Spring at the North Side of Pittsburgh

It's been several months since I was last up at this particular location. I absolutely love this location. The view of the city is so rich in detail, the colors palate is wide: reds, oranges, blue, greens, yellows, purples, etc.

Note the Rachel Carson bridge is now under repair in the middle of the frame.

PittsburghAllegheny RiverNorth SideNeighborhoodUrbanRachel CarsonRachel Carson Bridgeskyscraperarchitecturedowntownsteel citycity of champions

Heinz Field and the Point from the Ft. Pitt Bridge

Everytime I drive from the south hills over the Ft. Pitt bridge I always wonder if I could get a photo of Heinz Field from the bridge and capture some of the point along with it. And then I forget about it and go about taking photos from various other locations. But when Garth Brooks came to town and offered the opportunity to capture Heinz field all lit up when the weather was nice, I had to try.

I like it. I wish the fountain had been fully on with the main column, but I'll take it. :-)

Heinz FieldSteelersPittsburghPoint State ParkFountainGarth BrooksconcertCarnegie Science CenterPennsylvaniaGarth Brooks Stadium TourFt Pitt BridgeOhio RiverAllegheny River

Heinz Field From the Point

Heinz Field head on.

Heinz FieldSteelersPittsburghPoint State ParkFountainGarth BrooksconcertCarnegie Science CenterPennsylvaniaGarth Brooks Stadium Tour

Garth Brooks Concert at Heinz Field

After being delayed for a while, the concert got going and I took the opportunity to capture some photos of Heinz Field and the Fountain.

Heinz FieldSteelersPittsburghPoint State ParkFountainGarth BrooksconcertCarnegie Science CenterPennsylvaniaGarth Brooks Stadium Tour

Pittsburgh and the Storm that Moved North

This is a four minute exposure of some severe weather that rolled through a few weeks ago before the Garth Brooks concert. Using a very long shutter speed I was able to capture the motion of the clouds and the storm.

PittsburghThree RiversPoint State ParkThe PointUPMCHighmarkPPG PlaceHeinz FieldGarth BrooksGarth Brooks Stadium TourAllegheny RiverOhio RiverconfluenceSteel CityCity of Championsstormweathersevere thunderstorm warning

Pittsburgh from Above Troy Hill

I just really like this view of the city. I also really like the light flare.

PittsburghTroy HillPittview AveHighmarkUPMCKL GatesGulf TowerPPG PlaceSt Mary of the MountEQT

Under the Bridge

Sometimes, when exploring the city, the most unique views can be found. The steel structure caught my eye when trying to get the city and the Fort Pitt bridge and figured I'd see what I could do with it.

Fort Pitt BridgeSouthsideStation SquareHighmarkHighmark StadiumRiverhoundsPNC ParkStairwaypublic stairsPittsburghPennsylvania

Fort Pitt Bridge

Fort Pitt BridgePittsburghbridgearchitectureinfrastructuresteelcity of steelcity of championsI376Parkwaydowntown

Love Locks - Oakland Pennsylvania

locklove locksOaklandPennsylvaniaFenceurbanpadlockmaster lock

The City and the Hills- Spring

The visual contrasts in this image exemplify the natural world from that of nature. I don't remember who said it first, but "Nature has no straight lines" which can be seen in the trees, the tree line, the hills, etc. Everything that has been manufactured, however is comprised of almost entirely straight lines unless absolutely required: the sky scrapers, the antennae, the houses, the roads.

PPG PlacePittsburgh CastlePPGPittsburghSouthside Slopesdowntownurbancity skylineskylineskyscraperarchitecturesteel citycity of champions

PPG Place

The PPG Place is one of the most unique buildings in the city.

PPG PlacePittsburgh CastlePPGPittsburghSouthside Slopesdowntownurbancity skylineskylineskyscraperarchitecturesteel citycity of champions

Warm Spring Evening at the North Shore

I had a few options for the image tonight, but this was one that really stood out for me.

PittsburghNorth ShoreAllegheny RiverAllegheny Landing ParkHighmarkRoberto Clemente BridgeUS Steel TowerAndy Warhol BridgeUPMCGulf Towerarchitecture

Spring Night in the Park

Spring at Night has this look that is unlike any other time of year.

urbanFrank Curto ParkBigelow AvePittsburghPennsylvaniaHighmarkSpringGreenNight

The Dawn of Spring - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The early morning in Pittsburgh is magical during the spring. The flowers filled the air with the scent of floral life.

SpringPittsburghBridgeRoberto Clemente BridgeFlower

Rising Sun

The sun rising directly behind the Highmark building. The sunrise was relatively nondescript except for this part.

sunrisehighmarkPittsburghmorningSteel City

April Sunrise over Pittsburgh

Sunrise over Pittsburgh is always a wonderful sight, even when it isn't as colorful as one would have hoped.

sunrisedawnmorningPittsburghOhio Rivercity skylineurbanskyscrapersdowntownbridgescity of bridgessteel cityport of Pittsburghfire sky

Incoming Thunderstorm - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

I arrived a few minutes before the thunderstorm and was met by several other photographers up there waiting for the lighting strikes to start, all hoping to catch the perfect and awe inspiring image.

Not a single bolt was to be had. We all got relatively drenched.

thunderstormpittsburghwest end overlookwest end bridgeHeinz FieldUPMCHighmarkCitizens BankPPG PlaceRivers CasinoOhio RiverAllegheny RiverMonongahela RiverSteel CityBNY MellonGulf TowerFort Pitt BridgeFort Duquesne BridgePoint State ParkMt Washington

Sunset over Pittsburgh

This was perhaps the most spectacular sunset I've seen in a really long time. The pinks, the purples and warm oranges was truly incredible. And totally unexpected: I had almost entirely given up on a sunset for the evening as it was gray and dreary just a few minutes before this.

Washington LandingPittsburghAllegheny RiverSunsetSpring SunsetDynamic CloudsUPMCHighmarkKL GatesSkyscraperYachtWashingtons Landing MarinaMarina

Dynamic Sky over Pittsburgh

I love everything about this image. I love the dynamic motion of the clouds headed towards the city. I love the pink and purple of the clouds to the west. I love the small hits of red and green on Herrs Island. Most of all, I love the color and texture of the river itself.

Using a long shutter (this was 90 seconds) allows you to see the motion inherent in the landscape. Normally things move to slowly (or we're not patient enough) to really notice, but when put into an image everything moving becomes obvious.

It should be noted that the water may be the exception to this. The motion of surface of the water is typically fast enough that all motion blurs together and the result is this silky smooth texture that looks quite different than what you would observe with your eyes.

Washington LandingPittsburghAllegheny RiverSunsetSpring SunsetDynamic CloudsUPMCHighmarkKL GatesSkyscraperYachtWashingtons Landing MarinaMarina

Pittsburgh from Above Troy Hill - Spring

I was at this exact spot about a week ago and wow have things changed. The green is noticeable and whole feeling is changing. I absolutely love spring. I love how life seems to return after the brutal cold of winter.

Troy HillPittsburghPennsylvaniasunsetneighborhoodcity skylineMt WashingtonHighmarkUPMCUS Steel TowerGulf TowerKL GatesPPG Place

Spring and the Old Growth - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The first time I came up to this spot I saw this tree and was instantly fascinated with it. Unfortunately, at that time it was too dark to really image it with the city in the way I liked. I kept thinking about it and the gorgeous shape. This is nearly exactly what I was I had pictured.

Troy HillPittsburghPennsylvaniasunsetneighborhoodcity skylineMt WashingtonHighmarkUPMCUS Steel TowerGulf TowerKL GatesPPG Place

PPG Paints Arena - 2019 Playoffs

The Hockey is strong with Pittsburgh. It always has been. It always will be.
Lets go Pens!

NHLPPG Paints ArenaPittsburgh PenguinsHockeyHockeytownPenguinsIglooSidney CrosbySteel cityCity of ChampionsMario Lemieux

Pittsburgh from above Troy Hill at Twilight

This might be my favorite image I've taken so far. Like, I mean, ever. Shooting at twilight is really fantastic. There is just enough light that you can get the right details, but dark enough the sky goes this beautiful blue and the buildings are lit up like giant lanterns.

Troy HillPittsburghPennsylvaniasunsetneighborhoodcity skylineMt WashingtonHighmarkUPMCUS Steel TowerGulf TowerKL GatesPPG Place

Pittsburgh from above Troy Hill at Sunset

There is so much happening here. The gradient in the sky just after sunset gives this image a tremendous warmth even though the actual temperature wasn't all that warm. The sky reminds me of a typical early spring sunset. The skyscrapers are lit up , but it's not dark enough yet to lose the detail in the houses on Troy Hill. And that cloud up there. That cloud is just there being awesome.

I'll be back to this location. There were a few other images I wanted to get but the ambient light was too low and I wasn't able to pull the details that I wanted to.

Troy HillPittsburghPennsylvaniasunsetneighborhoodcity skylineMt WashingtonHighmarkUPMCUS Steel TowerGulf TowerKL GatesPPG Place

Day before the 2019 Season Home Opener: 31 ºF and Snowing.

Pittsburgh springs are really kind of random. We get 70 ºF days in February and snow in April. The day before the home opener it was snowing and really pretty cold (mainly due to the wind). Still, I had to go and get a photo.

PittsburghPiratesbaseballPittsburgh PiratesBuccoshome openerPNC ParkMajor League BaseballMLBStadiumballparkPittsburgh ballparkAllegheny RiverFort Duquesne Boulevard

Day Before the 2019 Home Opener

Spoiler Alert: They lost: 6-5 to the Cardinals in 11 innings.

PittsburghPiratesbaseballPittsburgh PiratesBuccoshome openerPNC ParkMajor League BaseballMLBStadiumballparkPittsburgh ballparkAllegheny RiverFort Duquesne Boulevard

PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

This was taken the day before the home opener on a cold, windy and dreary day.

PittsburghPiratesbaseballPittsburgh PiratesBuccoshome openerPNC ParkMajor League BaseballMLBStadiumballparkPittsburgh ballparkAllegheny RiverFort Duquesne Boulevard

Evening ISS Flyover March 26, 2019

At 8:37 PM the International Space Station flew over South Dakota over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and over Ontario and Quebec Canada. Viewed from Pittsburgh, the station was small and relatively dim which made imaging it relatively difficult. Moving at 17,500 miles per hour (or roughly 5 miles per second) it took the station 6 minutes to go from horizon to horizon.

ISSInternational Space StationFlyoverPittsburghPennsylvaniaUrbanCity SkylineHighmarkUPMCBNY MellonSheratonStation SquareFort PittOhio RiverThree RiversSteel CityFort Pitt Bridgeskylineeveningduskemerald view overlookemerald view park

Looking Down the Ohio River - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

While Pittsburgh gets all the attention, the view down the magnificent Ohio River at dusk where the dark sky is reflected in the water giving it a really incredible deep blue color is really fantastic.

Ohio RiverAllegheny RiverGrand ConcourseStation SquareHighmark FieldFort Pitt BridgeRiversRivers CasinoCasinoHeinz FieldSteelersPittsburgh SteelersRiver HoundsBrunot IslandMcKees RocksWest End BridgeCarnegie Science CenterHiltonParkwaysunsetduskeveningclear sky

LifeFlight over Pittsburgh

St. Paul's cemetery directly north of the city on the top of Troy Hill has this most wonderful overlook. I had gone down to get the sunset which was more of less of a bust, but as twilight approached and the city lit up the blue and green really mixed well. The stadium was lit up too, I guess they're doing tests before the season opener in a few weeks.

PittsburghHighmarkPPG PlaceMt Washingtoncity of bridgessteel cityurbanFt. Pitt BridgeNorth SideTroy HillKDKAGateway CenterKL GatesRoberto Clemente BridgeRachel Cason BridgeAndy Warhol BridgeLifeFlightHelicopterNorthsidetwilightdusk

Concrete Arteries of the City - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

This is just one of the most wonderful and unique views of the city. I am really drawn to the complex roadway system in this part of town - it is so much fun to drive at night when there is little to no traffic. The sunset was a TOTAL bust, but the cloud textures made the trip worthwhile.

PittsburghPennsylvaniaHighwayUrbanLandscapeSunsetcityscapethree riversalleghenyUPMCsteel cityVeterans BridgeCrosstown blvdFederated BuildingKoppersHeinz History CenterGulf TowerUS SteelBNY Mellon

St. Patricks Day in Pittsburgh

It's been a while since I last photographed this view of the city. Between the green Highmark Building and the very colorful reflections in the Allegheny River, I think this one came out pretty good.

pittsburghalleghenyriverwashingtonlandinglongexposurecityskylinehighmarkUPMCPPGUSSteelSt Patricks DaySt PattyGreenLuck of the Irish

US Steel Tower

If you don't mind dodging the traffic, this might be the best place to capture the entire US Steel tower and the its reflection. Add the Three Rivers Heritage Trail bridge to Herrs Island and it's a really neat image.

Allegheny RiverUS Steel TowerUPMCWashington LandingPittsburghPennsylvaniaHerrs IslandThree Rivers Heritage TrailBridge30th Street Bridgereflections

Springdale Pennsylvania - near Pittsburgh

Colfax Street and Pittsburgh Street (and the few blocks around that intersection). This is looking north from across the river.

One of the neat and beautiful things about Western Pennsylvania is that all along the banks of the rivers are these really neat, beautiful, old mill (and mine) towns with these quintessential "Western PA homes". There is so much history represented in this image. If you currently live, or use to live in one of these homes in this image, I'd really like to hear from you. Message me via the contact button on top.

SpringdalePittsburghAllegheny RiverAllegheny ValleyColfax StreetPittsburgh Streeturbanneighborhood

Springdale and New Kensington - near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The hills around Pittsburgh make for some really interesting imaging. In the foreground is Springdale (or at least a part of Springdale) on the bank of the Allegheny River. In the background is New Kensington also on the bank of the Allegheny River.

SpringdaleNew KensingtonPittsburghAllegheny River

The International Space Station Flying over Pittsburgh

The International Space Station flew over Pittsburgh this morning at 6:11 AM and I managed to get out and capture the pass. Actually, the ground track put the flyover north of Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean somewhere north of Maine, but its as visible from Pittsburgh. Fortunately, the sky was clear enough it worked.

ISSInternational Space StationFlyoverPittsburghPennsylvaniaUrbanCity SkylineHighmarkUPMCBNY MellonSheratonStation SquareFort PittOhio RiverThree RiversSteel CityFort Pitt Bridgeskylineearly morning

Railroad Tracks

The rail lines lead into the heart of the industrial machine; while reminiscent of a bygone era of massively heavy industry, Pittsburgh has transformed itself into a vibrant knowledge based economy. It's best to know and honor your roots.

railroadrailtrainlocomotivecitypittsburghsteamfogurbanindustrialcity skylineUPMCHighmarkPPG PlaceNorfolk SouthernCSXBO

Fire Sunrise over Pittsburgh

The past two days have had really wonderful sunrises. I was unable to photograph yesterdays sunrise, but today I was. And I like it.

sunrisedawnmorningPittsburghOhio Rivercity skylineurbanskyscrapersdowntownbridgescity of bridgessteel citytugboatport of pittsburghfire sky

Pittsburgh Skyline and Fire Sunrise

This is a HUGE panorama of the city skyline that is high enough resolution to print as large as you can possibly print.

sunrisedawnmorningPittsburghOhio Rivercity skylineurbanskyscrapersdowntownbridgescity of bridgessteel citytugboatport of pittsburghfire sky

Partial Moon Setting - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Unlike last time I took a photo of the moon setting between buildings, this one was semi-planned. I like how it came out. I love the art deco architecture of both the Koppers and Gulf Towers.

moonwaxing crescentKoppersGulf TowerPittsuburghnightskyscraperbuildingurban architectureart decoearthshinedowntown

The Flow of the City - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The traffic was sufficiently intense to give the image a real sense of motion and flow - partially or mainly due to the curvature of the roadway. So many people going all over the place.

PittsburghnorthI279Pennsylvaniaskylinecityskyscrapersbuildingbeautifulnighttime lapseVeterans BridgeEast StreetTrafficEast Ohio Street

Urban Pedestrian Bridge

Gerst Way is a pedestrian bridge over the Parkway North (I-279) just north of the city. While I've taken many images from the walkway of the city and traffic, this is the first time I've taken an image including the bridge itself that I was happy with.

PittsburghnorthI279Pennsylvaniaskylinecityskyscrapersbuildingbeautifulnighttime lapseVeterans BridgeEast StreetTrafficEast Ohio Street

Pittsburgh from the Hill - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The view of the city from the Hill District is really impressive. The wind was blowing directly in my face and was brutally cold.

PittsburghHill DistrictUPMCBNY MellonGulf TowerKoppersKL GatesFederatedPPG Placecity skylineskyscrapers

Legends of Pittsburgh - Mural on Ross St and Second Ave - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The mural by artist Michael Malle on Ross St. and Second Ave is really a wonderful piece of public art. The weather was quite cold and windy so I wasn't able to stay too long - there was too much traffic for me to get the real shot I wanted, I'll have to go back at 3 AM to get it I think.

Legends of PittsburghartmuralPittsburghRoss StSecond Avepublic artMichael Malleurban artPittsburgh PiratesHomestead GraysPiratesGraysPittsburgh CrawfordsForbes FieldCrawfordssportsbaseball

Roberto Clemente Bridge in Winter - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Winter is a magical time in Pittsburgh as long as it's snowing.

Roberto Clemente Bridge6th Street BridgePittsburghdowntownReed SmithHighmarkPPG Placebridgewinternorth shorenorth sideurban

Roberto Clemente in Winter - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Winter is a magical time in Pittsburgh as long as it's snowing.

Roberto Clemente Bridge6th Street BridgePittsburghdowntownReed SmithHighmarkPPG Placebridgewinternorth shorenorth sideurban

Cathedral of Learning - University of Pittsburgh

I have been trying to find a neat and unique angle to photograph the Cathedral of Learning. Every time I would go to the Pitt Campus I would look and walk around and try and find something and it just wasn't what I wanted. I think this is it though. I'll be interested in seeing how this looks in the summer or during the daylight, but as far as finding a unique angle, I think this is as good as it gets.

CathedralCathedral of LearningPittUniversity of PittsburghPanthersOaklandPennsylvaniatower

From the Top of the Hill - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The view from the top of the Hill was really neat. The wind wasn't too bad, but it got pretty cold. I don't know if this location will work too well in the summer due to the beautiful, giant trees I had to shoot between.

PittsburghPennsylvaniaSteel CityCity of ChampionsHill DistrictUpper HillDowntownHighmarkUPMCGulf TowerPPG PlaceEQTKL GatesBNY MellonKoppersDuquesne InclineRobert Williams ReservoirRobert Williams Park