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!
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.
From book design and minimalist photography to … well, book design and what absolutely isn’t minimalist photography, plus some street signs and another warning about Adobe. Let’s dig in.
Book Design #1: People Really Do Judge a Book by its Cover
From University College Cork — that’s Ireland, folks — we have something that, on the surface, seems obvious: a book cover“is the most likely factor to convince a person to read a book if they are unfamiliar with the work or its author.” Maria Butler, a PhD candidate in the School of English and Digital Humanities at UCC, reminds us why.
Design by Kimberly Glyder.
You’re reading Foreword, so you likely agree — and shown above is one of those worth-a-thousand-words images: the first of the 2023 titles I’ve set aside for my favorites of the year, and absolutely something good enough to make me pluck it off the shelf without knowing anything about either the title or author.
A screenshot from the Shift Happens website. Great stuff.
This project not only scores with great web design — check the interactive version of the book, pictured above — but what also seems like great book design. It’s a Kickstarter project (or will be, next month), so the usual cautions apply, but I might just go ahead and take the leap.
Couple of interesting book design items, by the way: the TOC is at the back, the endpapers are awesome, and the macro photography is tops. The book design reminds me of The Playmakers, still my favorite book design project ever.
Bonus: Tim Walsh, author of The Playmakers, is still going strong. Nice.
Photography #1: Minimalism
The winners of the Minimalist Photography of 2022 awards are in, some are fantastic. Here are a couple of favorites, from the architecture category:
“Prince Claus Bridge in the Netherlands,” by Arthur van Orden“Blue Window,” by Andrea Richey
The Minimalist Photography Award is the only foundation that deals extensively and professionally with minimalist photography as a branch of photography in which the photographic artistic vision takes the lead.
Milad Safabakhsh, President of Minimalist Photography Awards
Direct quote, just because: “A man with three legs, a vintage car scaling a building, and an unsettling formation of people donning bird masks are a few of the scenarios highlighted in the terrifically bizarre Wonders of Street View.”
I didn’t know it was a thing to dress up and pose for the Google cameras. Perfect.
Street Sign Style Guide
Speaking of street views, did you know there’s a style guide for highway signs? Would you believe that I’m a fan?
Interestingly, there is an I-42/I-17 interchange in Phoenix, but this ain’t it: these signs are representational.
As with most things government, there’s confusion, too many regulations, and yet it’s based around good ideas. Beautiful Public Data has a guide to the guide.
Adobe Steps in it, Again
From DPReview: “If you’re an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, you might want to go and turn off a new setting immediately. It’s been discovered that Adobe has automatically opted users into a ‘Content analysis’ program that allows Adobe to analyze your media files […] for use in its machine learning training programs.”
It’s important to note that Adobe only uses the files saved in the “Creative Cloud,” something I don’t do as a matter of course, but even still, this is yet another example of Adobe using its monopoly position in the creative field to take advantage of its paying customers.
Adobe, unsurprisingly, didn’t return DPReview’s request for a comment/clarification.
Named for the city in Ireland, Dublin in Georgia is an hour or so southeast of Macon. It’s my third trip there, and, like last time, I enjoyed Gerald’s company.1He seemed to enjoy the trip, rain notwithstanding, but apparently the creative juices didn’t flow. (Sorry, man.) Details here.
It has a photogenic downtown, too:
Corker (of a) Building, W. Jackson St.Fountain and Holiday Tree, N. Monroe St. and Bellevue Ave.
The Welcome Park includes a clock and bell complete with clover, reminding visitors that the name is, in fact, a tribute:
Dublin Welcome Tower #1
As has become typical, my favorite — “best” is debatable, of course — shot is a close-up that’s almost an abstract. In this case, a turquoise box car in the appropriately-named Railroad Park:
Pull Down for Camel, Dublin Railraod Park
Just off the main drag we found an item thankfully not yet painted over:
Aqua Fox, Jefferson and Madison
. . . Which may, in fact, be a holdover from a bygone era. In fact, I’d be remiss if I didn’t call this subject out:
Laurens and Dublin Mural (No Biases Shown), S. Lawrence St.
The only people of color depicted here are Native Americans, relegated to viewing (probably from afar), and two Blacks, very much shown “in their place.” (Dublin still prominently features a Confederate memorial, as well.) Let’s hope that this small city continues its journey into the 21st century, one step at a time.
See the updated gallery here. As always, once in the gallery, click on any photograph to start a slide show.
1
He seemed to enjoy the trip, rain notwithstanding, but apparently the creative juices didn’t flow. (Sorry, man.) Details here.
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 FlashShell 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.
The county seat of Talbot (Wiki) was the primary destination of our recent photostroll, another of those places that are often passed through without stopping. A small, poor town — and county — its rich history absolutely deserves a home here amongst the galleries of Georgia.
Monroe Street Storefonts, Downtown
Founded in 1828, Talbotton was a center of education for the area; its architectural splendor reflects a wealth no longer present. Even the later courthouse (1892) is a beautiful structure:
Talbot County Probate Court, 26 Washington Ave.Talbot County Court Tower #3
There was one structure in particular that I wanted to visit: the Zion Episcopal Church, an 1848 wooden item, painted dark brown with white shutters:
Historic Zion Episcopal Church, Circa 1848
Unfortunately, Georgia’s early- and mid-century legacy survives intact. From the Zion Church’s Historical Marker:
The choir loft at the east end of the structure opposite the sanctuary, above the narthex, is flanked on each side by a gallery, where slaves worshipped prior to the conflict which many believed temporarily destroyed Southern culture.
Georgia Historical Commission, 1955
The church is still beautiful, it’s still beautifully preserved and maintained, and I’m glad that we can, in 2022, look at it in the historical context it deserves.1Read more about Zion Episcopal and its place in Talbotton here.
Zion Episcopal Church (Window Detail #2)
See the church and all of Talbotton — 34 photographs in all — in the new gallery here.
Thanks to Gerald for a pleasant Sunday of fine photography.
1
Read more about Zion Episcopal and its place in Talbotton here.
Despite the leaves pretty much, well, leaving us, yesterday was too nice a day to not do a photostroll — or three, in our case. First up: Sprewell Bluff Park. Located in rural Upson County on a lovely bend in the Flint River, the park has long been one of those places that was driven by and not visited.
Flint River from Sprewell Bluff #1
Glad to have fixed that! Better still, it’s more than just a bluff with a view:
River and Tree in Afternoon Sun, Sprewell Park (#2)Cairn on the Riverbank, Sprewell ParkFlint River Shoals at Sprewell (#2)Bluff Base, Flint River
As it’s technically located there, the Thomaston gallery has grown by nineteen photographs — check it out. (As always, once in the gallery, click on any photograph to start a slide show.)
Stay tuned for Talbotton and Fickling Mill, which will be posted as soon as possible.
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 1911Fall 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:
As promised yesterday, there’s more from Sandersville. This time, the City Cemetery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Sandersville’s City Cemetery National Register Sign
Some beautiful statuary within:
Not all of the plots are marked with statuary, but some have beautiful markers.
Sandersville the site of a skirmish on Sherman’s March to the Sea, and according to the official history, probably took place in the cemetery grounds itself.
A plot marker in marble, together with the U.S. and Georgia flags.The St. Paul AME Church, seen through the fall foliage.Long-leaf pine is typical of this area, and provides some lovely shade.
An enjoyable time on a beautiful fall day. See all of the photographs from Sandersville in the updated gallery here.
Sandersville, seat of Washington County, was the photography destination this past weekend. Gerald and I wanted to get out and enjoy this beautiful stretch of fall weather, and this small city — with its National Register-listed cemetery (more on that tomorrow) — hadn’t yet been explored.
Dr. Gate, W. Haynes St.
There was a pleasant little park off what I’m calling Courthouse Square (it doesn’t seem to actually be named that):
Park Arch, S. Harris St.Park in the Square, S. Harris St.
The Washington County Courthouse is a beautiful and historic building, like many here in Georgia:
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), DowntownStreet Art Detail, Cherry & ThirdStreet Art Detail, Poplar & Third
Last weekend, Gerald and I took a summer road trip and photostroll through southwest Georgia — with stops in Andersonville and Americus.
Andersonville is a sobering place: “The deadliest ground of the American Civil War.” Further:
Nearly 13,000 men died on these grounds, a site that became infamous even before the Civil War ended. Their burial grounds became Andersonville National Cemetery, where veterans continue to be buried today. This place, where tens of thousands suffered captivity so others could be free, is also home to the National Prisoner of War Museum and serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.
National Park Service
We just visited the National Cemetery section of the park, with its closely-spaced Civil War graves, memorials, and reminders that it’s still in use today.
Bench and Garden, Andersonville National Cemetery RostrumStalag XVII Memorial Detail (WWII), Andersonville National CemeteryMaine Civil War Memorial Statue (Photo #2) Amongst Graves, Andersonville National CemeteryIllinois Civil War Memorial (Detail #2), Andersonville National Cemetery
Later, we headed just down the road to the small city of Americus:
Wall Painting Detail #1, Sweet Georgia Bakery and Cafe, 134 W. Lamar St., AmericusCity Municipal Building and Windsor Hotel, W. Lamar St., AmericusWindow Arch #2, 106 W. Lamar St., Americus
Both galleries — Andersonville and Americus — have been updated with new photographs. The new items start with “2022,” and remember that clicking on any photograph starts a slide show for that gallery. Thank you!
As promised, I returned to Madison, Georgia, to complete the gallery my camera battery didn’t permit last time. Special thanks to Gerald, who accompanied me around the beautiful downtown historic district and on the lovely drive from here to there.
This round is mostly details, taken with my stunning new Leica APO lens. (Introduced in this Macon post.) The whole line has been discontinued, so I am incredibly glad to have gotten one while they’re still available — every single photograph shows just how good this lens is. I’ll try to do it justice:
Morgan County Courthouse #6Light Detail, 131 E. Jefferson St.Madison Welcome Center, Madison SquareFlower Detail, Organic MarketBuilding and Light Detail #2, W. Washington St.Hart & Crown Sign, Madison Square
I’ve revamped the gallery with the new shots mixed in with the old. Several are improved versions of shots taken last time, meaning those were deleted in favor of the new ones.
132 Madison photographs have been posted in all. Peruse and enjoy; remember to click on any individual photograph to start a slide show, and if you’d like, click “buy” to get options for fine art prints in a variety of sizes and finishes. Thank you!
