differ. Keep showing us your photos and your way of seeing things

Question: where’s the asymmetric bridge posted earlier? I would’ve voted for it if it had been in the contest, even with the cars—pretty discreet to me. If it’s in a neighboring country, I’d definitely go check it out...😉

If the opportunity arises, like a contest about mountain lakes for example , I might give it another shot... For now, to stay on topic, here’s a bridge—a modest stone bridge in the Oisans massif where you can find a bit of coolness right now, but a real bridge that saves hikers from getting their feet wet 😉 I’ve included the history of the place (which, for some unknown reason, appeared at the top) for those who might be interested. Have a great end of the day, and thanks for your input. P.S.: Attached is a photo of a lake near the little stone bridge...

Only a few hours left to vote! 😊 I’ll post the results tomorrow morning 👍

Just two more little bridges in the mountains before the descent into the scorching heat :D The second one is pretty basic but really useful. And as a bonus, a waterfall to cool off the voters :D

Hi Noëlle, I suggested the asymmetrical bridge you mentioned in post 147. This bridge is located in Italy (Tuscany region). It’s called the Ponte della Maddalena (or Devil’s Bridge) and spans the Serchio River. The Serchio is the river that flows through Lucca. To get to the bridge, follow the Serchio upstream from Lucca; you’ll end up in a valley wedged between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines. This small region (valley + mountains) is called Garfagnana: that’s where it is, in the municipality of Borgo a Mozzano.

This should encourage you to go see it, given your fondness for Tuscany.

If you do, you can kill two birds with one stone: the bridge I submitted in the photo contest (photo 3, post 38) is located about 10 km from the previous one, on the Lima River, a tributary of the Serchio. It’s a historic bridge, one of the first suspension bridges in Italy, called the Ponte delle Catene (Chain Bridge).

I’ve seen suspension bridges before (the classic elements are there), but I was surprised by the materials used.

The piers. They’re made of stone with a "prestigious" design: triumphal arches. (I’d only seen concrete or metal before.)



The "cables." They’re not cables but chains made of wrought iron, crafted with astonishing care. In my opinion, steel cable manufacturing wasn’t mastered at the time, so these chains represent the bridge’s technical feat. (I’d only seen steel cables before.)





I won’t say anything about the suspenders.

The deck is wooden. You can see this clearly in the contest photo. Minimal deck weight? That probably stopped once metal or concrete beams became common. (I’d only seen metal or concrete before.)



This bridge really interested me: it’s "listed," meaning it must be preserved for its heritage value in the history of engineering. I’ve strayed far from the photography aspect to focus on the bridge’s construction....

Right now in La Gomera, I’m just catching up on the latest exchanges 😊

Regarding the debate sparked by the exchanges between Pagaljavab and Djalma, I think the issue is also the written form. In person, there’s a tone, a nuance in the voice that’s hard to convey in writing. I’m sure if they’d been face to face, it would’ve gone better, and they’d be sharing a drink to talk about travel or photos.

Beajourbrez nailed it! I don’t hold any animosity toward you either, and I think it’d be a shame if you stopped participating. If I commented on your photography choices, it wasn’t at all to tell you to vote differently. I’d simply noticed that, like in previous contest themes, you excluded all modern elements and dismissed them in your comments as if they had no value. That said, I love untouched natural landscapes just as much as you do. Proof? I even voted for one of your photos in the last contest, and you’re definitely not off base. But I also appreciate beautiful urban and industrial landscapes—one doesn’t exclude the other, in my opinion. Of course, you’re entitled to prefer only natural landscapes. I might’ve been a bit blunt when I brought it up, but there’s no ill will—it’s just how I express myself. I enjoy debate and controversy, but always with the goal of comparing perspectives and learning from each other. No hard feelings, and please keep participating!

This long rant (message 305) that confirms anger seriously harms understanding. We’re burning bridges!? Crazy

Are you talking about your rant or mine? 😅 I’m not one to hold a grudge, and on this point at least, I agree with Nicolas: "If you come back, I’ll cancel everything." So, Cécilia?

Beajourbrez summed it up well! I don’t hold any animosity toward you either, and I think it’d be a shame if you stopped participating.

Honestly, I thought your comments were justified. I’d have reacted the same way if, in a rugby discussion, someone who knew nothing about the sport had suggested changing or simplifying its rules.

Actually, photography has never really interested me. When I was young, I used to carry a camera that developed photos instantly (I think it was called a Polaroid). In the most remote places, I’d use it (along with my harmonica and a deck of cards for magic tricks) to get a warm welcome from the locals. The country where I used it the most was Ceylon (Sri Lanka). I’d photograph entire families (at their request!) lined up in a row, then each daughter separately! You can imagine the kind of photos that produced! But it made people happy, and that was the point. They remained the sole owners of their images 😊 I think you can take beautiful photos of wind farms, power lines, big metal bridges, or even the towers in the 93 where I spent my childhood. But personally, since I’d never want to take that kind of photo, I can’t bring myself to photograph what I find ugly. Here, looking at some of these photos, I feel like a child in front of a Picasso painting. My little girl once told me, "That man doesn’t draw well—my drawings are much prettier!" It’s possible I’ll join a contest again if the theme speaks to me. I did it for a forest theme on another forum and here on the "landscape" topic. Once again, no hard feelings. I enjoy reading all your posts about India, which I love.

Hi Jean Luc, Sorry I didn’t reply to your request sooner—I’ve been really busy lately with my grandson 😊

Here’s a suggestion for your photo: I chose the pole as the subject with the Niger River in the background for a more minimalist shot. - Straighten the perspectives and center the pole since it’s the main focus. - Format change: I think 16:9 works better to remove the sky, which doesn’t add much. - Black & White: to keep it minimalist, B&W works really well when there isn’t a well-defined color, like in this case. - Lighten the pole and railing, darken the banks to draw the eye toward the background (it would’ve been perfect if it were centered 😅).

The resolution isn’t great—I couldn’t do exactly what I wanted, but here’s a suggestion. Let me know what you think.

Thanks so much, Isabelle, for this touch-up. I also got another one with a Tuareg blue sky. In both cases, I’m having the horizon straightened, but other tweaks are more personal. Clearly, your suggestions are less jarring to the eye, and we go from a mediocre ‘souvenir photo’ to a nearly presentable shot (wasn’t a given ).

Here’s a new game idea: A beginner looking to improve or a confirmed amateur (I can volunteer for that) posts a photo, and experienced photographers suggest improvements.

P.S. I should stop here, but I really need to respond to Nicolas’s caption

Hi Isabelle,

The Tuareg blue edit Jean-Luc mentioned is mine 😉 I’m posting it here and reattaching the original. I like your version—it’s modern and quite creative—but I find it too personal. Actually, you turned it into a completely different image from the author’s. It’s not a criticism, just an observation that leads me to this question: should we push editing that far? It’s fun to play around with our own photos, but what about others’?

I just adjusted the lighting, contrast, and colors (removed some yellow) and, of course, straightened the horizon. I kept the original framing, which highlights three horizontal sections.

Hello Kate, Yes, you're absolutely right—it's just my own take on this photo, which is totally different from the original 😉. I asked myself how to make the photo more "attractive." The tones weren’t bold enough, and there weren’t enough pixels to avoid degrading the image. So, I decided to completely rework it and came up with this version.

...a realization that still leads to this question: should we push editing this far?

Yes, it’s always the eternal debate—should we edit our photos or not? There are two ways to develop/edit a photo: - Either you stay as close to reality as possible. Most pro photographers say 90% of the work happens in the field. That’s what I try to do most of the time. - Or you completely transform the original photo into something much more creative and personal. I love "fine art" photography—graphic, minimalist—but it takes a ton of time in post-processing. You can also create something artistic straight out of the camera 😊.

It’s fun to play with your own images, but what about others’?

Jean Luc asked if I could improve his photo, which is the only reason I took the liberty of offering a different take on it. Based on his response, I don’t think he was offended.

Hi everyone,

Just to keep the thread alive a bit...

Offshore, the bridge between Denmark and Sweden that I took yesterday, and here’s the view from Sweden a few hours ago 😊

Hello Your photo #3 looked familiar to me.... I’ve got (almost) the same one under the sun 😉



Indeed! Did you cross it?

Oh really! Did you cross it, then?

My memories are pretty fuzzy now 😇... I think I did, but on foot because cars weren’t allowed (another bridge had been built a few meters away).