From another angle - Details of Bethlehem Steel’s Blast Furnaces - Minolta SRT-202 + Ilford HP5

Written and Photographed by Nick Chismar

One of the trademarks of any city is its skyscrapers, the towering buildings that dwarf the homes below and often make for some incredible images. Here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania however, the city’s trademark looks vastly different.

Five goliath blast furnaces tower over the south side of the city, reminders of a bygone time where they produced the iron to build New York City. These furnaces, along with many other buildings, are now a part of a growing arts and cultural center built on the grounds of the former home plant of Bethlehem Steel Corporation. The remains of this two mile long steel plant stand in contrast to the colonial homes and buildings in the North side of the city, making for some interesting scenes.

The blast furnaces haven’t made iron in 25 years now, but they have become the centerpiece of the city, with the old railway that carried the raw material to them now turned into a pedestrian walkway. Thousands of people walk it every year, standing feet away from these massive steel monsters, allowing people to take some incredible images. On this cold November afternoon however, there wasn’t another person in sight.

Since nobody was around I decided to take my time, and to look for details that I haven’t seen before. The goal was to find unique lines, shapes, and textures hidden within the jungle of steel that wouldn’t usually be my focus, as getting shots of the massive furnaces is usually what everyone does.

I had armed myself with my Minolta SRT-202, a Rokkor-X PG 50mm f1.4 lens, and one roll of Ilford HP5. The wind had been pretty rough, but the cold was probably worse for me than the camera itself. Minolta’s Rokkor-X line of glass is still legendary today for its sharpness and wonderful contrast, making it perfect for capturing the little details around the furnaces.

The entire roll went by rather quick as one can easily take multiple photos every time you walk an inch. There are so many details spread out to see, from broken lights and rusted ladders, to collapsing roofs and hardhats still waiting since they were hung up. You simply can’t take it all in with one visit.