There are photographs you plan carefully, and there are photographs that seem to happen while you’re waiting.
This was a little of both.
I was along the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as daylight was fading. The sun was gone, but the sky still had that rich blue color that lasts for only a short time. It’s one of my favorite times to photograph a city. The harsh daylight is gone, the lights begin to come alive, and everything seems a little quieter.
Then there was the bridge.
The bridge had been illuminated in blue for autism awareness. Against the darkening sky, the blue lights stood out across the river. Their reflections stretched across the calm water, broken only slightly by the gentle movement of the river.
I set up my camera and waited.
I’ve learned over the years that some of my favorite photographs come from doing less. Don’t rush. Don’t keep moving. Just stand there and watch what happens.
As the last bit of daylight disappeared, more lights appeared in the buildings along the Harrisburg skyline. The reflections grew longer and softer. For a few minutes, the city seemed to slow down.
That’s what I remember most about making this photograph. The message of autism awareness was visible without being loud. It was simply part of the evening, shining across the water.
I’ve photographed plenty of dramatic landscapes and busy city scenes, but sometimes a quieter photograph stays with me longer.
Maybe that’s because a little blue light on a bridge can be more than something beautiful to photograph. It can also remind us to pay attention to something that matters.