Giles Hoover

Photography and design for print production

Tag: middle georgia

  • Gallery Update: Mercer University, 2025

    Gallery Update: Mercer University, 2025

    According to Google, at the corner of Coleman Avenue and Adams Street, in Macon, is home to Newton Hall — and more specifically, Mercer University Press.1Google is wrong: Mercer University Press isn’t actually on campus — they’re in a separate building nearer downtown. See this University Press Week blog tour post for more.

    Mercer University (Newton Entrance), 1400 Coleman Ave.

    Mercer one of more than 160 members of the Association of University Presses. I mention this because, a while back, I said regarding taking some photographs around the campus of Mercer University, “stay tuned.” In honor of AUP’s University Press Week, November 10–14, I’ve done just that.

    Pi Kappa Phi Bell, Perhaps Overrung, Winship St.
    University Center Entrance (from Adams St.)
    Hawkins Arena Entrance #2, Adams St.
    University Commons, Penfield Hall, Edgewood Ave.
    Mercer Softball (Bleachers), Sikes Field
    Jack Tarver Library #2, 1501 Mercer University Dr,.

    Taken during a number of visits over fifteen years, a total of 100 photographs now populate the Mercer University gallery. Enjoy.

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      Google is wrong: Mercer University Press isn’t actually on campus — they’re in a separate building nearer downtown. See this University Press Week blog tour post for more.
  • Updated Gallery: Forsyth, Georgia

    Updated Gallery: Forsyth, Georgia

    It’s been a while — too long, in fact — but with a completely new storage and editing system in place, it’s time to get back to taking, editing, and posting photographs from Middle Georgia and beyond.

    This time, it’s the nearby city of Forsyth, specifically its historic train depot. Interestingly, Forsyth was the first city in Georgia to get passenger train service, in 1838, and the lovely station wears its years well.

    Tracks and Train Depot, E. Johnston St. and Railroad Ave., Forsyth

    Both the depot and its features are examined, in general and in detail:

    Forsyth Train Depot (Roof and Chimneys), 104-114 E. Adams St., Forsyth
    Forsyth Train Depot (Train Car Detail #3), 104-114 E. Adams St., Forsyth
    Forsyth Train Depot (Train Car Detail #5), 104-114 E. Adams St., Forsyth
    Antique Fire Truck (Detail #7), 104-114 E. Adams St., Forsyth

    And, ever watchful:

    Forsyth Train Depot (Bronze Dog Sculpture), 104-114 E. Adams St., Forsyth

    42 photographs have been added to the Forsyth gallery. Thanks for taking a look.

    Special Bonus: I’ve added a couple of photographs to the Bolingbroke gallery, and created a new gallery for 9 photographs from the unincorporated town of Smarr — including this shot of the town mural:

    Building Mural (Complete), Evans and Rumble Rds., Smarr
  • Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    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.

    Or revisit favorite architectural items:

    Post and Turret, 690 Poplar St.

    23 new photographs have been added to the Macon Downtown (2022–2023) gallery, bringing the total to 110. (Don’t forget about the 2008–2018 and 2020–2021 galleries, either.)

    Remember, once in a gallery, clicking on any photograph will start a slide show, with much larger images, titles, and more. Peruse and enjoy!

  • New Gallery: Eatonton, Georgia

    New Gallery: Eatonton, Georgia

    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. Jefferson
    Selz (The “Sole” of Honor), 107 N. Madison

    Please enjoy the 30 photographs posted — and stay tuned: I’ll try to travel the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway again soon.

  • New Gallery: Fickling Mill

    New Gallery: Fickling Mill

    An unintended postscript to the recent photostroll, and another in the lengthy list of places you pass through without stopping — except, this time:

    Signs of White Flash
    Shell Motor Oil

    While tiny, Fickling Mill in 2022 is eye-catching, thanks to this building at the water crossing, and likely represents exactly what the name advertises — the location of a former mill of some sort, driven by the power of the water of Patsilinga Creek.

    Patsiliga Creek Over the Fickling Mill Dam

    We were there late in the day, hence the fading-yet-still-golden light:

    Windmill Decor and Patsiliga Creek

    Only nine photographs, but posted as a dedicated gallery. Enjoy your virtual photostroll — and thanks for visiting.

  • Updated Gallery: Milledgeville

    Updated Gallery: Milledgeville

    The small city of Milledgeville, on the banks of the Oconee River in nearby Baldwin County, is a favorite for photography. In this case, Gerald and I stopped on our way home from Sandersville, and spent some time wandering the historic district.

    Aged Signage, 101 W. Mcintosh St., Circa 1911
    Fall Color, First Presbyterian Church (#1), S. Wayne St.
    (Extended) Weathervane, Old Courthouse Building, 201 W. Hancock St.

    I especially liked this gate:

    Gate and Stairs (Going Up), 129 S. Wayne St.

    We were these the day after (part of) the Deep Roots Festival, which meant some street decorations lingered:

    Deep Roots Festival Balloons, S. Wayne St.

    Oh, and happy Halloween:

    Happily Haunted Window, S. Wayne St.

    See all my photographs from Milledgeville in the updated gallery. Thank you for visiting. See you in November!

  • Gallery Update: Downtown Macon

    Gallery Update: Downtown Macon

    The first Friday of fall saw Gerald and I out celebrating the beautiful weather — and his new “creative camera,” a Leica M8 in pristine condition:

    M8 @ Bearfoot (#3)

    Which of course meant a quick spin around downtown. I was using my favorite lens, the 90mm macro, resulting in lots of detail shots:

    Capitol (Theatre) Details, Second St.
    Windowmaker, Mulberry St. Ln.
    Peeking Across Third (Street), Downtown
    Street Art Detail, Cherry & Third
    Street Art Detail, Poplar & Third

    With these latest additions, the Downtown Macon (2022+) gallery is at eighty photographs. Take a look.

  • New and Updated Galleries: Woodland, Thomaston, and Yatesville

    New and Updated Galleries: Woodland, Thomaston, and Yatesville

    The end of winter here in Georgia means beautifully warm days, flowers and trees budding, and photography. Gerald and I took a road trip this weekend, enjoying almost 200 miles of driving — and four photostrolls.

    We’ll cover three today, heading west from Middle Georgia:

    Yatesville Peach Blossoms #1

    See everything from Yatesville, pop. 408, here.

    Next is an update from Thomaston, whose downtown square is typical of Georgia:

    Upson County Courthouse (B&W Study #2), 2022

    That gallery is available here.

    Lastly today is a new stop: Woodland, in west-central Georgia, near Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, northeast of Columbus.

    Woodland Antiques
    Postal Angel (Awning to be Free)

    Woodland, whose population also happens to be 408, has a gallery here.

    Many thanks to Gerald for the company and good day. Next up: FDR State Park, likely tomorrow.