Father Pitt

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Penn Avenue Gatehouse, Allegheny Cemetery

Father Pitt has always had mixed feelings about HDR (“high-dynamic-range”) images. They are made from multiple exposures—this one, for example, is put together from three photographs—in an attempt to capture the detail in both the highlights and the shadows. On the one hand, they always strike him as artificial-looking; on the other, HDR imaging was the only effective way to capture both the stonework and the lowering clouds in this picture. If you look closely, you will notice an artifact of the process: it was a windy day, so the stones are sharp but the trees are blurred.

This is the Penn Avenue gatehouse of Allegheny Cemetery, seen from inside the cemetery. Old Pa Pitt returned two days later to try another HDR image, and this time—with some tweaking of software settings—he managed a more natural-looking result:

If he were at all concerned with his reputation as an artist, he would have led with this picture. But he thought you might enjoy seeing a first attempt and the refinement that followed, in that order.

If you are looking for some atmospheric fun for Halloween, Father Pitt’s Pittsburgh Cemeteries is full of interesting pictures and information.

October 30, 2021
Roots II: The Revenge

This tree has long since outgrown its little square of dirt along Jane Street on the South Side. Now it is meditating a hostile takeover of the sidewalk.

October 29, 2021
Liberty Hall, South Side

Update: Thanks to Donna Gunton (see the comment below), we know that this was a Polish hall often used for political meetings and other social events. In 1921, when the hall was built, Poland had just been reestablished as an independent country for the first time since 1795, so the name “Liberty Hall” must have occurred naturally to Polish immigrants.

The original article is preserved below so that you can see how far old Pa Pitt was wrong and how close he came to being right.

Old Pa Pitt would be delighted if someone could tell him something of the history of this building. He knows that it was put up in 1921, because the date is proudly displayed at the top of the building. He suspects, from the look of the building and from some random chatter on the Internet, that it was an ethnic club, possibly Serbian—but that is speculation. Technically it is on the Slopes side of the railroad that separates the South Side Flats from the South Side Slopes, but this lower part of the Slopes seems to be socially more connected to the East European Flats than to the German streets above. About fifteen years ago, Liberty Hall was briefly a nightclub; it closed in less than a year, and neighbors rallied to prevent it from opening again. And that is all Father Pitt knows, so he would be happy to hear from someone better informed.

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October 28, 2021
The Four Evangelists on St. Paul’s

In order: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, on the Fifth Avenue front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Oakland.

October 27, 2021
Boston Ivy in Fall Color

A close relative of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) shares the Parthenocissus habit of erupting in bright colors in the fall. These vines were growing on the stone wall along the railroad at the back of the South Side.

October 26, 2021
Church Converted to Alley Houses, South Side

From the blocked-up Gothic windows and general shape, we can infer that this was a small church. But at some point not very recently it was converted to four tiny alley houses, made only slightly less tiny by the addition of what are probably kitchens on the back. (Update: For the history of the church, see “The Mystery of the Converted Church on the South Side.”)

October 26, 2021
Virginia Creeper in Fall Color

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in its autumnal red.

October 25, 2021
Matched Pair of Victorian Commercial Buildings on Carson Street

Both could use a little spiffing up, but they are fine examples of the Victorian commercial architecture for which Carson Street is famous.

October 25, 2021
Under the Railroad Overpass, South Side

Little mineral stalactites dangle from the railroad overpass over 21st Street, South Side.

October 24, 2021
Lamppost, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial

Details matter. The bronze lampposts in front of the building are exceptionally elegant, which adds to the effect even if you don’t notice the lampposts themselves.

October 24, 2021