The Road Above by Chipka
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Description
It is something of an anomaly. Though surrounded by an almost romantic, though gritty, architectural reality, it defies its surroundings by virtue of its shamelessly minimalist, retro-futuristic appearance. Local custom endows it with a grim name: The Suicide Bridge. It earns this unofficial name from the dark fact that it is a place friendly to fatal jumps.
Or at least it was.
No matter, the name has stuck, and any local will describe the place to you, if you but ask what the Suicide Bridge is, or where it is located.
There is dark irony in this as well.
The existence of this bridge preserves the historical and architectural integrities of the neighborhoods it shadows; a restful, and intriguingly beautiful park meanders beneath it.
The structure itself—clearly modern, and of at least partially-Communist origin—speaks eloquently of a glance to the future. Indeed, from the right perspective, the bridge, spanning parks and apartments rather than water, strikes the eye in the manner of a scene from yesterday's science fiction. When I first saw this bridge, I thought: The Jettsons meets Metropolis. And only in Prague, could you see something like THAT.
There is dark significance to this bridge, as it's common nickname implies. And there is a history of fatal dives from one of its flanks or the other.
But there is a wordless grandeur as well, a certain, elegant necessity.
Like everything else in this city, or in others built by humans, it is in this interaction between light and dark, that the most intriguing things happen.
***
Postwork done in Photoshop. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and hopefully your week is off to a great beginning.
Comments (19)
MrsRatbag
In the same way that Disneyland has its trams and monorails that traverse the various "lands", letting you see their beauties before you choose to enter them on the ground level...this is just a much bigger and more real version! I could almost envision a whole world built this way, roads above the cities and guards on the offramps to check all entries and exits...which would probably lead to more fodder for the nickname. Beautiful composition and almost slightly sinister capture!
RobyHermida
Wonderful !
mbz2662
Intriguing composition and story.
auntietk
The juxtaposition is surreal. Your postwork is perfect for the subject!
SSoffia
BEAUTIFUL CAPTURE & WORK :)
Rainbowgirl
Again a great photo and even greater story, background, essay! Your way bringing new thoughts to well known situations or places always seduce me to secrete lyrical comments. I've resisted this time ;-)))
beachzz
Another of your amazing foto stories; you've got me hooked. I love learning all these little facts about a place I'll probably never see!!
Meisiekind
Fascinating! Denise said it best. Great work! :)
romanceworks
'a place friendly to fatal jumps'. Now that says it all. Your words and photos always take me on unexpected journeys of the heart and mind. CC
Mousson
Absolutely gorgeous !
NekhbetSun
Can't say much more than what's already been said....another winner Chip...really cool !
Art_Ramos
Love the image and your description!
ladyraven23452
GREAT WORK AS ALWAYS 10+
photostar
Quite interesting that such a modernist and minimalist bridge structure juts directly thru and above the older architecture of the city. Like the presentation of the photo.
Janiss
A gorgeous capture Chip... I adore!
Lunastar
Fabulous capture!
MagikUnicorn
Nicely presented my friend
dbrv6
Chilling. Excellent introduction and presentation.
KatesFriend
It dies impose as a strange historical anomaly that also seems to have always been there.