PHOTOGRAPH INFO

These photographs are the last I'll be posting from my trip to the old Bethlehem Steel plant in nearby Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For more information on my visit there, please read the 'comments' section on the previous five posts. I'd like to return one day soon with a tripod for some longer and crisper exposures. On this six-hour trip, I was barely able to get acquainted with the place; there were so many areas I missed or had to quickly pass through.

I was lucky to walk into the blast furnace with a few other photographers -- I'm not certain I would have ventured in there on my own! It's a dark, huge, intricate, rusty, crumbling place and a very emotional spot - probably the most 'haunted' of all the locations because of the deafening silence. When it was operating people could hear it up to several miles away. Now you hear the wind blowing through the monolithic metal structure, maybe a door creaking or raindrops hitting metal surfaces.

There are little scrawled notes everywhere, quite a few mentioning milestone dates as the plant closed down. The "last cast" took place on November 18, 1995 -- the R.I.P. note (photo 6) was written the next day, just as someone was packing up their belongings for the last time, I suppose.

The safety glasses were a nice surprise. I had been looking up at the towers and decoding the intricacy of it all for two hours when I finally took a break to talk to another photographer. Just as I was heading out of the furnace, I noticed the glasses sitting on that little ledge -- a good 'memento mori'.

Post-processing: Shot with the Canon EOS 5D and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens as follows:

1) 24mm, ISO 1600, 1/80s, f/8
2) 24mm, ISO 800, 1/60s, f/9
3) 24mm, ISO 800, 1/30s, f/6.3
4) 24mm, ISO 3200, 1/40s, f/9
5) 24mm, ISO 1250, 1/30s, f/7.1
6) 28mm, ISO 1600, 1/30s, f/6.3
7) 27mm, ISO 1600, 1/40s, f/7.1

Why the high ISOs? It was raining and overcast, the place is generally dark anyway, and the 5D has almost no noise issues. There is no noise reduction on any of these images. Adjusted white balance for more warmth, multiple curves adjustments for contrast and saturation, some color balancing for tone.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

--Kathleen

I love your pictures. It makes me want to move to Durham Township! :)
I have especially loved all these images from the Bethlehem Steel. The images really capture that eery feeling! And thanks for the history lesson too!

Simply amazing how you made such works of art out of these images!!

I do hope you get to go back soon, good luck to you!

Lovely series of shots Kathleen, wonderful individually and great as a series. I love those specs!

Cool pictures.. I really like them.. It could be really nice if you post some of your post processing techniques.

Thanks for a great series Kathleen; loved it :-)

A beautiful essay on how quickly even the strongest steel can deteriorate when left untended. A lesson for life.

the colours are what first hit me when I see these images! awesome stuff as always! cheers :)

These are all amazing. My favorite is Treadwell with all the hues of brown.

Kathleen...You saved the best for last so to speak. I am standing at my computer giving you a virtual standing ovation.

These shots really do have a very emotional impact.

A very moving series, Kathleen. Marvellous work.

The colors and textures of these photos are amazing. There's a poignant sadness to them.

the bethlehem steel sets are so great.. all of them.. everything..all wonderful captures.

This is a very moving series of images. The safety glasses really do make that last image very personal and haunting.

Yes, urban and industrial ruins are very photogenic if you are a magnificent photographer as you are. Personally I would like to see industrial ruins cleaned up and the materials recycled, but I admit to see nature overgrow a site again is wonderful.

Your colors continue to amaze me. I loved this series and hope you do get to go back for some more in depth study of this wonderful place.

What a marvelous location. Someday I'll find a place as neat as that. For now, I'll live vicariously through you. ;)

Vivid colors, sharp images... I really like rust and how nature is reclaiming things. Very cool!

This place is a goldmine! Another amazing set!

Nice... the first one is great for the colours.. and the last one makes a superb moody shot.

Sweet color.

I really like the safety glasses photo! Nie colours and just that touch of abandoned humanity.

This last one looks like something Rhea Redifer would have us work on in our water color classes. All of them have some beautiful colors!!!

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This is like Kafka in Color.

The colors. The textures. The symbolism of decay playing to nature's reclimation project. The art decco curves of the slag car. This whole Bethlehem Steel thing is way over the top.

Thanks (x7) again.

love the glasses! and elmer!

Wonderful series!

incroyable
grisant
énervant
fascinant
troublant
GEANT

Lovely photos, Kathleen! I like the soft feel of them, and especially the history the present, and how you presented that.
As always your use of colors are just stunning.

Great series, I specially like the one with the glasses.

Shoot what a great series of photos.....they feel so clear you could be there. Always good PP Kathleen...something for us all to pay attention to! Phil

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