The iconic Bixby Bridge along Highway 1 --After passing over it on my way into Big Sur that morning, I knew that I wouldn't be leaving without capturing it. I had planned my day accordingly, and made sure I left town to arrive just in time for a sunset shot.
My timing was impeccable. However, upon my approach to the bridge, I was delayed by a highway patrol car stopped in the middle of the road - no signals, no explanation. After about 10 minutes of sitting in utter confusion, we (me and the handful of cars behind me) were finally allowed to pass.
There was still time to get the shot that I wanted. I knew exactly where I was going to pull off the road to set up my camera, but as I started to slow, and put on my blinker, I was immediately flagged down and prohibited to stop by what appeared to be crew members of some sort of production. As I drove on through in utter confusion, my heart sunk at the thought of missing my chance to get the one shot that I had waited all day for.
I kept driving for about a mile or so, and decided that I wasn't going to give up. I pulled off the narrow road, turned my car around and headed back, only to be stopped by another highway patrolman - a sitting duck, once again. We were finally allowed to pass, but again waved through and not permitted to stop. This time, I caught a glimpse of some camera rigging and a big shiny car and realized they were shooting a car advert.
Seeing all the trouble of the roadblocks, personnel, and equipment that the production crew was using to shoot on this bridge just made me want my shot even more. I drove down the road about another mile, found a nice vista point, and pulled over to wait. My window of time was closing fast, but I was determined to get at least one shot of the bridge before the day was done. I sat and watched the sun set - the vibrant yellows and oranges were fading to violet and then blues.
After deciding that I had waited as long as I could, I headed back once again towards the bridge. I looked around. No highway patrol. No camera crew members. I was home free. I ecstatically drove across, pulled over, whipped out my tripod and camera, shuffled over a few rocks and ledges, and with the last seconds of sunlight, finally captured this photo.
Ah, success!
