Mississippi River bridge

The bridges at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Early Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010

More sights from the old bridge

Here are some other photos of boats and barges taken from the old Mississippi River bridge during the Over the River Run Saturday. The top photo is one that most people didn't see, the Sheriff's Department boat patrolling underneath the bridge before and during the race. I appreciate Sheriff Martin Pace and his staff for that.

This was an unusual thing to see — three tows pushing barges and even the supply boat hooked up alongside. I have never seen a configuration like this on the river. And to think it passed by me on the one day I was on the bridge!

This is the view that greeted us in the first few moments when we stepped on the bridge that morning.
I love to watch the wheelwash. Talk about power!

Barges under the bridges

My good buddies Sam Andrews, Robert Walker and Paul Ingram and I shot photos during the Over the River Run for executive director Annette Kirklin to use in the coming year. We had a blast being on the bridge and enjoyed shooting photos of all the runners. Annette is getting all our photos, so I won't steal her thunder and post any here. But we did have the fortune of having several tows and barges go under the bridge during the event. Here are some of those shots. What a neat experience!

Random shots

Below are photos that I have enjoyed taking the last few weeks, but never found a day to post them:Bluebird, Vicksburg National Cemetery, 05.25.09

A precious tombstone in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 05.25.09 (I always find something new to shoot everytime I go to this cemetery.)

High water at City Front, 05.30.09

High water at Bovina Rail Trestle, 05.25.09

Bayou near Eagle Lake at sunset, 04.25.09

Cypress at Steele Bayou, 05.24.09

Storm's coming, Mississippi River Bridges in Vicksburg, 05.03.09

Sunset at the bridges

I was so blessed to be able to see the sun set on June 29 at the Mississippi River Overlook next to the Welcome Center. The sun is setting right behind the bridges at this time of the year and offering spectacular photographic opportunities. And even if you don't take photos, the view itself is worth seeing. The cloud formations always make for a great sunset, but I have never seen a bad sunset! God makes them all a wonderful experience! Life getting you down? Feeling overwhelmed? Go watch a sunset. And know that the creator of that glorious sight is watching out for you each day...every day.....today....

Moon over Vicksburg

An astronomical anomaly had the moon in the western sky the other day, making for some beautiful photos at dusk. These were taken at City Front, the Old Court House Museum and the Mississippi River bridges. What colors! It doesn't get any better than this!

Sunset in Vicksburg

There is no better way to spend the end of a day that reveling in God's Glory through watching a beautiful sunset. We are blessed with a wonderful one each day along the Mississippi River. These were taken from the railroad tracks above Golding Barge's new headquarters, which is on the river right past DiamondJacks Casino. They have a birdhouse erected next to the river and it was swarming with purple martins. Then out of the blue, two geese appeared and settled on the bank right near the birdhouse. They flew off into the sunset a few minutes later and that is the photo you see in the sequence. Photos just don't do the sunset justice, however, and I consider myself blessed to have seen it in person.

Sunset on Dabney Street

Drive to the end of Dabney Street, just off Oak Street, and you can catch this view of the sun setting on the Mississippi River. It's a million-dollar view in my book.

High water at Vicksburg

The river is certainly rising at Vicksburg. These two photos were taken from the DiamondJacks Casino parking lot last week when the water had just hit the flood stage of 43 feet. The photos were taken just after sunset and the sky threw some wonderful colors on the water. I couldn't decide whether I liked the vertical or horizontal photo better, so I just posted them both! Go by City Front when you get a chance and see for yourself the progression of the floodwater. It's an impressive sight. 

The bridges at sunset

OK, I admit it. I'm a River Bridges/Sunset-lovin' junkie. There! I said it. Out loud. And I am not afraid to confess! I can't help myself. It's one of the most beautiful sights I can imagine and hate to miss a single one. These two were taken on two nights last week. I have been experimenting with the couple of trees that can be used in the photos, placing them in the foreground.  And can you tell me which pictures were taken on one day and the others on another? Just look at the flag! It's billowing in two different directions!