Back in the good old days, when people took pride in their work, or at least when bronze was cheaper, some contractors would put a bronze plate in the concrete of every sidewalk they laid. They were meant to be permanent, and they do seem to last at least as long as the sidewalks around them. Some of the most ornate plates were the ones left by the Wadsworth Stone & Paving Co., whose plates are works of art in themselves. This one was set in a sidewalk in Squirrel Hill.
A worn face on a worn urn in Mellon Park seems immemorially ancient. It isn’t, but it’s old enough to remember when the park was a millionaire’s private playground.
There is no need for explanation: just beautiful November colors in every shade.
A lion in Mellon Park guards a formal green.
What this niche really needs is a statue of Diana, or of some other chaste goddess who appreciates nature. Not one of those urban party-girl goddesses.
Leaves in colors from bright gold to deep mahogany; ornamental grasses in browns, yellows, and oranges; a perfect day.
All these photographs in Mellon Park were taken with a Kodak Retinette, whose Schneider-Kreuznach lens and Compur-Rapid shutter make it a fine choice for a light, compact 35-mm camera. It has no rangefinder, which has the salutary effect of forcing the photographer to think clearly about focus and depth of field.
A wrought-iron fence and gate in Mellon Park, surrounded by the rich and subtle colors of early November.
Early November: the gaudy colors of the maples have fled, but the oaks and birches take over with richer and subtler tones. This fountain is a bit medieval, a bit magical, and a bit silly, which makes it just about perfect.
