Jerry Snyder
December 2024 - Company Town
About the Image(s)
My monochrome image titled Company Town is attached. The image was made in Bethlehem, PA at the former Bethlehem Steel Plant. The furnaces were last operated in November 1995. The view is from a cemetery on a steep hillside overlooking the town and mill. The image was processed in Lightroom 2025 by converting to black and white, adjusting contrast, and cropping to contain the five furnaces and remove distractions. I used color grading to add a yellow hue with low saturation and luminance. The exposure settings are 1/160 sec., f/11, and ISO 320 on a tripod mounted Canon 6D at 60 mm focal length.
4 comments posted
(Groups 83 & 87)
Another well visualized and composed scene: the four-layer (or divisions) of texture each well separated just enough to neatly draw viewers' attention and promote longer viewing.
Of course, you should be aware this composition comes on the heels of others, most notably by Walker Evans: Graveyard and steel mill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1935.
Lance A. Lewin
PSA Global B&W Photography Mentor
visualizingart@gmail.com Posted: 12/03/2024 11:59:04
Of course, you should be aware this composition comes on the heels of others, most notably by Walker Evans: Graveyard and steel mill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1935.
Lance A. Lewin
PSA Global B&W Photography Mentor
visualizingart@gmail.com Posted: 12/03/2024 11:59:04
Thank you Lance. I am aware of Walker Evans' connection to St. Michael's Cemetery. A few years ago I located the point of view of his photo Graveyard and Steel Mill and created a more current version of the photo, attached. The large cross is gone but several recognizable features remain, which allowed me to approximate Mr. Walker's point of view. A small tree blocks the view of the end row house but in the late fall or winter the house is visible. Posted: 12/04/2024 12:10:35
(Groups 83 & 87)
In my opinion, your visualization/composition allows for a wider/deeper (literally and figuratively) realization of the city .. highlighting its beauty. This is much different than Evans; Evans purpose (most likely) was intended to inspire political narratives. But without researching this point, for the time being ... it is only (my)conjecture. Posted: 12/05/2024 02:24:10
Great story portrayed here Jerry. Without knowing the history I get a strong sense of connection between the cemetery and the defunct steel works and the sepia puts some age on it. The lighting is fabulous as it brings out a lot of detail in all four bands of the composition. I think the little bit of shadow in the foreground plays an important part to give scale and a solid base. Posted: 12/06/2024 09:44:27