Riveting Rivets

Another construction benefitting from the recent application of paint. The shot has made good use of the curve under the bridge to provide not only a close-up view of the rivet heads holding things together but also some beautiful leading lines to draw the eye to admire the graceful curve of the bridge.

There were several images of London’s Tower Bridge, which should not be surprising, considering the photogenic colours and its ease of access. I picked-out this one because it shows more of the structure of the bridge. There are blemishes from rainwater following its easiest path downwards and the individual plates that the rivets are binding together are clearly visible. Rather than distract, the background provides some context in case you don’t find the main subject so riveting.

Rust produces a satisfying colour and, for me, that’s what helped this one stand out. The shadows have added greater depth and the detail captured allows subtle blemishes to be pondered over. Thank you for submitting such an interesting shot!

I see pairs of rivets ‘marching’ towards infinity. A startling shot and perfectly framed. The shadows crossing the shot help to give those rivet heads greater form and interest. Many thanks for sharing this lovely shot. I am curious to know more about the rest of the construction.

his composition was clearly produced with the brief in mind, the focus being on just one single rivet. The bokeh takes the remainder of the article out of focus but we are all so familiar with this kind of garment that we don’t need to see that in detail. Instead, we are left to consider the use of a rivet to hold material together more strongly than ordinary stitching might achieve. A thought-provoking image.

The lighting of this image caught my eye, after which I was drawn to study the finer detail, such as the spacing of the rivets and the general construction of this beautifully preserved piece of engineering. I really must give it more attention myself, when I get the opportunity. Most would merely capture the whole bridge from a distance. Thanks for showing us how attractive the underside can be!

Many thanks to all those who took take part in this contest. The variety of interesting submissions show that this community is not short of imagination and I found it a most rewarding one to judge. The contrasting yellow paint in this image is a great eye-catcher, but a good shot needs to retain that attention once captured and this one succeeded. I could spend hours studying the overlay of the plates and angle iron rivetted together. You have been fortunate to discover a construction in such pristine condition and done well to capture the light in a way that lifts it into three dimensions.

I loved the simplicity and symmetry in this shot. This rivetted plate was built to last and looks like it will do so for some time yet, in spite of the ravages of nature. The water streaks and rusting provide additional interest and the range of colours – well they’re riveting!

The colour of this image is most attractive and so is the shape of the casting. The lighting lifts what could otherwise have been a flat image into an interesting study of the effect of shadow. You have managed to capture a vast range of shades and enhanced the delightful texture of the surface.

Well done for recognising that rivets do not have to exist in heavy engineering! This image may be simple but it’s also colourful, symmetrical and pleasing to the eye! Sometimes less can be more and straying from the obvious can also draw attention. The vignetting adds to the mood as well.

At first this simply looked like a long line of rivets disappearing into the distance but, having caught the eye and studied it further, you can see that this is all part of a much larger and fascinating construction. Thank you for submitting this interesting composition of rivets.

I was so pleased to see contributions of rivets other than those used for structural engineering. This crisp image, nicely cropped to contain three rivets, documents an iconic garment. These jeans may not be typical. An older pair, with an embedded ‘history’ of the environment they have been worn in may have provided greater interest but a lovely shot, never-the-less.

Unlike Tower Bridge, Lambeth would appear to enjoy less colourful protection, yet it still looks to be in ‘good nick’! There is a feast of rivets to absorb in this offering, although the quantity present is not what gains this one a commendation. You have done well to pick out so much detail, from which the Engineer in me can start to study its construction (and wonder where the Pigeons were).

Like soldiers marching on parade, these rivets are all perfectly aligned, their heads enhanced by the long shadows. Who thought that rivets could not be interesting? I wonder at the skill and care taken by the constructors to achieve such perfection and whether they ever thought it might be appreciated so many years later?