Pittsburgh Photographer – Page 2

Weekly Photo Challenge: Self-Portrait

Along the Monongahela River by late afternoon light and at night on the way home from the Waterfront in Homestead. Two of my favorite views, anytime of day or night!

I had the cardboard “me” in the car already. We make people out of brown corrugated boxes. I always make myself as a model for the students, this year with gray yarn hair!

Some of you know I teach Art in the City K-8th grade. Not too many people get to make themselves out of scrap cardboard at their job. The “Flat Ruthie” (have you ever seen Flat Stanley?–I photographed him for granddaughter Anna’s school project) was driving around with me cause I was thinking it might make a fun Christmas card, myself and the skyline or something.

In 2009 I was in a self-portrait show at Silver Eye Center of Photography. I can’t tell you how many images I shot of myself in my kitchen, trying to look young and thin. Figured I could achieve both effects with myself as a cardboard puppet. No wrinkles on the smooth cardboard.

photo-13 — Along Beechwood Boulevard looking to Homestead

December 17, 2011December 17, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Pittsburgh Photos, Pittsburgh Rivers, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: Canon camera, Carrie Furnace, Flat Stanley, iPhone photography, Monongahela River, night photography, photography, Pittsburgh Photographer, Weekly photo challenge: self-portrait 46 Comments

Allegheny River Still as a Lake Sunday Afternoon

December 12, 2011December 15, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Pittsburgh RiversTags: Allegheny River, photography, Pittsburgh Photographer, Pittsburgh Rivers, postaday2011 14 Comments

They’re Taking Down Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

A poetry friend emailed and told me they were dismantling the roof. I drove by after school Tuesday, rain and gray. A huge chain link fence has been erected around the perimeter. I could see what she noticed and why she thought it might be an interesting photograph. It felt sad. My friend V says she remembers when the Civic Arena was built(1961) and that the roof never really did work right, although it was supposed to open up to the sky in less than two minutes according to what I read about it.

“Mellon Arena… hosted such music legends as Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, six sold-out nights of Garth Brooks and The Grateful Dead

The Mellon Arena hosted its first show, the Ice Capades, on September 19, 1961. Other notable performance highlights include: The Beatles on September 14, 1964, Elvis Presley on June 25, 1973 and the Page/Plant concert on March 25, 1995, which registered the highest attendance ever in the Arena (17,764) until January 30, 1999 when 18,150 fans packed the arena for a WWF house show.” from History of Mellon Arena

And the Penguins play at the new Consol Energy Center built down the hill from the old Arena. Here is phase one, the beginning of the tearing down of the Mellon Arena. Lots of memories for many people.

I have shot an engaged and a wedding couple with the Mellon Arena as the backdrop.

Dedicated hockey fans.

November 23, 2011November 23, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Pittsburgh PhotosTags: architecture, Civic Arena, demolition, Mellon Arena, photography, Pittsburgh landmark, Pittsburgh PA, Pittsburgh Photographer, postaday2011 10 Comments

Everybody Loves Italian Men

Strip District shopping on Saturday AM I finally saw the sign R told me about a few weeks ago. In fact, I parked right in front of it.

After I loaded up the car and got into the driver’s seat to pull out of the parking space, there were two women responding to the sign! More difficult to read the sign at that angle but I thought the addition of the women going in really added to the scene.

October 24, 2011October 23, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Pittsburgh Photos, SignageTags: baking and eating, Enrico Biscotti Company, iPhone photography, Italian men, photography, Pittsburgh PA, Pittsburgh Photographer, postaday2011, shopping, signage, StripDistrict 11 Comments

Windy With a Chance of Sunlight

A beautiful day. And though inside from 7:30-4:00 I was able to catch the unfurled flag from the second floor window AND the flag shadow on the asphalt during lunch. Right through the glass.

The Cathedral of Learning in the distance, the light fluctuating as clouds rolled across the sky. Had to tilt the camera to get both the flag and the shadow- the angle a technique I don’t use often.

Windy

In the daytime look out the windows.
Branches bend, papers blow across the yard.
Ripples or waves on water.
A pile of leaves caught up in a whirl.
You can tell it’s windy.
At night, listen.
A train along the river whistles.
Calm, a burst, a roar.
Earlier in my car on the bridge.
Wait for the light.
Feel it. Vibrate.
Bounce bounce bounce
right up through the tires.

Flag and Flag Shadow — Eye level to the top of a flag pole- a cool perspective.

February 19, 2011May 24, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Light in the City, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: architecture, arlington, Canon 50D, Cathedral of Learning, city, city scene, neighborhood, Oakland, photo of the day, photoblog, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Photographer, postaday2011, shadow, sidewalk, University of Pittsburgh, urban scene 5 Comments

Empty Church in a Foggy Mist

Too many churches, not enough parishioners. One afternoon I photographed 8 closed churches on the South Side in one hour’s time. Now a law office, one a Dueling Pianos Bar, two were condominiums, some just locked and empty. I had a plan for a series on the closed churches of Pittsburgh converted for other uses, like the Church Brew Works and Mr. Smalls Theater, the Altar Bar, The Priory etc. but then I abandoned the effort as it just felt sad to me. No shortage of subjects. There are some beautiful and interesting preservation photos of St. Peter and Paul (click here)

Could Have Been Taken Anywhere

East Liberty PA
Once a bustling business
and thriving cultural center.
Gone through decades of changes.
Now some new businesses.
I looked out and saw the closed church.
So hauntingly beautiful in the winter fog and mist.

February 12, 2011May 24, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Light in the City, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: architecture, church, East Liberty, memories, neighborhood, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Photographer, Pittsburgh Photography, postaday2011, St. Peter and Paul, urban scene, winter scene 5 Comments

Button, Button, Whose Got the Button? ( & Bridal Veils, too!)

1700 Carson Street is the home of a great button store. It fascinates me- Parker Button. Boxes and boxes stacked from floor to ceiling. All colors, shapes and sizes. Like an artist’s palette. Shank or flat. Frogs and belt buckles. Ribbon and trim. Spools of thread to sew them all on for utility or ornamentation. My mother had a glass jar full of buttons. My sister made me the coolest necklace from vintage mother-of-pearl shirt buttons, strung onto embroidery floss. Do you have any clothing missing a button?

The other half of the shop is Clarissa’s Boutique . One word to describe the bridal veils, jewelry and accessories for custom headpieces and wedding necessities- exquisite? lovely? classic? ethereal? They will create a custom headpiece for you but allow three months. Feathers, flowers, jewels, or pearls. Voted the Best of the Knot for weddings 2011.

These Days Buttons are Often a Part of Web Design

Or people push our buttons.
Press the button to call the elevator
or select your floor.
Today’s post is the old fashioned kind.
Two-hole, four-hole or shank.
Metal, plastic, shell or bone.
Beatrix Potter shapes of rabbits.
When was the last time you sewed on a button?

Today marks 500 blog posts and counting!

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Growing up we had a record with the song ( these lyrics are from 1929)

Button up your overcoat, When the wind is free, Oh, take good care of yourself, You belong to me! Eat an apple every day, Get to bed by three, Oh, take good care of yourself, You belong to me! Be careful crossing streets, ooh-ooh, Cut out sweets, ooh-ooh, Lay off meat, ooh-ooh, You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!

February 10, 2011June 1, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Light in the City, Pittsburgh Photos, vintageTags: belt buckles, bridal veils, bride, button, button collecting, buttons, Carson Street, city scene, Clarissa's Boutique, frogs, jewlery, memories, notions, Parker Button, photo of the day, photoblog, photography, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Photographer, Pittsburgh Weddings, postaday2011, retro, sewing, south side, The Knot, thread, urban scene, vintage, vintage buttons, wedding accessories 14 Comments

HERE WE GO! Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jets Playoff Game- Single Digits on the Thermometer Predicted

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Reporting from Pittsburgh- I put myself on assignment. Saturday morning I was thinking about a post for Sunday’s game. It was all blue sky and about ten degrees. Got out of bed and drove through the Strip District on my way down to Heinz Field. The guy who sold me the Croatian STEELERSFan T-shirts last year agreed to a shot. Fans lined up for breakfast outside DeLuca’s. Dumptrucks were being filled with snow from the stadium parking lots. Rows of Porta-Potties stood empty, waiting for the Sunday tailgaters. Up in the stands I saw an army spreading salt left and right. Went for coffee in Aspinwall afterwards and ended in the J & W Variety Store (EST. 1969) where I purchased a tiny 99 cents pencil sharpener. Lots of STEELERS gear and accessories for sale. I asked if it would be okay if I photographed the display and the proprietor said – Sure! Handed me a complimentary HERE WE GO button as I left. Everyone’s pumped! I read a letter to the editor (5th one down)in the Post-Gazette from the guy in the New England End Zone Militia asking us to drown out the JETS fans and win! Similar to the players message to the fans click here– BE LOUD!!

January 23, 2011October 22, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Pittsburgh PhotosTags: AFC championship, Aspinwall, celebration, city scene, DeLuca's, football, Football Fans, Heinz Field, J & W Variety Store, Jets, photo of the day, photoblog, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Photographer, Pittsburgh Photography, Playoffs, Post-Gazette, postaday2011, sidewalk, snow, sports, Steelers, Steelers Fans, team spirit, urban scene, winter scene 11 Comments

Tag: Pittsburgh Photographer

Weekly Photo Challenge: Self-Portrait

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Allegheny River Still as a Lake Sunday Afternoon

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They’re Taking Down Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

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Everybody Loves Italian Men

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Windy With a Chance of Sunlight

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Empty Church in a Foggy Mist

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Button, Button, Whose Got the Button? ( & Bridal Veils, too!)

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HERE WE GO! Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jets Playoff Game- Single Digits on the Thermometer Predicted

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