“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
― John Lennon
Who should tell you what to wear or how?
We are all at war. Some of us just pick different things to be "at war" about.
Charlie Chaplin had an interesting quote about his fellow man...
"I am at peace with God. My conflict is with Man." -Charlie Chaplin
Eat well my friend
"I just ate," he told me. I asked, "Was it good?" He told me it was great.
A famous writer from England by the name of Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) once stated, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” I think this man would agree.
It was a hot sunny day in Atlanta, GA. This man wrapped his belt around his head and around his neck, just below his ears. Click the below "Read More" to see another photo...
Read MoreI'm sad today
I met an older man this past weekend who told me his silver ring was his only possession. He found the ring on the ground. It has two small birds on it. See the ring by clicking the "Read More" below.
Read MoreFrisk me, please?
Over the past two years, I have taken hundreds of photos of people from all different types of backgrounds and beliefs. I love street photography. I will say, most of the folks I have met have been pretty nice. However, not all of them. Some, like this man today, have been down right mean. You will have to click the "Read More" below to see why I titled this one "Frisk Me."
Read MoreWelcome to our home, police call me Short Bus
Deep into the woods behind what was once a thriving K-Mart store in Nashville was where we ended up tonight. As we hiked just out of the sight of Harding Road, we neared the tents, the piles of 40-oz beer bottles, the overturned shopping carts that were once used at the K-Mart store and the sofa's that were likely dumped behind the now closed store... As we approached we said, "knock - knock..."
Read MoreThe constant dreamer
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” ― Edgar Allan Poe
Photo shoot with the General Lee
For this little journey, I followed a man from Rockvale, Tennessee all the way to Georgia where we captured his General Lee / Dodge Charger in original filming locations of the Dukes of Hazard. The popular American television show was aired from 1979 to 1985. Re-runs soon followed for years. Most of the show was filmed in small communities all around Atlanta.
Rest on a beautiful day is a beautiful thing
“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” ― Maya Angelou
I am the creator...
I kneeled down next to this woman who lives on the street and said, "Hello." She smiled and said, "Hi." She then told me that she created all of this, waiving her hands in front of her. I said, "You created all of this?" She said, "Yes, I am the creator." I asked, "You are God?" She said, "Yes." I believe that in her mind, she truly believed that. She was so happy to explain everything to me and to sit back, relax and talk. I'm guessing that most disagree with her, this was probably the highlight of her day.
Food Not Bombs
The group Food Not Bombs set up shop in a small Atlanta park on a sunny Sunday afternoon and served food to the homeless, the addicted and the less fortunate. It was a very positive event with smiling faces and live music for all to enjoy.
According to the groups website, "Even though we provide meals and groceries to thousands of people we are not a charity. Food Not Bombs is trying to inspire the public to participate in changing society and focus our resources on solving problems like hunger, homelessness and poverty while seeking an end to war and the destruction of the environment."
Empty Places: Got Milk?
I was honored to tour the old Flagship Atlanta Dairy, LLC in Georgia, thanks to the generosity of a local government worker at the property that is now used as a parking lot for Government of Atlanta vehicles.
In these photos, I decided to make the exterior shots in black and white and the interior ones in color. Why, you ask? Who knows?
I do not know why the Flagship Atlanta Dairy, LLC closed, but I have to admit that I found data from the federal government quite interesting. Evidently, the company had a Food Service Contract with the Department of Defense.
In 2005, the dairy had a contract with the Department of Defense that added up to $98,037. By 2008, that number grew to $2.28 million. In 2009, the contracted amount dropped significantly to a mere $3,225.
Empty Places: An abandoned school in Georgia
I was able to walk through and photograph the John B. Gordon Grammar School with a man whom attended the school in the 1970’s. He had fond memories of every room, including the cafeteria, the auditorium / gym and of course the principal’s office. He pointed to the stage with a smile and said, “My very first school play was right there.”
The school opened in East Atlanta, GA in 1909. As you look through these photos, you will be able to see some of the vibrant colors of years past as lead based paint flakes and falls to the now dirt floor. You will also see that some years, the colors were dark or bland. Other years boast pastel greens and yellows.
The school was shut down in 1995 and later purchased by a development group with plans to turn the structure into loft apartments. That never happened and in 2009, the property was foreclosed on.
In April of 2014, the building caught fire. Today, it is a total loss and will likely be torn down in the near future to make way for development. When that will occur is still up in the air.
These photos were captured in June of 2014.
Empty Places: Welcome to the Prison Farm
The Prison Farm is just as creepy as it sounds. This structure, once owned by the Federal Government, opened in 1920 as an experiment for alternative punishment for prisoners. The inmate population of 100-beds (which later grew to 700-beds) knew their home as one of the first sanctioned "Prison Farm's" in early American history. Guards oversaw about 1,200 acres in the area of Atlanta, GA.
The prisoners that lived on the farm were trusted individuals from a variety of backgrounds. The population was hand picked by the warden and each inmate worked hard to raise not only crops, but also animals.
The prison, while successful, was expensive to properly oversee the inmates. The prison eventually closed in 1983.
The prison, which is a very significant part of history, now sits abandoned. Fires, vandals, drug addicts and the like have been unable to destroy the massive structure, which is falling apart all by its lonesome due to nature.
Band members waiting to perform
These band members are waiting to perform. They travel the country in their tour bus that they paid about $5,000 for in order to make it from city to city. Once on site, they spend the night in the bus, that previously served a school district as a Blue Bird brand school bus. They spent about $1,000 building bunk beds and cabinets in the bus.
The name of the band: Gators in the Sawgrass. They are from Florida.
Hippie Hill - Home to hippies and within 40 miles of 3 major distilleries
A 70-minute drive from downtown Nashville, Tennessee could land you on a hidden hilltop called "Hippie Hill." The wooded hilltop is home to travelers from as far away as Alaska who are traveling the country in search of good music, relaxing days and a cold beverage. Well, not that cold, there is no electricity on Hippie Hill, nor is there running water.
Despite a lack of city utilities and city water, you will stay hydrated. There is a fresh water spring at the bottom of the hill. It is also helpful to know that you are only 24-miles away from the Short Mountain Distillery (legal moonshine) and 39-miles away from the famous Jack Daniels Distillery. The hill is also 25 miles away from the equally famous George Dickel Distillery.
The residents and guests live in tents, tee-pee's, old school buses from the 1950's, tree-houses, pull behind campers from the 60's and makeshift shacks. If you visit, bring a tent or perhaps a cozy hammock.
Quiet - is one way to describe Hippie Hill. A second... peaceful.
I love old campers
I was looking through my picture files this evening and came across this old camper that I took a photo of several months ago. I used a fixed lens 35mm Fuji X100s... Great little camera for travel. I absolutely loved the sun in the background of this shot.
Great look
I recently shot this at a country music festival I visited. These two were sitting in the doorway of a closed business selling newspapers.
Race or Dye... Interesting
I didn't take too many photos, due to all the dye dust in the air, but this is one of several I shot at a recent race in Nashville, TN. As folks ran the 5K course, volunteers through handfuls of powdered dye on the participants. It was a very messy race.
I shot this with my little Fuji X100S. It did a great job and it was easy to keep it covered from dye debris.