Archive for May 13th, 2024
Carrie over
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One last post from a recent visit to Pittsburgh’s Carrie Furnace, and this was one of the spots that I hadn’t gotten to visit on prior visits. This chamber of secrets is found at the top of a couple of flights of stairs, and attached to the mechanism which transported materials delivered by rail to the steel mill’s campus.
Given the presence of the word ‘Otis’ embossed onto the central smattering of machinery in the room, I reached out to my old friend ‘Hank the elevator guy’ to see if he could provide insight as to the purpose of the mechanisms.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After sending him these photos with my query, the response was ‘It’s an elevator. Drum elevator with a huge DC motor. Must be old. Maybe a grain type elevator. To move material.’ Thusly – my elevator rabbi has spoken. As a note, he’s also installed a serious distrust of escalators into me over the years.
A humble narrator had entered this particular space shortly before the photo safari event was scheduled to end, but about thirty minutes remained before I’d need to head back to the Mobile Oppression Platform and drive back to HQ. I got busy, thereby.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
These were all tripod shots, ISO 100, with exposure times in the 6-10 second range. I was using the 28-105 zoom lens mostly, although a couple of the shots in today’s post were accomplished with a 16mm wide angle prime. I scanned around the room, trying to make my best use of the remaining time on site.
It was a feature rich environment.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This electrical panel, for instance, caught my eye. Must have really been something to see when it was operational. I suspect that one would have experienced a buzzing sound, and an environment of static electricity.
This must have been a very dangerous place to work, Carrie Furnace. One wrong move and ‘splat’ or ‘bzzz’ or ‘sizzle.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There was a step ladder that reached up to the ceiling, with a lot of other gear installed up top. The ladder was locked off.
As mentioned in prior posts, I’m going to be coming back here at the end of May, and am thinking through a shot list. Can’t wait, actually.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s it for this visit, however. It was time to return the loaner hard hat to the front desk/kiosk, climb into the car, and drive back to HQ.
Back tomorrow with something different at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 