Optics and Exposure

I obtained another set of photos from Rankin’s Carrie Furnaces, two decommissioned steel furnaces from Homestead Steel Works, which are located on the northern shore of the Monongahela River, outside Pittsburgh, earlier this week. It’s my second such set, and I must say that the revisit has brought a lot to my attention that was missed the first time.

Blueprints discovered in one of the offices at Carrie No. 7

The first time through, the site overwhelmed me. It was impossible for me to critically look and identify any of the components, the whole facility seemed like a mess of pipes, valves, and rust. But, now, I can picture the facility, operational and buzzing with the activity of machinery and man.

Furnace no. 6

I can imagine the clouds of steam erupting into the air as the molten pig iron is drained from the blast furnaces into torpedo cars, for the trip across the river to be refined one last time into steel.

I can feel the heat radiating through thick glass and asbestos, into the operator’s booth, and I can almost taste the soot.

But, mostly, I can feel the weight of the place. The lives made here, the dreams that died here, the resignation when this place died, when the hundreds here lost their livelihood. The abruptness with which this facility closed is evident everywhere. Things scattered, like someone locked the door while everyone was away at lunch.

Check out the full set of photos on flickr (from both trips).

-aigulf