Pripyat Culture Center’s Swimming Pool

Here are a few photos (pre-war) of the community swimming pool in downtown Pripyat.  This spot within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is very close to the iconic Chernobyl Ferris Wheel.

I’m sure that all visitors to Chernobyl visit both the Ferris Wheel and this swimming pool.

My heart continues to break for the people of Ukraine….  I’m going to run out of Ukraine photos soon that I haven’t posted already.  I realize that by posting my Ukraine photos, that it doesn’t help the people of Ukraine.  But I hope in some small way, it keeps them and their situation in our thoughts.

Magic Path

This is the path underneath the Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.  The lights change colors randomly, so as you stand there it will be blue, red, purple, etc….  In warm weather, it also has water running down the walls and on each side of the path, which also make for a unique photo op….  Just a cool spot.

PNC Park From Above

Here is a photo I took in late 2019 of downtown Pittsburgh.  You can see the baseball stadium (PNC Park), Allegheny River, the three sister bridges (one being renovated), the Lawrence Convention Center and most of downtown. 

Oculus World Trade Center Station

I enjoyed my last trip to NYC back in 2019.  MJ and I explored Manhattan, per our normal process.  This was the first time we explored the Oculus building.  This unique building is a terminal station on the PATH subway system.  It also has an underground mall within it.  I loved the architecture of this building.   

Soviet Propaganda

I found these old Soviet propaganda signs at the back of the Pripyat Cultural Center.  Pripyat had over 49,000 people before it was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  The Cultural Center building was a great explore. 

To view a larger version, click HERE

Pripyat Cultural Center

This iconic Chernobyl building is the Cultural Center in the main square of downtown Pripyat.  It has a couple swimming pools, boxing ring, gymnastic equipment, auditorium, exercise rooms, and a bunch of other things.  Right behind this building is where the carnival was setup to start a festival that never happened.  By the way, this structure was a great building to explore.

To view a larger version, click HERE

One World Trade Center

MJ and I are heading to Manhattan soon for a short trip.  I’ll get some work in and some fun in (via photography, site seeing & great food).

That upcoming trip had me thinking about our last Manhattan trip.  Therefore, this photo of One World Trade Center from that trip.    

To view a larger version, click HERE

Chernobyl Cultural Center Pool

Short post tonight…..  I took this photo of the pool inside the Pripyat Cultural Center.  Pripyat was a large city next to the Chernobyl Power Plant built to support the employees and their families.  All of this is now within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  As I was exploring the Cultural Center, I happened upon it at the back of the building.  I loved the reflections.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Chernobyl Fun

I took this photo last October when Blair and I explored Chernobyl and the Exclusion Zone.  We had a great visit.  This is from the Pripyat city center.  The building in this photo is the center piece of city center and was the cultural center.  It has a pool, gym, theater, boxing ring and many other rooms inside it.  Directly behind it, is where the carnival was setup before the nuclear disaster.  All of the carnival rides including the Ferris wheel, still sit there today.  Unfortunately for the citizens of Pripyat, the carnival never happened. 

Prior to our Chernobyl trip, I noticed this is a frequently photographed building.  So I was determined to capture it in a different way.  Therefore, I climbed up on the roof of this walkway to capture it from this perspective.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Blue Path

Short and sweet post tonight.  This is the lower level path at the Pittsburgh Convention Center (David L. Lawrence Convention Center).  I took this photo when Theatherwiz and Robert Lussier where in town.  We hit a number of cool spots and took a ton of photos.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Pripyat Cultural Center

It’s been about a month since I posted my last Chernobyl photo.   So for this post, I’m sharing the performance room with the small stage on the right from the Pripyat Cultural Center.  I hope you enjoy it.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Pripyat Cultural Center

I took this photo inside the cultural center, which is in the City Center of the abandoned city of Pripyat Ukraine.  This town was founded in February 1970 as the ninth nuclear city in the Soviet Union.  It was built to serve and support the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.  Of course, after the nuclear disaster, the city and the entire surrounding area was evacuated. 

In this room, you can see a former boxing ring that was set up.  Note how the sun rays are highlighted in this photo…. That’s not from photo software editing magic….  Simon flew a drone around the room, which kicked up all this dust helping to create this affect (Great idea of Robert’s) 

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often. 

Phoenix Center

Last fall while I was in Michigan, I spent an afternoon with an old friend photographing some spots around Pontiac.  We hit up this spot, which is an abandoned concert venue.  Although you’d never know this spot hasn’t been used for years.  Someone is paying good money to keep in in great shape even though it isn’t in use.  It looked like they could hold a rock concert the next day…..  So it isn’t your normal grungy looking abandoned location.  But it was cool exploring this spot.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often.

Atlas Statue

I realize this statue has probably been photographed more times then a normal person can count.  But I wanted to capture it in my own unique way and thought I did.  At least I thought so, until tonight.  I went to Google to find details about this statue and found a bunch of pictures taken basically the same way.  Oh well…..    This statue sits in front of the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. 

To view a larger version, click HERE

Rockefeller Center in Manhattan

Pike Place Market

So I’m keeping with the Seattle theme and posting another photo from that wonderful area.  I spent a little time around the famous market and enjoyed myself.  But I struggled to find anything that I wanted to photograph.  Weird how that works!  Some times I just don’t see “it”.  My own person version of writer’s block.  Anyway, that’s what happened to me at this spot.    So I ended up capturing this photo of the market’s sign (not the most creative photo).  As you can tell, it was Christmas time when I was there.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

South Pool

On our last trip to NYC, we visited the 9/11 Memorial site for the first time.  I captured a ton of photos from every angle trying to capture this wonderful memorial….at least until the anti-tripod police stopped me. 

This is a “must see” location for every American.  

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Top Of The Rock View

Quick post tonight.  Prior to our trip to NYC, we purchased tickets in advance so that we could be at the Top Of The Rock observation Deck (Rockefeller Center) at sunset.  I heard from another photographer that it would be very crowded.   So as soon as we got there, I should find a spot at the railing and not leave that spot.  Otherwise, I’d never get a spot to photograph from again with all the people. 

And I can tell you, that was great advice.  We got up there about 1 hour before sunset and almost didn’t get a spot.  Once I secured my spot, I couldn’t really move even if I wanted to.  It was so crowded up there and at times it was six people deep all the way around the observation deck.  MJ was a super wife and patiently waited at the top of this building with me for over two hours while I took over 900 photos.  I photographed the skyline as it changed from full sun, to sunset, then blue hour and finally to full night sky.  I just took a ton of photos as the sky changed.  I loved it.  MJ tolerated it, but as always she didn’t complain.  

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

Gateway Center T Stop

This is a photo of the Gateway Center T stop for Pittsburgh’s Light Rail system, commonly known as the “T”.  The Port Authority of Allegheny County operates the T.  Trolley lines have been running in Pittsburgh since 1897.  Today over 8.3 million riders use the T system annually.  Maybe you should come to Pittsburgh and take a ride on the T.

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Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre II

I posted another picture of this Reykjavik Iceland building from a different angle in the past.  I loved the look of this amazing structure so much; I went back to the archives to post another picture of it for you. 

Here is the previous post of this building: http://brook-ward.com/blog/2014/3/17/harpa-concert-hall-and-conference-centre

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.

45 Rockefeller Center

Here is a photo from our NYC trip last year.  One of my favorite activities we experienced was going to the Top Of The Rock to look out over the city.  What an amazing 360-degree view.

To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.