Optics and Exposure

Statues at Carnegie Hall are shrouded...the city is prepared for the worst...

The G20 is in Pittsburgh, right here. The leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies, in our city. I have a camera, and consider myself an amateur hobbyist with a little bit too much disposable income. What does that all mean? There is no way I was going to sit at home and play video games this week. I went downtown.

I made plans with a group of about 8 guys from flickr to meet downtown and photograph the going’s on. We were apprehensive, careful, uncertain of what to expect. Alarmist warnings abounded in the city, and in our discussion. But, when the day arrived, we were a little disappointed. Continue reading

Preparations continue for the G-20 summit, beginning tomorrow. The fence along Frew Street at Carnegie Mellon has been extended, and I happened to witness the rehearsal of the color guard for tomorrow’s reception at Phipps Conservatory.

Rehearsal of the Reception at Phipps Conservatory

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Save Darfur exhibit on Flagstaff Hill

Preparations are underway across the city, as the Police try to make the Steel City secure for the G20 Summit and protestors begin to make themselves visible.

With the events of London’s G20 summit fresh in memory, a lot of people are worried about how Pittsburgh will fare. Will violent protesters wreak havoc? Will the Police make mistakes under the extreme pressure of the situations? Will anyone be injured? Will the city’s businesses suffer damage? All of these questions are legitimate, but thankfully some protesters have promised that they will be respectful, and are not a danger to themselves or the city.

There is already a peaceful protest set up in the Hill District, where some tent dwellers are simply trying to draw attention to the plight of the out-of-work and underpaid in this country. The remarkable thing about this protest is that they’re relying on donations of food to stay out there all week. Continue reading