Reflections Before Sunrise: The Forth Railway Bridge
Reflections Before Sunrise Submitted for the Letter R in Alphabet Soup NEW Challenge for The Best of R Challenge
The Forth Railway Bridge Queensferry Edinburgh Scotland: The 2.5 km. (1.5 mile) Forth Railway Bridge, the world’s first major steel bridge, with its gigantic girder spans of 521 m. (1710 ft.) ranks as one of the great feats of civilization. It was begun in 1883 and formally completed on 4 March 1890 when HRH Edward Prince of Wales tapped into place a ‘golden’ rivet.
I love this old bridge because it brings back many wonderful memories of my childhood as we travelled across it on old trains to Burnt Island and Kinghorn for day trips. Nostalgic, I know, but I have a fascination with things that influenced my life. I was always struck by it’s sheer size and complex construction. I even tried to build it once from matchsticks and glue.

I captured this picture on a cold and frosty morning in Nov 2008 when visiting my sick father in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. I’ll always remember the look on his face as I showed him this picture on my Nikon screen. He said, through his oxygen mask “WOW son, that’s brilliant!” Thanks dad!

Camera: Nikon D700 Lense 24-120mm.
“More Views of Edinburgh Scotland” Just click the pic to take you there.
Reflections Before Sunrise: The Forth Railway Bridge belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, Anything Edinburgh, Bridges, Dawn and Dusk Light, DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., European Everyday Life (add the place!), Freedom to Shine, Out of the Blue (75%+ Blue), Style! Class! Elegance! Excellence!, The Scots are Coming, Treasured UK Structures (TUKS), UK to Australia and Back and United Kingdom Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters






Jason Connolly
Wow, what a shot Don, very well done…
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Jason, thanks my friend. Don
shakey
Superb Don.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Shakey, thank you for that. Don.
Teresa Zieba
OMG Don, what a fabulous shot my friend. Excellent.
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Teresa, thanks for that. Don.
Kody J Ague
Great image, great story and brings back memories of my own… stuck in traffic for four hours trying to cross the stupid vehicle bridge when going “home” to Aberdeen.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Kody, I know what you mean about traffic, I was stuck in it all the way back to London from Edinburgh (snow, Ice, accidents,) ahhh! Thanks for viewing and commenting. Don.
rodsfotos
A wonderful low light image of this so famous bridge over the Forth Don, great perspective and your exposure was perfect, well done indeed,
Regards, Rod.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Rod, great to be back again:) Thanks for that my friend. Don.
grarbaleg
u r multi talented great capture light the whole thing is fab well done abundance to u
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Gararbaleg, thanks for your encouraging words. Don.
Catherine Veal
Don its amazing a beautiful sight for sure.x
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Catherine, thanks for that. Don.
Tom Gomez
An excellent morning shot Dave, I love this bridge and I can’t wait for the day when all the plastic sheeing comes off and the bridge is restored to its former glory.
Tom
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Tom, I get called all sorts, so don’t worry:) LOL. Thanks for that, I was wondering about the sheeting? I thought at first there were parts of the girders missing, until I zoomed in on one of my pics.
Tom Gomez
Oooops, sorry Don, not sure why I wrote “Dave” – hehehe
Cora Wandel
Dave, I mean Tom, no no, Don! Don, this is a great photo, love the image and words!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Cora, you make me laught you do:) LOL. Thanks for that. Don.
Tom Gomez
They have been repainting and repairing the bridge for a few years now, they are due to finish sometime in 2011. That day you will not be able to move on either side of the Forth for photographers jostling for the best shot. I’ll probably be there too.
DonDavisUK replied
You never know Tom, I may be there also! Watch out for a Gingernut:) Don.
Gary L. Suddath
wonderful perspective..great job on the lighting
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Gary, thanks for that, it was a cold brrrrrr mornin though:) Don.
dogfish
this must be one of the most artistic shot of the bridge I’ve ever seen!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Dogfish, thanks for that. I was impressed once again by it’s immense size and form. Don.
conifer
a beautiful capture and love the angle and the colours
DonDavisUK replied
Thanks Connie! Your an encourager. Don.
georgieboy98
I can only echo your Dad’s comment – it is indeed “Brilliant” It is so good that you like to get up and out early because the photos you get as a result are always wonderful to see. All the best old sausage, Peter
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Peter, good mornin to you, I’m up late today though:) Forgot about early to bed early to rise and all that:) LOL. You are right though the morning light is the best and it means sacrificing the pillow to capture the offerings. Don.
Marie Sharp
Magnificent capture and wonderful messsage, Don!!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Marie, thanks for that. Don.
Babbler
beautiful capture
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Babbler, thanks for the visit and words. Don.
Irene Burdell
A superb shot and great reflections.
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Irene, it was the light and reflections on the water that caught my attention. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Don.
DesImages
Your Dad is absolutely right – brilliant shot! The light and reflections are beautiful.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Des, thanks for that my friend. Don.
Gail Bridger
I love it,,,awesome bridge and awesome shot!!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Gail, thanks for that my friend. Don.
Arrowman
A brilliant shot Don !!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Colin, thanks for viewing and commenting. Don.
stickelsimages
Great shot Don. Lee
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Lee, thanks for that. Don.
Louise Parton
wow! great shot & story :D
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Louise, thanks for that, appreciate your kind words. Don.
tonymarsh
Great image Don. I love the lights in the water. Thanks for all the info and the story. Adds even more to the picture.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Tony, thanks for that, I find that lights reflecting in water are simply magical. Don.
GerryMac
excellent capture of this amazing icon Don! great perspective!
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Gerry, thanks for that my friend. Don.
Michael Oubridge
A terrific capture, great light and reflections…
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Michael, thanks for that. Don.
Larry Trupp
Unbelievable capture Don, love the colors here, and so well reflected, nice work my friend.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Larry, thanks so much for that my old friend. It’s great to have you here on Redbubble. No pop-up adds like WebShots eh? Don.
Helene Kippert
Superb shot don!
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Helene, thanks for that. Don.
Chris Clark
a beautiful capture of a very iconic and much photographed Forth Bridge.
This one is going straight to my favs
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Chris, thanks soo much for that wonderful comment and for the FAV too. Thanks for viewing and commenting my friend, I hope you and all your’s have a joyful, peaceful and very merry Christmas. Don.
clizzio
Very nice photo. I love the colors. Good job!
DonDavisUK replied
Thanks very much for that Clizzio, Regards, Don.
ChelseaBlue
Just a note to advise this image has been “Group Featured” as from 11th April 2009
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there ChelseaBlue, thanks very much for that my friend. AWESOME, I’m really pleased. This was a wonderful experience going out when it was still dark on a cold and very frosty morning in Edinburgh. WOW! Thanks again. Regards, Don.
hilarydougill
glorious capture, and fantastic colours, lights and reflections, beautiful picture of a beautiful bridge. hugsxxx
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Hilary, thanks for that my friend. Regards, Don.
Richard G Witham
W O W W W W !!!
Need I say more? :)
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Richard, that’s wonderful I’m glad that you like it.
Wayne Holman
I’ve seen many images of this fanastic bridge Don but this is the best one, a true scorcher mate and a definate fave… = ))
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Wayne, with all your great shots of bridges this is a great compliment. Cheers Mate! Ave one on me:-) Don.
booboo
Congratulations on your featured work Don well done
DonDavisUK replied
Thank you very much for that Brian, I’m really happy that people like this shot of the bridge. Regards, Don.
naturelover
I missed this beautiful work- absolutely outstanding- colours
reflectionsan instant fav!!DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Pauline, thank you soooooo much for your lovely comments. Regards, Don.
DonDavisUK replied
And for the Fav too. Wonderful.
LYN EVANS
Wow, this is fabulous Don.
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Lyn, thank you very much indeed my friend. Regards, Don.
CiaoBella
It is such a beautiful construction and you have done it justice
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there CiaoBella, thank you very much for the lovely comment my friend, and for the BMail warning of the double entry comment. It’s sooooo easy to do that:-) Bless you, and have a wonderful day. Regards, Don.
Shaun Whiteman
Great shot, lovely colours and reflections….early morning starts are very early at this time of year!!!
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Shaun, thanks for that my friend. Mornings are difinitely great for the light. But it means sacrificing the pillow:-)
PICMART
Fantastic shot!
DonDavisUK replied
Thanks very much indeed and for the FAV too. Wonderful mate.
morpheus71
Great shot Don – like the colours and the reflections
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Morpheus, thank you very much for that my friend. Regards, Don.
Kelly d
Absolutly Stunning (:
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Kelly, thanks for that my friend. Regards, Don.
Iani
Stunning shot
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Iani, thanks you so much for that my friend. The bridge is a favourtie subject of mine, I just love capturing bridges. There’s something about crossing over, under, through etc. Always mystical and magical. I had to go out on a frosty winter’s morning to catch this one though. Thanks for viewing and commenting. Regards, Don.
David Iori
Lovely work Don
DonDavisUK replied
Hi David, WOW! Thanks for the great comment mate.
Scott d'Almeida
stunning,
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Scott, thank you very much for that my friend. Sorry I’ve not been visiting lately, I’ve just been really busy at work and with family etc… Will catch up with your fantastic work soon. God bless, Don.
CiaoBella
gorgeous image, such an iconic view
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there CiaoBella, thank you so much for stopping by and viewing. Much appreciated my friend. Regards, Don.
mikebov
Superb image of this stunning bridge Don
My son Tom won a national Sea Cadet Sailing competition a few years ago at Port Edgar which is just to the left of the road bridge. I spent 2 days wondering back and forth along this shoreline.
Thanks for refreshing the memories
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Mike, What an amazing achievement for Tom, I’ll bet you were really proud of him. Glad this pic brought back such good memories. Did you get any pics of the bridges? Thanks for stopping by and commenting again my friend. Don.
mikebov
Hi Don
I only had a 3mp Olympus point & shoot back then, I have a couple of half decent images that I may load up
DonDavisUK replied
Hi Mike, sorry I missed this comment. Remember when 3MP was thought awesome? Those were the days:-)
monaiman
Stunning !
DonDavisUK replied
Hi there Mona, thanks so much for that my friend. Much appreciated. Have you seen the upcoming challenge to capture some bridges in the DSLR Users Group? click the link to check out this group. God bless, Don.
Kasia-D
Wonderful shot of that marvellous giant. It also brings back childhood memories of travelling to Auld Reekie. I thought Burnstisland was pronounced burnt – is – land:-)
DonDavisUK replied
Hey there Kasia, Ha ha, I’m sure it is:-) LOL. We used to love going across the Bridge to Kinghorne too. Remember the old puffer trains with the individual carriages and sliding doors. You could pull the window down and look right out. Wouldn’t dare try that these days. Thanks for viewing and commenting my friend. Don.