Ed Massery

1989-Today

Photographs represent many moments, frozen in time, that can be woven together to share stories and experiences. In these trying times, I’m finding comfort in the many stories found in my photography archive. Below, you’ll see my story documenting the steep slopes, magnificent rivers, and many staircases of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods that show the Steel City in a new light. I hope you enjoy these photos, too! 

Best,
Ed

Ps. Interested in a print of the photos you see here? These photos are meant to be big and can be printed up to 4 feet in height and 8 feet in length.  Get in touch

1. My foray into photographing Pittsburgh began with the view from my apartment in Mt. Oliver.

I remember thinking how isolated this house below my deck appeared, despite its proximity to the city across the river.

(Photo ca. 1989)

2. While working as an engineer in Homestead, I witnessed the destruction of the steel mills first-hand.

At the time, I found it remarkable  that the city had no regard for its industrial heritage, which contributed to much of the city’s redevelopment.

(Photo of Southside Works ca. 1989)

3. I felt I needed to capture the stark contrast between the massive industrial sites and surrounding communities.

(Photo of Homestead ca. 1990)

4. This was the impetus of my architectural photography career. 30 years later, I’m still exploring Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.

(Photo of Troy Hill ca. 2017)

5. Pittsburgh’s unique topography tends to be the subject of my photographs.  

 I often include snippets of downtown Pittsburgh in my compositions to give viewers a sense of place and scale of each neighborhood.

(Photo of the West End ca. 2015)

Peaks & Valleys of Pittsburgh

10. A truly Pittsburgh Memory: The Civic Arena, the Hill District

 

This is one photo in a series about the Arena that was exhibited in the lobby of the USX Tower. Several of the photographs are now part of the Carnegie Museum of Art’s permanent collection. 

(Photo ca. 2011)

11. Overlooked architecture in Downtown 

 The Smithfield Garage is one piece of Pittsburgh architecture that is overlooked today. I am dedicated to showcasing beautiful, yet lesser-known architecture inside and outside of Pittsburgh.

(Photo ca. 2020)

12. Exploring other communities outside of Pittsburgh

Dormont, where I live, was one of the very first suburbs of Pittsburgh. I experiment with different photography styles and lighting techniques, such as black and white, to capture the dynamic imagery of our communities in new ways.

(Photo ca. 2017)