NIghts are not always black. Our cities cause light pollution and our cameras with their long exposures can see better in the dark than we can. As a result, the night sky may be far from black, as is the case in this photograph.

I was walking on the Bird Island Pier heading back towards Squaw Island and the bridge caught my attention from distance. Its steel frame stood out very distinctly against the night sky, the reflection was clear since the lack of wind left Black Rock Canal motionless. And the distant lights provided a hint of gold between the bridge and its reflection.

I walked closer, framed my shot, and noticed a fw cars about to leave the island. What a great addition! I made sure to keep the camera's shutter open long enough to capture the whole trail of the cars' tail lights. It all came together very nicely!

The Squaw Island Bridge on Robert Rich Way (previously West Ferry Street) in Buffalo, NY is a lift bridge, or a bascule bridge and crosses the Black Rock Canal (I've also seen references to Black Rock Channel) that runs parallel to the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY. It provides access to the Squaw Island and its Broderick Park and the Bird Island Pier. The park is under construction as of this writing and repairs are also scheduled for the pier.