“Above the Tower”, metallic print, 2025, 16˝x24˝
“Cloud Cathedral 1”, metallic print, 2025, 11˝x14˝
About the Image
Having worked on the new East Span, every time I cross the bridge it brings back memories of the time I spent on the project. During the pandemic, I got in the habit of biking along the Bay Trail from Emeryville to Yerba Buena, especially around sunset, flying my drone there before heading back. However, what I’ve come to enjoy the most is photographing the bridge when the fog hangs low. There’s always this sense of surprise and mystery — you never really know how the fog will orchestrate your shots, and that’s what makes it so special.
Biography
Martin is a licensed civil / construction engineer with a deep passion for photography, especially in construction and aerial photography. Originally from Indonesia, he arrived in Alabama as an exchange student and later moved to California to pursue career opportunities and graduate studies. It was during college that he developed an interest in photography and began working in the dark room and as a photographer. After earning a Master's degree from UC Berkeley, Martin contributed to the construction of the new Bay Bridge from inception to completion. Throughout the project, he documented the bridge's development with his DSLR camera, capturing the process of building this iconic structure.
His photographs had been featured in exhibitions at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and garnered awards in contests hosted by ENR magazine (2010, 2012, 2013) and the ASCE Bridge Photo Contest (2020, 2021, 2022). Most recently, Martin served as a judge for the ENR Magazine's photo contest in 2024. Beyond his engineering and photography pursuits, Martin enjoys travelling, playing badminton, and spending time with his wife and two children. He currently works on BART projects and, naturally, documents many of its construction projects.
Website: www.martinchandrawinata.com