It is probably a photographer thing, but sometimes I see something, and I just have to take a thousand photographs of it to capture how interesting it is or the cool way it looks. This is particularly true when I see really interesting architecture with interesting lines or reflections or curves or whatever. The Comcast Center in Philadelphia was one such building because of the way it almost disappeared into the sky. PPG Place in Pittsburgh is another such piece of architecture. It is not so much the shape of the buildings, but it is the way they reflect the buildings around them that I find so interesting. I love reflections. I love photographing reflections. I also love how somewhat similar to Comcast Center, it almost blends into the sky by reflecting the blue. So while in Pittsburgh, I took a huge number of photographs of PPG Place because I was just so intrigued and captivated by the way it reflected its surroundings. 
Tag Archives: Photography
Pittsburgh
I wanted to get away for a short vacation, so I went to Pittsburgh for a day. Why Pittsburgh? Well, why not? Also, getting to and from Pittsburgh involved two very pretty, long train rides, which was half the reason for the trip. Anyway, Pittsburgh is an amazingly walkable city, especially downtown. You can walk across all (I think) the bridges, and there are pedestrian and bike paths everywhere. Downtown has a lovely mix of old and new buildings. Basically I could wander around for a day taking photos, which was exactly what I wanted and what I did.
Building reflections downtown
Old tiled building juxtaposed with PPG glass building
Rather unique old building tower
Art deco (?) building
Fort Pitt Bridge over Monongahela River
Point State Park
Heinz Field
Fort Pitt Bridge over Monongahela River with downtown in background
North Shore Riverwalk with Fort Duquesne Bridge in background
Downtown viewed from across the Allegheny River
Robert Clemente Bridge and downtown
The white in the background is the convention center roof, which I assume was designed to have the same catenary curve as the suspension bridges seen in foreground
Lichen on Granite
While in Stage Fort Park in Gloucester in Massachusetts’s northern shore, there were several huge granite boulders that were covered with lichen. It was thus therefore required for me to bring out my macro lens and take photos of it. I love lichen. I love granite. I love lichen on granite.
Northern Massachusetts Shore
While in Boston for a few days, my friend Kristen said I need to get out the city and see Massachusetts’s northern shore. I think she was hunting lighthouses, but I was just looking for pretty views and classic New England. We found all of that visiting Gloucester and Rockport.
Stage Fort Park
Stage Fort Park
Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial
Lobster pots
“Motif Number 1” on Bradley Wharf in Rockport
Rockport
Thacher Island Twin Lights
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
I have this thing for bridges. I love them. However, I have a particular thing for cable-stayed bridges. They are my favorite. I love the simplicity of them. They are modern, sleek, functional, graceful, and gorgeous, all at the same time. Boston has a cable-stayed bridge right next to downtown, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, by which I-93 crosses the Charles River. So naturally, while in Boston, I took a lot of photos of this bridge. Here are just a few.
Boston’s Freedom Trail
While in Boston, I walked the entire 2.5-mile Freedom Trail. It is a nice walk except for avoiding all the street construction. I have to admit also, as a tourist, it is nice not to really have to check a map, but rather just follow a red brick path in the sidewalks. I previously posted photos of the Massachusetts State House and the Bunker Hill Monument. Here are a few more photos from sites and just views along the Freedom Trail.
USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”)
Winthrop Square
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Old North Church
Inside of Old North Church
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway above I-93
Faneuil Hall
Old State House
A brief explanation of why I am posting the below photo. There is a T (subway) train station right below the Old State House, with an entrance through the building. As an engineer, I find this amazing. Consider how old the building is and the studies of the building that must have occurred to determine it could handle both the space being dug out of its foundation and also the ability to take vibrations from the subway and people going in and out of it.
T Station below Old State House
Old South Meeting House wedged between old and new office buildings
Old City Hall
Granary Burying Ground, where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Mother Goose, and others are buried
Bunker Hill Monument
I was in Boston for a few days, and I decided to walk the Freedom Trail. I got to the Bunker Hill Monument, and I was told I should go to the top because the views are great. This seemed like a perfectly good reason to climb 294 steps. My legs afterwards had some thoughts on this idea. Anyway, here are some photos from the top, so you don’t have to climb it.
Bunker Hill Monument, which I climbed, for reasons
View of Navy Yards and USS Constitution
View of Mystic River
View of Mystic River
View towards Somerville
View of downtown Boston
View of downtown Boston and Back Bay
Massachusetts State House
I have a goal to visit all 50 state houses. I am in Boston for a few days, so I was able to visit the Massachusetts State House. The State House is very pretty with a whole lot of marble. There is a definite sea theme in it, with waves and fish in many different areas. There is a large fish in both the House of Representatives and the Senate Chamber. The main portion (or pretty area as one worker there called it), is smaller than I originally thought it would be. However I guess the actual working area is generally more functional, not as pretty.
Massachusetts State House
Nurses Hall
Nurses Hall
Memorial Hall
Glass ceiling of Memorial Hall
Main Staircase
House of Representatives
Viewing balcony of House of Representatives with large fish hanging
Senate Chamber
Quechee Gorge
I’m in White River Junction, Vermont for a very short work trip. My waiter at dinner last night tells me if I have any free time, I need to make the 10 minute drive to see the Quechee Gorge. He was right. I didn’t have time to go hiking down to the bottom, which I would have loved to do. I only had time to walk along a little to see the dam. I do love to see dams and bridges.
Looking north from the Quiche Gorge Bridge
Looking south from the Quiche Gorge Bridge
Quiche Gorge Bridge
Dam in the Ottauquechee River
Lowline Lab
Many people are familiar with New York City’s Highline, which has become a really popular spot with tourists and residents. It it is really cool, and beautiful all year round, in the dead of winter and in bloom. Because of the Highline’s success, some people came up with the idea of the Lowline. The Lowline would make use of of the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal under Delancey Street, which is right next to the Essex Street subway station. However, the somewhat radical idea for the Lowline is that it would make use of sunlight to light the space, which is completely underground. To help design and work out issues with this idea, the Lowline Lab was created. It is now closed, but luckily about a month ago I got to tour it.
I encourage your to click the hyperlink to my photos of the Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal under Delancey Street because in order to comprehend the challenge of this project, you really need to see the space as it is now.
Delancey Street with Williamsburg Bridge in background. Essex Street subway station entrance can be seen on left. Abandoned trolley terminal is right below street.
Sunlight collectors on roof
Sunlight brought in from smaller vertical tube and reflected into sideways tube
Sunlight brought in vertically from roof collector and then reflected in sideways tube
Ceiling with tubes outputting sunlight and reflectors below
Display of plants and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Display of plants, including vertical plant elements, and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Display of plants and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Plants that may be used