Posts Tagged ‘Pittsburgh’
Downhill, from here…
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent endeavor found your humble narrator in Pittsburgh’s Allentown Section, where a last minute change in my plan for the day manifested. I had originally intended to take a somewhat longer walk, starting from a spot about a half mile away, but changed my mind at the last minute and took a different path instead. Serendipity!
Pictured above is the T light rail turning out of Allentown for its long descent towards the Panhandle Bridge, over the Monongahela River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The path I decided to take is a bit of a backwater, and – driving wise – is the one which you use to skirt around rush hour traffic by ‘taking the local streets.’ It’s a winding ‘mountain road’ sort of situation, with lots of switch backs and blind sharp turns to negotiate. Very exciting. This road is called ‘Brosville Street.’
There’s a location along this path which I’ve been wanting to get a look at, and I owed the still recovering ankle a serious exercise day, so…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Cool, an abandoned house. There are so many of these in Pittsburgh that it’s actually staggering.
Brosville Street, and the places it leads to, are set into a steep section of Mount Washington. This scuttle would involve walking down a severely angled series of streets, with my intention being to absolutely blast the muscles in my ankles, calves, and those ones in the front of the thighs which lead up into the hips. Hard to reach muscle groups, these are.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The grade of the land forces one’s gait to land the foot on the balls of the feet (the bottom forefoot, or metatarsal head) rather than the heel. This alters the gait, and causes one to constantly seek balance. This helps to condition the discrete musculature and the tendon/ligaments which were hyper extended during my injury. Walking up this hill would also use a completely different set of leg and back muscles, but those aren’t the ones I’ve been having problems with since the broken ankle incident.
It’s all life’s rich pageant, ain’t it?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Habit sees me avoid taking pictures of people’s homes, as it can get a little weird. Saying, couldn’t resist recording that set of steps leading from the sidewalk down to that house. I’ve often wondered about the logistical circumstance of bringing in the week’s groceries, a piece of furniture, or just getting a pizza delivery at locations like this one in Pittsburgh. Wow.
I should mention that in addition to my neuroses about being on time or early to assignations, I’m constantly worrying about personal logistics. To be fair, I’m always managing a constellation of camera gear that’s strapped to my person, so planning ahead makes sense to me. It annoys people, however, this incessant need of mine to ‘walk through’ and minutely plan an event prior to committing to it.
In my defense, it’s reasonable to ask – for instance – ‘where do you intend to urinate,’ amongst several other existential factors, when ‘out and about.’ Plan on thirst, discomfort, and fatigue when on a walk and you’ll never be surprised by them.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I was wearing my silly $7 Costco fishing hat, along with the usual duty uniform of black army/cargo shorts with a white guayabera over shirt worn over a white t-shirt, and my trusty Merrell hiking shoes of course.
It was warm, and I was trying to travel light on this particular day. My massive camera backpack was left back at HQ, and I was using a sling bag instead. Three lenses were with me – a zoom on the camera, and a couple of prime lenses in the bag. No tripods or extraneous gear on this scuttle.
Tomorrow – the Knoxville Incline Greenway – as it were.
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“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.
Of opportunity
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The shots in today’s post are fairly random, and can best be described as being ‘snapshots’ more than they are ‘photographs.’
The difference between the two descriptors is ‘intentionality,’ which is a high fallooting way of saying ‘I meant to do that.’ Wanker talk.
These images are ones where something caught my eye, and specifically – while I was driving around Pittsburgh while doing other things.
The ‘move’ I make in this sort of circumstance has been described before, wherein I clumsily thrust the camera up through the moon roof of the car, and work the image off of the screen on the back of the device rather than looking through the camera’s diopter. These lovely and colorful houses can be found on Pittsburgh’s North Side, incidentally.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Also on the North Side, and I’m fascinated by that YMCA neon sign for some reason. Have to get back here at night sometime when it’s lit up.
I almost always have the camera sitting on the passenger seat while I’m motoring around. The device doesn’t get used all that much since I’m… Y’know… driving a car, but it’s ready to rock.
Often, something interesting will pop out which I’ll grab a quick one of, and then I’ll find my way back to that spot on one of the days when I’m taking a walk instead of driving.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This one was captured in the Borough of Dormont, where Newtown Pentacle HQ nests. This is the more or less ‘shallow’ side of that hill which HQ can be found at the bottom of.
As mentioned in prior postings, my ‘lead time’ with these postings has finally increased – something I’ve spent the last few months trying to achieve. This post in particular is being written during the last week of August. The summer weather has just broken here in the Pittsburgh region, and it’s been positively cold at night.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This one was captured while waiting at a traffic light to turn onto the Birmingham Bridge, an interval of time artificially extended by the flaggers attached to that construction crew pictured above. All summer long, it seemed that every road in Pittsburgh had some form of construction activity underway.
It’s also been roughly one year since the ankle drama began, incidentally.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This has, accordingly, been one heck of a year for me. Lots of pain and discomfort, the spell during which I was living in a wheelchair, and then the long road back to being ambulatory again, and the reconditioning of my atrophied roadway interface. It’s been a deal, yo.
I’ll survive this year, if it kills me.
This shot depicts a former brewery on Pittsburgh’s south side.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This one is looking downtown, from the ‘Uptown’ or ‘Bluff’ section. More construction. It’s everywhere.
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.
Eyes fixed
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Calvary United Methodist Church, that’s what they call it. Opened in 1895, it’s caught my eye every single time I’ve found myself moving through Pittsburgh’s ‘North Side.’ Gothic revival is the architectural style of the building.
Along with the ‘church on Polish Hill,’ this one is at the top of my list to find a way inside of and get photos of the interior. ‘Sacred Spaces’ is the name of that particular project.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve mentioned in the past that a bit of social networking is required, when the subject of churches or religious institutions in general is on the menu. Sure, I’ve barged into empty churches and waved the camera around in the past, but as I often say: I’m like a vampire, and need to be invited in to properly do my thing.
None of the priests or prelates like my vampire metaphor, by the way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This one is a trick shot: a combination of four images combined together into a vertical ‘panorama.’ There’s a bit of unfortunate distortion present, but it was really the only way I could show the entire facade.
It was hot out, by the way. I mean super duper nearly life threateningly hot. Shortly after cracking these out, I decided to head back home to HQ in a rideshare.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While I was waiting for my ride, a confrontation between a 7 eleven manager and a shoplifter played out. The 7 eleven guy demanded ‘his stuff back’ and the shoplifter guy decided it wasn’t worth going to the mat over a bottle of water and a bag of pretzels.
Me? I picked a shaded spot to wait for my chariot, which ended up being a Tesla sedan.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I have got to see what it looks like inside…
Thing is, this was a Sunday. The church people get up to all sorts of stuff in there on Sundays. There’s historic documentation of this area, as it’s actually a historic/landmark district, and I’m plan on getting to know this old timey ‘zone’ better in the coming months.
There’s also a rough side to this neighborhood, mind you, but… Y’know… Brooklyn…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned in earlier posts, I’m a few weeks ahead of the schedule here – for once – and this post is being written on the 15th of August.
Back tomorrow with something different, and less obsessive.
“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.
North Siding
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As regular readers will recall, from last week, your humble narrator was out and about for a fairly short walk on an extremely hot afternoon in Pittsburgh. The T light rail had carried me from Dormont to Downtown, and the Roberto Clemente Bridge – having been closed to vehicle traffic due to a baseball game at the PNC Park stadium – was how I was crossing the Allegheny River. I took every opportunity to stand directly on the lane markers in the center of the bridge and shoot photos. Normally, doing this would get you shmushed by a car or truck.
This one looks back towards the Downtown area. Funnily enough, I used to do some of the advertising work for that Renaissance Hotel, on the left hand side of the shot. This was around 25 years ago, at a small ad agency I worked for on 22nd street between fifth and sixth, back in Manhattan.
Retouching and ad construction/publishing, if you’re curious.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The closed bridge lane continued for a couple of blocks onto the street ‘grid’ of Pittsburgh’s North Shore, in direct proximity to the stadium. My toes were pointed in the direction of those concrete ramps, which carry a couple of high speed roads and there’s also a rail trestle back there.
This section which I was heading into used to be called ‘Allegheny City,’ until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned last week, there was an event meant to be happening which seemed like it would offer lots of silly things to take pictures of, and that’s what guided my steps.
Unfortunately, when I arrived at the prescribed location – Nada. Crossed signals, maybe? I double checked the address, and time/date, but there you are.
So, there I am, a narrator without a destination… what to do…
Keep walking, that’s what.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I was walking the perimeter of Allegheny Commons Park, which I’ve often visited in search of interesting rail shots, and the National Aviary’ is found within its confines, as well. I stuck to the streets, specifically ‘North Avenue.’ Lots and lots of interesting historic building stock can be found along this route.
You’re looking at Pittsburgh’s ‘Mexican War Streets historic district’ by the way.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Pictured above is a lovely apartment building, built in the pre-air conditioning era, a building which always catches my eye when I’m moving through this zone. I looked around for any information about 316-318 North Avenue, but a fog of real estate offerings seems to be intentionally obscuring its tale.
This is a real and growing problem, by the way. ‘SEO’ or ‘Search Engine Optimization’ manipulation of Google results has greatly reduced the utility of the search giant’s services in recent years. It’s too easy for the ‘shit flies’ to crowd out anything other than their dreams of avarice.
Google used to be a useful tool. Now, it’s just another vehicle for ads.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Oddly enough, I spotted two women walking horses around in the park. A few blocks later, a photo shoot was encountered. There were three very attractive young women wearing western style garb which had been ‘bedazzled’ with sequins and such. There was a very nervous looking photographer, and a couple of stylists, and these horses were heading their way.
Never work with children or animals, ask any actor.
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.
Peanuts & Crackerjacks, yo
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After having ridden the T light rail into Downtown Pittsburgh from HQ in Dormont, your humble narrator hit the streets. Pictured above is (what I’m told) the former home and 1893 vintage ‘flagship’ department store of the Joseph Horne Company at Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue.
There was an event going during this particular afternoon, a couple of miles away, meant to be taking place on the North Side of the Allegheny River which seemed like it was going to be quite silly, and was the sort of thing I normally would like to point a camera at. When I got there, no event. It was, in fact, silly.
My footsteps were nevertheless being loosely organized in that general direction.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Pirates were three innings into a baseball game with the Reds, directly across the Allegheny River.
It was positively sultry out, with temperatures in the low 90’s and a fair amount of humidity. A steady breeze was blowing, however, and whenever shade could be found – things were existentially tolerable.
Saying that, it was hot, and this ended up being one of my ‘short walks.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As an aside, I have managed to survive all of the tests and ministrations which my team of doctors have insisted upon in the last four weeks.
After having to delay several prescribed things due to the ankle situation, I can report that your humble narrator has now been analyzed fully. Just visited the dentist too, so I can honestly say ‘head to toe.’ Not ‘exactly’ a clean bill of health came back to me from all the tests, but then again, I’m in my late 50’s so… you ain’t gonna get no good news from the blue pajamas and white coats crowd after 50.
As is usually the case with me, just keep walking, that’s the curative for everything. When you stop moving, that’s when you’ve started to decay. Get out of the house and go see something, ya lazy…
My entire philosophy is based, suffice to say, on this: Put one foot in front of the other… (There’s also ‘What would Superman do’ of course.)
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On game days, such as this particular Sunday, the city closes the Roberto Clemente Bridge to traffic so that the baseball fans can use it as a pedestrian ramp to the stadium from downtown. No way am I not going to take advantage of that – as it’s a very interesting situation.
No shade, though, and did I mention it was HOT. Saying that, I seem to possess an ability which most do not these days.
I can sublimate temporary discomfort for a while, without freaking out about becoming dehydrated within three minutes or worrying about my electrolyte balance. Yeah, it was uncomfortable, but it’s the world. You want comfort, stay home.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were a steady stream of Baseball fans leaving the stadium, and I overheard one of them telling his wife on the phone that it was just ‘too damn hot to sit in the stands.’ That’s probably why so many people were sitting in those shady ‘nose bleed’ seats at PNC Park.
I attended a Pirates game here in 2024, check out the views from inside the stadium here if you like.
The earphones came out shortly after starting the walk on the Clemente Bridge, which is one of Pittsburgh’s iconic ‘Three Sisters Bridges.’ Full sensory and situational awareness was required.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A heel spin, and looking back at the pathway I’d walked.
An old habit, born in NYC, to see if anyone is following me. Let me tell you, the camera gets instantly noticed by the street people here. Usually, I’ll stand there staring at their eyes so when the gaze retreats off the camera and up to the ‘size the victim up’ phase, they see me intently glaring at them and sometimes smiling. That’s usually enough in Pittsburgh, but… everybody besides me is packing a pistol in Pennsylvania. Concealed carry is kosher here.
I can do the Bene Gesserit voice from Dune, as a note. Just tell people what to do and they start doing it without realizing.
Back next week with more, from the Paris of Appalachia, 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 