Clapper bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

Postbridge,on Dartmoor,Devon.

This is the finest example of a clapper bridge in the county.
The clapper bridge straddles the East Dart River,just 20 meters from the main road bridge,built in the 1780's.
The bridge is constructed from four large granite slabs supported by three granite piers.The large slabs are each over 4m long and 2m wide and weigh over 8 tons each.

Clapper bridges are unique to the Dartmoor area.There are 30 bridges in total on Dartmoor, being constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries by medieval tin workers and farmers as crossings over the many small rivers that traverse the moorland.
[www.devon-online.com/towns/postbridge]

It is thought that the bridge replaced stepping stones.
The word 'clapper' probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon 'cleaca', meaning stepping stones or bridging the stepping stones.

It was a pleasant day with a cloudy sky, as is evident from this shot, and yet looking at the river you see a blue sky!Just my luck.

Thanks for looking.

Morgwathien, Tayon, LamCam, graffer, Wandering_Dan, jafadabret trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Morgwathien (596) 2007-08-18 11:38

Hello jean,
An interesting photo of an interesting place. The colours and details of your image are very good. the whole composition is excellent. Well done!
TFS
Barbara

Tayon (1840) 2007-08-18 11:58

Hi Jean
good capture and composition,
beautiful place and rock construction...
I liked the colors and the calm water under the bridge..
well done.
Taba/Tayon

LamCam (3603) 2007-08-18 11:59

Hello Jean
A nice example of England's Green and Pleasant Land! You have given us a good clear view of the bridge and just enough of the surroundings to give context. As for the grey sky,well that's summer 2007 for you.
Best Wishes Maggie

graffer (1764) 2007-08-19 1:29

Hello Jean,

A great composition - a pity about the pale sky - one of the problems with exposure in digital photography.

The diagonal of the flow of the stream leads the eye across the picture nicely, and there is good foreground interest.

To my eye the picture looks just a little too green, but that is really a matter of personal taste.

I might be tempted to warm it slightly in PP by putting a small amount of red into the colour balance adjustment.

Regards,

Peter.

Wandering_Dan (3263) 2007-08-24 16:10

Nice composition - very (or should I say "veddy"?) England. The grasses on the lower right balance the heavy green on the left.

Even though the sky was cloudy, since the river shows a blue reflection, I'd say you could "cheat" and add a bit of blue up above.

Standa (1861) 2007-08-29 12:47

Hi Jean,
composition of this picture is very nice. I like framing too, specialy the tree on left. I miss blue sky and from the photo is not evident that it was cloudy day. But maybe in original you can see it better then on a screen.
Regards,
Stanislav

ArisT (283) 2007-09-07 10:44

I haven't seen bridges like that before, and this makes it more interesting for me. Your point of view is very good, including the vegetation on the left and the stone footpath.

jafadabret (39983) 2007-09-08 8:43

Jean, c'est très curieux ces ponts ainsi construits, un peu comme les dolmens. J'aime la campagne qui lui sert de cadre avec la rivière sans doute poissonneuse.
Jacques

Hellas (5145) 2007-11-01 5:03

Hello Jean,
this is a beautiful image indicating the nature co-operating with the people's constructions. The PoV is very good and the light management worked successfully.
Thanks for sharing,
Athanasios.