The Rapids, Below the Suspension Bridge

The Niagara suspension bridge spans more than eight hundred feet above one of the wildest parts of the Niagara River. Charles Bierstadt contrasted the solid, stable bridge with the wild chaos of the unruly river. Photographed at river level, the waters seem particularly threatening, adding energy to the scene. In order to create a single balanced image, Bierstadt probably used several negatives: one for the river, another for the bridge, and a third for the dramatic, billowing clouds.