I’ve never been inside. So much controversy about this place when it was to be built. I remember that.
Not into gambling. It would pain me to lose money I’d worked for. But when I was up on Mount Washington I saw this light on the casino, surrounded by a total gray scene and it struck me as worth capturing.
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*click here to see Flat Ruthie Feed the Horses Cardboard Me Travels to Hardy, Virginia
The 19th Annual Bob O’Connor Cookie Cruise– this year’s charity chosen to benefit is the Cribs for Kids (SIDS). Matthew and I were invited to sail Wednesday night and were the fortunate guests of some dear friends and neighbors. A perfect summer evening. We shook hands with a slew of politicians including the mayor as we boarded the The Majestic. The city was in a beautiful light and as dusk came the scene was heightened in drama, especially as we sailed past the Pirates game in full swing at PNC park. Hot dogs and watermelon and pasta and fried chicken with coleslaw was the menu.There were fireworks over Heinz Field and what caught my eye were the guests lined up to get the cookies once it was announced- the sheets were about to be removed and the platefuls they took to eat- piled high. 
Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago if I could photograph and barge and a tug. And I’ve been trying. When I can….Problem is, that the times I have captured it, the light is wrong, it’s raining, I couldn’t get access to the riverfront. Today I was at a friend’s house on Neville Island and I’d asked her about the tugs and barges going by her house. ALL THE TIME she said. And they did go by, Empty, filled, just a tugboat not pulling or pushing any barges. Problem is it started to rain. And it would not stop. Trying to capture a specific scene has taught me a lot about how I photograph things.
Most of the time I see something and just photograph it. Or I think about something, have an idea and go and find it. The light might be great, the garbage has a treasure in it, the kids are ignoring me, I drive by something I just can’t believe it is right there in front of me. Now- try to capture something specific. I am not as good at that assignment I’ve just learned. It would be as a true assignment like a National Geographic photographer. Stake it out. Camp out. Know the ins and outs. Shoot thousands of frames. Monkey around with your results. Do it again. Different time of day. Return to the scene. Try a different angle, different lens and or camera. Shoot. Shoot some more.
It isn’t that I am not that serious about shooting a specific photograph, I just couldn’t make it come together for this one. Exasperating and frustrating.
Not Light Up Night tonight. My friend Ray called. Said there was a huge orange moon on the horizon but by the time I threw on my jeans, wool sweater, hat and scarf, drove up to Mt. Washington, the moon had risen and appeared off white. Clear, cold and windy, met two couples from Minneapolis on their way to the Macy’s Parade in NYC. Ray told them how to drive off the mountain to Fathead’s or Primanti’s on Carson Street. The city lights looked brighter to me than Friday night. It was an impromptu shooting session but a lot of fun. Posting the Radio Tower on Shiloh Street tomorrow.
Taken Sunday 10-10-10 Through the airplane window, flying fast. One quick shot. Can you find any recognizable landmarks? Wish I could have a “do-over”- try again.
Late Friday(3-12-10) afternoon view from the West End. Gun metal, pewter, slotted spoon, ash, mouse fur, battleship, silverware, smoke, charcoal, aluminum, elephant skin, tankard, chrome bumper, suit flannel, grandma,opossum hide,chain-link,coal car,low clouds,skyline,Pittsburgh –all shades gray.
