Posts Tagged ‘Dormont’
The simplest of plans…
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
First things first, and first thing involved walking up this hill.
Normally: not a problem, currently: my ankle was pissed off by the time I hit that next corner, which happens to be midway along another somewhat shallower hill. This is my neighborhood pictured above, by the way, in Pittsburgh’s Borough of Dormont. People still ask me why I left NYC, in response I will point out the near total absence of litter, passed out inebriates, or random emergencies midway through occurring in the shot above. Five miles from the center of things, this is.
It was a warm day in Pittsburgh, given the time of the year, and your humble narrator had a plan. I’d walk to the T light rail station, and board a Pittsburgh bound train set. There’s a major construction project underway involving the service, meaning that the route is significantly altered. Street running light rail moving through a series of interesting areas? Heck yeah! I’m in.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Of course, just as I got there, a Pittsburgh bound T was leaving the station. This ensured that I’d enjoy the maximum wait time until the next one arrived, which was somehow comforting. Who likes to rush?
Your humble narrator was appointed in his usual style, with the filthy black raincoat and a knapsack full of camera gear on his back. The camera was wearing its 24-240mm superzoom lens, if you’re curious. It’s strictly a ‘daylight’ lens, that one. Not the best glass I own, but its range makes it invaluable when out on a day time photowalk in a feature rich environment.
As far as my plan for the day went, the intention was to ride into the city, where the T was servicing a normally unused station due to the construction project(s) occurring along the line, where I’d catch a few shots of the thing coming and going and then scuttle along on my merry way. Then, I’d cross the Monongahela River on a bridge, and hunt around for any passing rail traffic. Lots of room for serendipity.
It ended up being about a nine and a half thousand step day, which is a new record for me in this post broken ankle period.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saying all that, since I had to wait the maximum amount of time between Pittsburgh bound T’s, I occupied myself by focusing in on a T train set, which was heading away from Pittsburgh, and towards its eventual terminal stop at South Hills Village. Love the web of catenary wires over these tracks, I do.
Back tomorrow with more, at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
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It’s like Ragnarok
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Even Moe the Dog is sick of all this winter weather we keep getting plastered by, out here in Pittsburgh. As I’m writing this, it’s currently 8 degrees Fahrenheit and frozen snow pack is everywhere you look. Quite obviously, your humble narrator has been sheltering in place, a task made easy by the fact that we had baked a Lasagna on Friday and thereby didn’t have to worry about ‘what’s for dinner’ for a couple of days.
Really put a crimp in my plans for the weekend, this snow, unfortunately. Bad weather has become a personal affront to me, as I’m positively antsy to get out of the house and be outside with the camera. Instead, I’m stuck.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s pretty, the snow, I’ll give you that. It’s also difficult to walk around on, even without having to worry about your ankle. The current batch is a crunchy white powder which is floating on top of a layer of ice formed from wet slush. This snow event started as a rain storm before the temperatures dropped, so there’s hard pack ice under the powder. No bueno.
By the way, apologies for a mistake that was published yesterday and quickly corrected – I identified yesterday’s holiday as Martin Luther King Day rather than President’s day. Oops. There was some conversation in the comments about this particular holiday, which seems to be suddenly controversial. When did that become a thing?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My splendid isolation period is coming to an end, I’m afraid. It’s time for me to reactivate and get back to my various pursuits. A lecture on the Monongahela Incline will be attended this very evening, for instance.
Moe is not at all happy about this, as it will interrupt the flow of treats into his shovel face if Daddy’s not there to buy his affections.
Back tomorrow.
“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.
Coming and going
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey, lookee – that’s one of Pittsburgh’s ‘T’ light rail units on approach to the Red Line’s ‘Potomac Station’ here in the Borough of Dormont. Neat!
Luckily, I was running an errand across the street when the alarms began to sound, and the signal arms came down. I’m really looking forward to riding on this service again, as a note, once I’m able to climb up the steep hill from HQ to the station. This ankle situation is a constant ‘block’ towards me having any fun at all.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The unit pictured above, as in both of the shots, was heading away from Pittsburgh towards a terminal stop in South Hills Village. The T runs at street level, in trenches and on bridges, and even underground as a subway for a few stops. In Dormont, they have a dedicated track and a high platform station, but if you head back towards the city just a couple of T stops, in Beechview, you’ll notice that its rails are set into the asphalt, so the thing runs alongside autos and trucks as a surface vehicle. It’s all very complicated, frankly.
The T operates on a catenary system, which provides it with the motive voltage that it consumes.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another ‘T’ arrived at the intersection where I was standing, this one heading into Pittsburgh. Under normal circumstance, at least once a week I’d find myself riding this service to ‘head into town’ and execute a long walk from its northern terminus nearby the sportsball stadium which provides a home for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ve got three routes from that point which have proven productive – photography wise – and also provide for ‘good cardio.’ Ultimately, I’m usually heading back to a T stop along the Monongahela River at the end of the effort for my ride home.
At least that’s what I used to do when my ankle didn’t hurt. I miss doing this sort of thing. Massively.
Back tomorrow.
“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.
Snowburgh
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Given the clime, here in Pittsburgh, there hasn’t been a lot of opportunity to get out and walk about. I’m still quite limited in the ambulatory department, post broken ankle, but I’m not just cleared for physical activity – the Docs are actually encouraging it now.
Saying that, no way are you going to see me trying to navigate ice and snow if I don’t have to at the moment. Luckily, Our Lady of the Pentacle’s ambitions caused one to find himself in the parking lot of a local thrift store which offers a view of something I’ve been intrigued by for a while – these abandoned homes nearby the Route 51/Saw Mill Run corridor nearby the Mount Oliver section.
I’ve written about these houses on Timberland Avenue before, and was lucky enough to receive an assist on the research from long time reader ‘Lucienve.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Saw Mill Run itself is a somewhat natural waterway which mainly seems to function as a drainage ditch for the business and residential structures along its route. A primary arterial road, which takes its colloquial name from the waterway, hosts a variety of businesses – many of which are automotive in nature. Car lots, mechanics, that sort of thing.
Heading in a generally eastwards direction away from Pittsburgh, Route 51 ultimately gets you to the nearby community of Uniontown. I’ve driven that way a few times, when heading towards Maryland and the very interesting Appalachian city of Cumberland.
As a note: For my ‘bicycle people’ friends – check out Cumberland, which you can reach by trail from either Pittsburgh or Washington D.C.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Back at HQ, it’s been pretty much snowing all week. We got several bands of ‘lake effect’ snow recently. It’s been a real hassle with the ankle and everything, I’d mention. The weather forecast seems to be a bit more on my side in this last week of 2024, so cross your fingers…
Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Kwazy Kwanzaa.
“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.
it… IT’S ALIVE!!!
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Welcome back to the tyranny of the new, lords and ladies. Pictured above is a street in Pittsburgh’s Beechview section, which is characteristically hilly. This shot was from a false start attempt at a shooting day from a couple of weeks ago, when I erroneously believed that I was ready to get back behind the camera. I wasn’t.
Accordingly, this one was shot out of the moon roof of my car. It’s street photography today, as in its photos of streets on offer.
Today marks the return of new postings here at Newtown Pentacle, nearly three months to the day since I broke my ankle in three places and dislocated my left foot. I’m going to be getting back up to speed slowly, or at least that’s the plan. It still hurts, a lot.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
For the last couple of weeks, the Docs have had me return to wearing normal footwear and leave the walking boot/brace behind me. Everyday seems to be a bit better than the last, although there’s still a good amount of random pain encountered.
This shot depicts a snowy expanse of Dormont, the Pittsburgh Borough which HQ is found in. I’ve been mainly running errands and driving to Doctors appointments for the last month, and finding anything interesting to look at or photograph during this sort of daily round has been a challenge. My ‘PT’ office, for instance, is in the middle of a giant shopping center so the only ‘view’ on offer there is one of Target, Macy’s, or Whole Foods. There’s a Dick’s Sporting Goods too, but there you are.
I’ve only started carrying the camera around with me, all the time, in just this last week.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A few social engagements have been attended, pleasant intervals which have benefited the mood here at HQ greatly. Our Lady of the Pentacle kept me alive and as well as I could be for the last few months, but I’d have had to go to a rehab or nursing home to recover if it wasn’t for her never ending labors and devotion. She bore the burden heroically.
I went out shooting just this last Saturday and will be displaying my captures here all week, at this – your reborn 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 