Chords Bridge

The Chords Bridge, officially the Bridge of Strings, is a cable-stayed light-rail bridge designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, standing at the entrance to Jerusalem, Israel, near Herzl Boulevard and the central bus station, at about 31.7886 N, 35.2036 E. Its single white mast leans over the roadway, with a fan of cables supporting the deck in the pattern of a harp, and it is meant as a modern counterpoint to the stone Old City. The bridge opened in 2008 and carries the Jerusalem light rail. The photographic frame is a bold graphic composition: the tall white mast, the lines of cables and the curved deck, best seen from beside the road and from nearby paths. Blue hour is the strongest time, when the illuminated cables glow against a deep-blue sky, and long exposures turn passing light-rail trains and car headlights into streaks of light. Midday sun is less flattering, because it flattens the white structure against a bright sky. Clear evenings in any season work well, and winter rain can add reflections on the pavement. The bridge is a public structure with no admission fee and generally modest crowds, so tripod positions are easy to find on the surrounding pavements, though visitors should keep clear of the tracks and traffic. Drone flight near the bridge, a busy transport hub in Jerusalem, is restricted in Israel and generally requires authorisation. A wide-angle lens in the 16-24mm range captures the mast and cables in a single frame, while a longer lens can isolate the cable pattern. The central bus station and light-rail stops nearby make access simple, and cafes and restrooms are found in the surrounding area.