Tony Scott -- Photo Shoot at Bridge 2 Years Before Suicide

Tony Scott was no stranger to the area where he committed suicide ... in fact, the "Top Gun" director conducted a photo shoot near the Vincent Thomas Bridge exactly TWO YEARS before his death.

TMZ obtained a photo of Tony -- along with four other men -- checking out some railroad tracks in San Pedro, CA on August 19, 2010 ... with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background.

During the shoot, Tony was sporting the same pair of red shorts he was wearing when authorities discovered his body on August 19, 2012.

Sources tell TMZ ... Tony and his crew were conducting a post-production photo shoot for Tony's movie "Unstoppable" ... which starred Denzel Washington.

The photos were taken by Scott Trimble ... who, according to IMDB, worked as an assistant production supervisor on "Unstoppable."