Black Suspension Bridge

The Kaibab Suspension Bridge, also called the Black Bridge, stretches across the Colorado River deep in the Grand Canyon, offering one of the most dramatic and hard-earned photo locations in the American Southwest. The bridge itself is a striking graphic element, its dark steel cables and narrow span set against the towering canyon walls and the green-turquoise water rushing below. Shoot from the riverbank to frame the bridge with the canyon walls rising on either side, or walk onto the bridge itself and look upstream or downstream for a powerful perspective on the scale of the inner gorge. Midday light is harsh here at the canyon floor, so aim for early morning when soft light filters down from the rim. A wide-angle lens works well to capture the full environment, though a short telephoto isolates the bridge's geometry nicely. Getting here requires a strenuous hike down the South Kaibab Trail, so plan for a full day and carry plenty of water. (Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States)