One of our family’s favorite pastimes has been to take a leisurely walk at the Big Dam Bridge on the North Little Rock side of the Arkansas River. These pile dikes have always intrigued us as we have walked the trail. As they stand strong and tall against the natural elements, they convey a sense of strength and timelessness. I wanted to highlight these imposing qualities and hence it is the focal point for this particular shot. Based on trial shots using lower exposure time, I decided on using long exposure for this picture.
Taken on a sunny afternoon with clear skies. In this shot, the smooth texture of the choppy flowing river and the dull hue of the sky was achieved by utilizing a prolonged exposure time (30 seconds) with the aid of a density filter and the camera stabilized with the use of a tripod.
Pile dikes such as these have been used since the early 1800s to tame the rivers. Numerous pile dikes (also known as wing dams) line the Arkansas River as it flows into the Mississippi. They consists of alternating timber piles supported by a horizontal spreader as part of the river navigation system. They help maintain navigation channels by directing river flow toward the main channel, resulting in reduced dredging requirements, increased channel stabilization and bank protection.
Parthak Prodhan, M.D., FAAP, FCCM, MBA, is a Professor of Pediatric Critical Care and Cardiology at UAMS.