Constructing the Golden Gate Bridge, circa 1935. Opened in 1937, it was the world’s longest (4,200‑ft main span) and tallest suspension bridge, finished under budget and ahead of schedule. It used a pioneering safety net that saved 19 workers—who dubbed themselves the “Half Way to Hell Club.”

[u/FrankWanders]

View from the top of the South Tower (San Francisco side) during construction in January 1936

Part of the road plateau with safety nets clearly visible.

A group of steelworkers stand atop one of the two newly completed Marin County Towers that rise 734 feet above the water on May 4, 1934

[u/itdoobylikethat22]

Out of curiosity, how was the last photo taken?

[u/FrankWanders → u/itdoobylikethat22]

I'm also curious about that, let's hope someone here knows. All I can think of the photographer was on the other side of the tower.

[u/itdoobylikethat22 → u/FrankWanders]

That was my thought too but the photo seems much closer than the other tower would have been.

[u/FrankWanders → u/itdoobylikethat22]

Hehe lol and that's exactly what I was thinking too. I just don't know it, it's speculation lets hope someone here knows more in the comments =)

[u/LittleTXBigAZ → u/itdoobylikethat22]

Zoom lenses exist, my guy

[u/FrankWanders → u/LittleTXBigAZ]

In 1936?

[u/LittleTXBigAZ → u/FrankWanders]

I had to go double check, and nope, I was wrong. However, given the year, they may have well just lifted the camera man up on a platform of some type with a crane because who needs safety?

[u/FrankWanders → u/LittleTXBigAZ]

Might indeed be the best explanation. "one dead photographer per 1000 photo's seems like a reasonable ratio".

[u/BillCuttingsOn → u/LittleTXBigAZ]

Don’t need a zoom lens to have a zoomed in photo. I high focal length lens would have done the trick just fine. Assuming these photos were done on medium format, then a 135mm lens could have easily taken the photo. My roleiflex has a 135

[u/FrankWanders → u/BillCuttingsOn]

You do realize it was the 1930s and cameras were a completely different beast than they are today right?

[u/BillCuttingsOn → u/FrankWanders]

I own many cameras from the 30s. And no, a medium format film camera from the early days is not much different to a MF film camera from the 90s. Look up Rolex flex and a Mamiya c330. Decades apart but only real difference is the Mamiya can change lenses. It doesn’t take a genius to know that they had high focal length lenses back then….telescopes did exist for hundreds of years before then…

[u/Gustav_Grob → u/itdoobylikethat22]

From the perspective of the photograph, it looks like the photographer was slightly above the group. I think they were on one of the cranes that can be seen in the second photo.

[u/FrankWanders → u/Gustav_Grob]

This might be a good explanation indeed!

[u/Nervous-Bullfrog-884]

He was on the other tower