I took this photo on October 18, 2010 in an attempt to match the location and perspective of the beautiful ODOT lantern slide published yesterday. You can open both images in browser tabs to flicker back and forth between them. Our downtown has aged gracefully in the past ninety years. Many of the classic buildings are still present, and more modern additions blend in well. The newer bridge across the Hood River-- well, isn't it nice how well the trees are growing to obscure it? If you're having trouble comparing the bridge routes, the new bridge uses the same west landing, but its east landing is considerably higher in elevation and south of the 1920 bridge.
For those of you interested in the technical details: the modern image was taken slightly lower on the (now) Historic Columbia River Highway due to vegetation blocking the original photographer's spot. Since lens characteristics are not identical, there is some distortion as you move away from the center of the field. I did my best to match the downtown district, with the First National Bank Building and the Heilbronner Buildings on Third Street, location of the Doll Buggy Parade as the registration point.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
I think I've toggled between the two photos 20 times now! Fun
Dan on 26th May 2011 @ 7:18am
I have them sitting side by side on my screen. Wonderful comparison Arthur. I hope the citizens of HR take advantage of viewing both pictures.
I think your photo emphasizes even more the accuracy in color of the early painter.
l.e. on 26th May 2011 @ 7:54am
Frequently "hand colored" postcards and slides were done by an artist far away making pure guesses about colors, but in this case I think it is likely they were working from notes taken on location.
Arthur on 26th May 2011 @ 8:38am
Thanks for doing this - I really enjoy the comparison. I wonder about the next version in 2075!
NancyR on 26th May 2011 @ 2:15pm
These are very cool photos of before and after. Thanks.
Jacquie Barone on 16th March 2023 @ 6:34pm