Lisa Cirincione, PPSA, AFIAP
February 2025 - Reading Pagoda
Original
About the Image(s)
I chose the coldest and windiest day to stop at the Pagoda in Reading, PA.
Because it was so cold, I only took a quick video… and hope to go back!
The Pagoda is a novelty building, built atop the south end of Mount Penn overlooking Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. It has been a symbol of the city for more than a century.
History
Completed in 1908 at a cost of $50,000, this pagoda was intended to be the hotel/restaurant centerpiece of a luxury resort. When plans for the rest of the resort were abandoned, the 7-story wooden building on 10 acres of land was donated to Reading in 1911. It is now part of the Mount Penn Preserve, 1,595 acres of municipally-owned land.
7 comments posted
Very interesting backstory.
I don't know about cropping off the top. It seems to make the image incomplete. But I do like the closer in look, showing all the detail in the roof.
If you went back in the fall perhaps the trees would be colorful?
And maybe try BnW? not too much color in the winter anyway. Posted: 02/05/2025 04:33:20
I don't know about cropping off the top. It seems to make the image incomplete. But I do like the closer in look, showing all the detail in the roof.
If you went back in the fall perhaps the trees would be colorful?
And maybe try BnW? not too much color in the winter anyway. Posted: 02/05/2025 04:33:20
Yes, I did not want to crop off the top, but I'm treating this as a scouting mission and would like to go back in the spring/summer. I like the idea of B&W…let's try… Posted: 02/05/2025 14:57:02
Different screen grab, in black and white… can see the top… Posted: 02/05/2025 15:10:13
I like the B/W best nice image. Posted: 02/11/2025 17:40:34
Mike Fernandez
I like the original and in BNW too. At first saw the image, I though we are in Japan. Oh well, the US is the world in small parcel of real state.(3,809,525 square miles).
Great capture.
Posted: 02/11/2025 20:02:38
Great capture.
Posted: 02/11/2025 20:02:38
Good shot. I've actually seen this place a few years ago in one of my treks through PA. I also like the monochrome because it does include the top. One thing I noticed in both images is that the chimney has a slight lean to the left. Posted: 02/12/2025 19:16:35
This is a really cool building and a really cool location! I actually like the composition of the full image better, although I think it would be better if you cropped some off the right and put the pagoda in the center. Although I like the clouds, you could choose to crop the sky a little closer to the structure too, although cutting them off like you did in your main image should not be done.
I also like the color version better because the reddish roof is more like the Asian structures actually appear.
As mentioned by Richard, the chimney looks crooked... in fact, the entire building could use a little perspective correction.
I'd love to visit this location! If you go back there, try to catch the sky with a nice sunset... it would look good with the colors of the roof. And as Pete mentioned, it would be wonderful with fall colors too!
Posted: 02/21/2025 23:57:43
I also like the color version better because the reddish roof is more like the Asian structures actually appear.
As mentioned by Richard, the chimney looks crooked... in fact, the entire building could use a little perspective correction.
I'd love to visit this location! If you go back there, try to catch the sky with a nice sunset... it would look good with the colors of the roof. And as Pete mentioned, it would be wonderful with fall colors too!
Posted: 02/21/2025 23:57:43