Ted DeCagna, a major New York construction photographer, was recently selected by a leading New York metropolitan bridge builder, Kiewit Infrastructure to photograph its major renovation work on the 62-year-old Verrazano Bridge, linking Brooklyn, New York with Staten Island. The Verrazano is the longest suspension bridge in the United States.
Ted was selected due to his extensive experience shooting construction photography in New York and shooting construction photography in New Jersey. His assignment included documenting many existing deteriorating conditions of the original 1964 bridge, including elevator shafts, pedestals, aging granite, rusted metal beams, rusted elevator doors, deteriorated elevator beams, and extremely old elevator engine rooms, to name just a few areas requiring renovation during the two-year project.
Ted’s job was to document all existing conditions prior to construction and then capture progress photos of every item under renovation monthly. This included climbing new 20-story safety scaffolding, using safety railings, nets, safety walkways, refinished elevator cabs and doors, engine rooms, new electrical fixtures, granite pavers, and new security fencing.
“The major challenge, as a photographer here—other than the very physical climbing to various parts of the bridge, up 20 stories of scaffolding stairs and countless ladders—was shooting in extremely dark conditions. I had to photograph pitch-black elevator shafts to document existing decaying conditions of beams.”
While this presented technical challenges with camera settings, Ted was able to make the proper adjustments from daylight to near-total darkness and successfully illuminate extremely dark environments.
Tip for shooting in extreme near darkness:
“My recommendation for shooting in environments such as very dark elevator shafts is to crank up the ISO. I used ISO 6000 and a speedlight flash to deliver maximum light from my strobe. Yes, there was noise with the photos—but in construction documentation photography, they’re not looking for pretty pictures. They need clear documentation of deteriorating beams and bridge components. Noise was not a factor. The photos were bright and clear enough to capture the conditions accurately.”
Climbing on a bridge of this scale requires serious physical preparation. With 28 stories of scaffolding to navigate, Ted’s pre-shoot routine included quick gym workouts using an elliptical, stair master, and leg squat exercises to be in peak “shoot-day” shape for all the climbing needed.
Hydration is also critical. Ted always carries a zippered money belt holding a water bottle. This is essential on hot days, but the bottle must be secured—nothing can be allowed to fall onto cars, pedestrians, or workers below.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is non-negotiable.
Never stray from using all mandatory PPE on bridges, especially a hard hat—which has saved Ted from injury on multiple occasions. When working in tight, cramped areas, always use a hard hat with a tether clip attached to your jacket collar.
Why is this important? During a recent NYC shoot on the East River on a gusty day, Ted forgot to tether his hard hat. A sudden wind gust blew the snug-fitting hard hat off his head, sending it 20 feet down into a water treatment tank. Fortunately, no one was injured—but this experience reinforced why tethering a hard hat is critical. A falling hard hat striking a pedestrian below, while unlikely, is absolutely possible.
Steel-toe shoes are mandatory on bridge projects. The only PPE requirement Ted occasionally finds challenging is wearing safety goggles while shooting. Most construction foremen understand that photographers must look through a viewfinder and are often positioned away from immediate danger. However, goggles are essential when working near active cutting, grinding, or jackhammer operations where sparks or stone particles can fly right at you.
In one instance, Ted was just five feet away from a worker cutting a metal air duct. The sparks were intense, so he endured the discomfort while shooting and wore goggles for safety. In must ear goggle situations like these, photographers should switch to full-screen viewing mode rather than using the viewfinder to get a better unobstructed preview visual to frame your shot.
When shooting on bridges and construction sites during frigid winter conditions, wearing fitted workout pants under heavy jeans is highly effective. In temperatures of 20 degrees or colder, Ted wears a ski-mask-style hat with a wide eye opening while keeping his mouth covered.
For brutally cold January shoots lasting several hours, Ted also uses a second winter hat with chemical heat warmers Gorilla-taped inside the ear areas. This trick is extremely effective when wind chills feel arctic. Staying warm directly impacts endurance and the ability to take better photos.
Finally, professional photography gloves with fold-back thumb and forefinger tips are a great $50 investment. These gloves allow fast access to camera dials and the shutter while keeping hands protected. Most quality camera stores carry them.
Ted has also recently commissioned to photograph the Portal North Bridge, Kearny, New Jersey a $43 million New York-area infrastructure project, and has documented the Brunker Bridge renovation. He holds a Bronze Medal from the Art Directors Club of New Jersey for his photography of the George Washington Bridge.
So if your company needs an experienced and reliable New York bridge photographer, New Jersey bridge photographer, New York construction photographer, or New Jersey construction photographer, look no further than Ted DeCagna Photography—with 28 years of experience, six photography awards, and the expertise to photograph any bridge under any conditions.
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