prodigious grasp
From high atop Greenpoint.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The eight anaerobic digester eggs of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment plant in Greenpoint gather a lot of attention. At the very top of these stainless steel vessels are catwalks which connect them together into two groups of four. You’re something like 140 feet up, and the entire assembly is wrapped in blue green glass.
The shot above looks southwest, across Brooklyn.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On top of each of the individual eggs, you’ll find all sorts of plumbing and control mechanisms. There’s also a view port through which you can observe the bubbling sludge as its “cooked” by the biological processes within.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Just for perspective, here’s a look at the things from outside the plant. The shots in today’s post were captured from the catwalk closest to the camera.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s actually fairly challenging to shoot from the catwalks, as that green glass screws around with the camera’s light meter and sensors. There’s also reflections to deal with, which you’ll see a few of in these shots, and needless to say – the glass ain’t exactly super clean.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking down at Kingsland Avenue and Allocco Recyling, over the methane jets which burn off the mephitic gas produced by the digester eggs.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking towards the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, towards Blissville in Queens.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking west, over the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant’s grounds, towards Manhattan.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another perspective on the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, this time with Blissville’s former Van Iderstine property, Calvary Cemetery, and the Kosciuszcko Bridge at the Maspeth border in frame.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Kosciuszcko Bridge replacement project is in the background, with a “green asphalt” plant and a Waste Management transfer station in the fore. That’s Newtown Creek flowing on the right side of the shot.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A wider view of the scene, this time you’ve got the ExxonMobil 400 Kingsland Avenue property in view as well.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Tomorrow – Creek Week continues, but from an entirely different perspective.
Upcoming Events and Tours
Wednesday, August 3rd, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. –
Glittering Realms Walking Tour,
with NYC H2O. Click here for more details.
Saturday, August 6th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. –
Insalubrious Valley Walking Tour,
with NY Adventure Club. Click here for more details.
Sunday, August 14th, 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. –
Calvary Cemetery Walking Tour,
with Atlas Obscura. Click here for more details.
Sunday, August 21, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. –
Poison Cauldron Walking Tour,
with Atlas Obscura. Click here for more details.
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The Newtown Pentacle 
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