I went to Trinity Cathedral during my lunch hour today. It is one of the two massive churches located on Sixth Avenue across the street from The Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh. Although I remember when Trinity Cathedral was mostly black with soot from our city’s industrial days, its stone exterior has since been cleaned and it probably looks as good as it did when the church was completed in 1872. The church is of the Episcopal denomination and part of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Like many downtown churches, it offers a warm environment during the day for the city’s homeless. For the 30 minutes or so that I was inside, there must have been at least 20 people sitting in the pews. Some were snoring and others were mingling in a loud cluster at the back of the church.
Anyhow, back to the photography. I try to limit myself to 30 minutes inside the church because it usually takes me 15 minutes each way to get there and back from my office. Today I was working on some HDR or high dynamic range photos using several exposures to capture a greater depth of brightness and darkness. This requires a tripod and then I take the photos to my computer to merge them and come up with one photo that I feel mimics what you actually see in person. I like replicating real life as much as possible. Some photographers are very talented at exploiting this technique for exaggerated effects.
I didn’t photograph any people in the church. Some photographers I know take offense at photographing the homeless, but I feel differently. They are people like everyone else. I think they have a story, just like any other pedestrian on the street. Their stories are sad and I’m not capitalizing on them, I’m simply creating a visual that speaks their needs and frustrations for others who might not have thought about what life is like for them. My reason for not photographing the homeless today was technical. People do not make good subjects for HDR photography because they move.
This is the front of the sanctuary at Trinity Cathedral.
A view of the back of the sanctuary at Trinity Cathedral.
According to the church’s Web site, this cross made of steel, glass and aluminum in honor of Pittsburgh’s major industries.
Trinity Cathedral
/by kmillerI went to Trinity Cathedral during my lunch hour today. It is one of the two massive churches located on Sixth Avenue across the street from The Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh. Although I remember when Trinity Cathedral was mostly black with soot from our city’s industrial days, its stone exterior has since been cleaned and it probably looks as good as it did when the church was completed in 1872. The church is of the Episcopal denomination and part of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Like many downtown churches, it offers a warm environment during the day for the city’s homeless. For the 30 minutes or so that I was inside, there must have been at least 20 people sitting in the pews. Some were snoring and others were mingling in a loud cluster at the back of the church.
Anyhow, back to the photography. I try to limit myself to 30 minutes inside the church because it usually takes me 15 minutes each way to get there and back from my office. Today I was working on some HDR or high dynamic range photos using several exposures to capture a greater depth of brightness and darkness. This requires a tripod and then I take the photos to my computer to merge them and come up with one photo that I feel mimics what you actually see in person. I like replicating real life as much as possible. Some photographers are very talented at exploiting this technique for exaggerated effects.
I didn’t photograph any people in the church. Some photographers I know take offense at photographing the homeless, but I feel differently. They are people like everyone else. I think they have a story, just like any other pedestrian on the street. Their stories are sad and I’m not capitalizing on them, I’m simply creating a visual that speaks their needs and frustrations for others who might not have thought about what life is like for them. My reason for not photographing the homeless today was technical. People do not make good subjects for HDR photography because they move.
This is the front of the sanctuary at Trinity Cathedral.
A view of the back of the sanctuary at Trinity Cathedral.
According to the church’s Web site, this cross made of steel, glass and aluminum in honor of Pittsburgh’s major industries.
Saint Mary on the Mount
/by kmillerOn Saturday morning I spent a few hours at Saint Mary on the Mount atop Mt. Washington. It is a beautiful Catholic church. I met a very sweet woman who talked with me for a few moments about what brought her back to her Pittsburgh roots and recalled visiting with her parents at the regatta one summer when she was unsure of what was ahead for her and her children as she and her husband had recently been divorced. While standing in Point State Park, she looked at Mt. Washington and saw the church aglow. She mentioned the number of years that she’s been going to the church and while I can’t quite remember how long she said it was, I know it’s been a long time. The church, to her, was a sign from God to move back to Pittsburgh from a city several states away. She was very happy to tell me what the church means to her.
Here are a few favorites from my shoot:
Apparently, the church has done extensive and expensive renovation to return the stained glass windows to their original splendor.
Dramatic lighting accentuates the altar.
I like the juxtaposition of Mary with baby Jesus in the foreground and the crucifixion in the background.
This beautiful window above the entrance to the church is my favorite. It’s Christ’s ascension into Heaven.
Churches of Pittsburgh
/by kmillerThe Churches of Pittsburgh
I’m working on an independent project documenting the Churches of Pittsburgh. The following are churches I plan to photograph over the next week or two. I’ll be breaking a bit from this blog’s general topic of photography because there’s just so much history with these churches that I won’t be able to resist sharing some tidbits I’ve learned along the way.
Saint Mary on the Mount Parish on Mt. Washington
First Presbyterian Church in downtown Pittsburgh
Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh
St. Nicholas Church in Millvale
Smithfield United Church of Christ
First Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsburgh
St. Stanislaus Kostka in the Strip District
Heinz Chapel in Oakland
St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland
Saint Mary on the Mount
Epiphany Catholic Church in downtown Pittsburgh
I’m also considering photographing the following churches over the next month or so: Mount Ararat Baptist Church, St. Anthony’s Reliquary, Iron City Church and Hot Metal Church. Bellevue Christian Church is on my list too, but its sanctuary is currently being remodeled.
If anyone out there would like to recommend a church to add to my list, please leave a comment. We have so many beautiful churches in Pittsburgh and I’m learning about more and more everyday.
Dacia and Mike’s Wedding
/by kmillerDacia and Mike were hoping for a winter wedding, and while the snow was relentless in the weeks leading up to their day, it was oddly warm on that first Saturday in February. Imagine that; Pittsburgh weather is unpredictable! Anyhow, they had a beautiful day despite the unseasonably warm weather.
Dacia is getting her updo.
The guys pose around the table in their dressing room.
Here comes the bride!
Hand in hand.
Have you heard of the runaway ring bearer?
One sweet day.
Christina and Nathan’s wedding
/by kmillerChristina and Nathan tied the knot on a beautiful autumn day.
These pew decorations are so creative.
The couple's wedding guests were very enthusiastic about throwing bird seed.
The bridal party went to Hanover Park for photos on a covered bridge.
The fall colors in this wedding were complimented by the scenery at Hanover Park.
Christina looks so peaceful at the edge of this forrest.
They're ready to get the party started!