I had the occasion to have lunch downtown yesterday, a day of simply beautiful spring weather — which I absolutely used as an excuse to take the camera for a spin.
The vast majority of the time, I use what I call my standard lens: 35mm. (Some would argue that 50mm is the “standard,” but I really prefer the wider angle of view due to its additional context.) This time, however, I was using Leica’s superb — and, sadly, no longer available — 90mm macro. The detail, the color, everything about this lens excels:
Leaves and Berries, Poplar & New Sts.Veteran’s Flame and Flag, Macon-Bibb Government Center, 700 Poplar St.
It’s sometimes a challenge to be creative in an area you’ve photographed often, but I enjoy trying to spy new details:
L.C. Rick’s Place, D.T. Walton Sr. Way & Poplar St.Kudzu Signs and Building Cornice, 512 Poplar St.
After leaving Zebulon (see below) last Thursday, I continued northeast into the beautiful spring morning. My destination was Senoia, a town of about 5,000 that has a lovely, old-time feel, and is usually busy due to its “touristy” nature. There’s a film studio (!), and major productions like Driving Miss Daisy and The Walking Dead have used it for a location. Plus, given its proximity to Atlanta, it’s a popular day trip for city dwellers looking for a getaway.
Gerald and I were there last April, and while I had a camera with me, I only took a few photographs and didn’t like any of them. But a church window had stuck in my head, we enjoyed the visit, and I determined to return.
This time: success. Starting with that church window:
Church of God of Prophesy (Window #1), Main and Johnson Sts.
Elsewhere in the historic district, fantastic Southern porches await:
The Veranda Historic Inn, 252 Seavy St.
While amongst the dogwood blossoms, there was even a porch for our feathered friends:
Bird House, 128 Travis St.
But it’s downtown that folks come to visit:
Shops and Eats on the Hill (#2), Main St.Book Light (Reflecting Tour), 53 Main St.Giraffe at Foxhollow, 7 Main St.The Classic Market, 30 Barnes St.
Plenty of history here, too:
The Museum and the Water Tower (From Baggarly Way)Light and Lights Detail, 61 Main St.
A total of 57 photographs — clearly, it was a good time — have been posted to the Senoia gallery. No matter the weather where you are, wander a picturesque small town on a beautiful spring day.
We’re having an absolutely beautiful March here in Georgia — apologies to places that absolutely aren’t — and I’ve been trying to take advantage by getting out and taking photographs.
The latest photostroll starts in the small town (pop. 1225) of Zebulon1Named for Zebulon Pike, the general and explorer (for whom Colorado’s Pike’s Peak is named, among other things), in Pike County, northwest of Macon, with the typical courthouse square:
Pike County Courthouse, Barnesville St.
The building, from 1895 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is wonderfully detailed, sporting columns aplenty and lots of Colonial Revival details:
Pike County Courthouse (Column Detail #1)Courthouse Square Composition, Barnesville and Thomaston
The small downtown is well-kept and bustling in a way that small downtowns should be:
Confession: For the last several years, I’ve been avoiding Eatonton. Its four-lane bypass is notorious as a revenue generator for Putnam County, so when heading north to Madison or Athens I have been taking the prettier Monticello route instead.
My mistake. In almost twenty years of living less than fifty miles from this gem — and perhaps because of that bypass — I’d not explored downtown. It’s definitely earned another visit.
Residence Above Maggie Lane (Mind Your Step)Putnam County Courthouse (Tree)
I also wasn’t aware that Alice Walker (The Color Purple) and Joel Harris (Uncle Remus) were locals — the latter explaining the prevalence of rabbits hopping about:
Rabbit (Paper Jeff)
Interesting art, too:
The FolksArt, 119 S. JeffersonSelz (The “Sole” of Honor), 107 N. Madison
I’ve been meaning to take a camera to Sparta for a minute now; its downtown is small yet old and photogenic in a distinctly Southern way.
Confederate State of Hancock County
On that subject: let’s get the elephant in the room out front and center. Sparta is 85% Black, arguably economically and socially suffering, and yet this monument stands front and center. Why?
Neglect: “It Suits Us”Lightbulb Moment, 12745 Broad St.
However, there are signs of hope. More than one building downtown is being refurbished, and there are at least a couple of businesses that are surviving — perhaps even thriving — by providing a sense of community:
The Sparta Ishmaelite (Printing)Hattaway Furniture, 12755 Broad St.
By the way, those old buildings often have beautiful cast iron details:
Gerald and I took advantage of a warm and cloudless March day for a lengthy photostroll which started in Milledgeville — lunch — and wandered northeast, starting at the nearby O’Quinn Mill:
Old O’Quinn Mill (Wheel)Old O’Quinn Mill (Siding Detail #2)
The old mill building is situated on, natch, O’Quinn pond — a man-made addition to Town Creek:
O’Quinn Pond Dam (Town Creek)
There’s a dock and old farm buildings in the complex, which these days is a picturesque event venue:
O’Quinn Mill on Town Creek
We continued on to Sparta, then returned through Eatonton, stopping in both towns for photographs. (Updates coming tomorrow and Wednesday: stay tuned.)
Meanwhile, take a look at the updated Milledgeville gallery, now up to 100 photographs spanning the last twelve years. Enjoy!
Look out, look up, look forward, and look through in this edition of brief, link-filled goodness.
“You May Now Enter”
PRINT covers, uh, covers:
While the book blob dominated the discourse for the last few years, we’ve recently identified another trend splashing its way across new releases: the recurring symbol of doorways, open windows, and mysterious portals.
—Charlotte Beach and Chloe Gordon, PRINT
A couple of the examples they cite:
Not only a portal but a shelf. Cool.Not only a portal but also stairs. Nice.
Unlike the blob, I’m in favor of this one — the hint of the unknown is appealing in a visceral way that offers more while simultaneously offering more sales by asking potential readers to speculate and, thus, engage. Nice call, PRINT.
Here’s a question you’ve been absolutely asking yourself: what are the origins of the infamous Lorem Ipsum?
The lack of placeholders on the shelf is remarkably appropriate. (Photo: Scott Keir.)
Turns out it’s not as simple as Aldus [known as Adobe these days —Ed.] — or the even-more-infamous annonymous. Tim Carmody, the very capable guest chair at Kottke.org, fills it in: it’s Cicero. No kidding: Slate says so.
De finibus, indeed.
Fourteen Fonts to Follow
Creative Boom, where having eyes on you is actually fun, celebrates “14 Fonts to Fall in Love With” for Valentine’s Day. While Foreword may be late to the party, a couple of the type choices are first rate:
Irregardless1I absolutely want to steal their website design: the menu system is brilliant. and Pastiche, in order. (And no, I didn’t put those two together to be funny.) Read the article and pick your faves.
Art of Building Photography
I wasn’t aware of the Chartered Institute of Building, or their Art of Building photography contest:2Their terms are good, too — something remarkably rare in contests.
“White Constellation,” by Francesca Pompei.
Since architecture and photography very much intersect in my camera, brain, and work, I’m glad to have found this great source of inspiration:
“House of God,” by Roman Robroek.“My own little cosmos within reach,” by Pati John.
Spring is beginning to blossom here in Middle Georgia, which means it’s time to restart the traditional Sunday drive and photostroll. This week’s destination was the small city of Jackson, seat of Butts County, and home to a typically pretty downtown square:
Jackson Historic Square (20 Oak St.)
The courthouse, as is often the case in Georgia, takes center stage:
Confederate Butts Forever“Dream,” Not Necessarily Reflected
No, I usually don’t make political commentary. Why do you ask?
Anyway, there are several examples of my architectural studies, including these:
Butts County Courthouse Tower (B&W Study)Smoking Column Detail, 10 3rd St.
I didn’t realize that Jackson was the filming location for Stranger Things — a stand-in for Hawkins, Indiana:
Jackson is Hawkins (Police)
Check out the full gallery for Jackson, including yesterday’s photographs and those from last year, which include some from nearby Jackson Lake, in the updated gallery.
