Bridges: The Spans of North America

Whether built of stone, brick, wood, iron, steel, or concrete, bridges have captivated our imaginations more than any other man-made structures.Whether built of wood, stone, iron, steel, or concrete, bridges have captivated our imaginations more than any other man-made structures. In David Plowden's words, "there is no more overt, powerful, or rational expression of accomplishmentâ€”of man's ability to build." And Americans, in particular, have excelled in this structural art. This book explores in depth how, when, where, and by whom the most important North American bridges were built. Over 185 of Plowden's superb photographs allow us to dwell on the most important scientific and aesthetic qualities of each bridge. In addition, Plowden has included original designs and drawings of structuresâ€”some unbuilt, gone, or dramatically alteredâ€”illuminating less obvious aspects of these engineering marvels and introducing us to bridges we otherwise would never have seen. In his extensive text, Plowden vividly records the discoveries, misconceptions, struggles, failures, and triumphs of the men who dedicated their energies to bridge design and construction. In the more than twenty-five years since this classic book was first published, bridges have been lost, and others have been built; some of the best examples of new bridges are included in this new, revised edition. All the photographs have been reprinted to achieve the best duotone reproduction. With this new edition, Bridges is the most thorough and beautiful volume ever published on the subjectâ€”a passionate and powerful argument for our continued reverence of these wonderful structures. Over 185 photographs

Arts & Photography

David Plowden

Individual Artists

WW Norton & Co.

Landscape (The Library of world photography)

Thames and Hudson

In a tribute to his adopted state of Iowa, David Plowden has selected works from over four decades of his photography taken during his travels across Iowa.

David Plowden's Iowa

Humanities Iowa

Nantucket

Patricia Coffin

A Studio Book: The Viking Press

The Hand of Man on America

Chatham Press

<p>The photographs were shot during 1970-71 across all of the Great Plains states from Montana south to New Mexico and Texas. There's a great variety of images impossible to summarize here, including white markers in the grass of the Little Big Horn, a full moon over bluffs, sunsets, abandoned farm buildings, vacant store fronts, cars and trucks parked in front of a bar, wheat fields, hay fields, windmills, an old tractor, railroad tracks, an endless freight train, riverbeds and dry water holes, stormy skies, badlands, the faces of rural people, and the backside of one cowboy sitting on the top rail of a fence. Plowden has caught the Great Plains in all kinds of moods and conditions, and the images just take your breath away.The book also has a considerable amount of text. Being a Sierra Club publication, there is a sense of both loss and anger at the failure of humans to be more respectful of the earth. A section called "The Short grass and the big sky" describes the terrain, climate, plant and animal life. A longer section follows called "The way it was when the way was west," providing a history of the area's immigrants, beginning with the Spanish. The final section, "The way it is," describes life on the Great Plains as Plowden found it in 1970-71, and the book introduces several people he talked to, including farmers and ranchers.</p>

Floor of the Sky: The Great Plains (A Landform book)

SIERRA CLUB.

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Books by David Plowden