Foreword

  • New Gallery: Talbotton

    New Gallery: Talbotton

    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.

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      Read more about Zion Episcopal and its place in Talbotton here.
  • Updated Gallery: Thomaston

    Updated Gallery: Thomaston

    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 Park
    Flint 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.

    Thank you!

  • Architectural Photography 2022 Awards Shortlist

    Architectural Photography 2022 Awards Shortlist

    As most of you know, I’m not a huge fan of photography competitions. Like I did last year, though, there’s an exception for this one: not because it’s better than some — there’s still the problem with rights, methods of compensation, etc. — but because it’s so up my alley. (Pun intended.)

    If you’ll pardon the cliché, great architectural photography is more than the sum of the building’s parts. These great shots show just that:

    Cycling Under the Circles, Berlin, Germany, by Marco Tagliarino (Exterior)
    Shapes of Soul, Milan, Italy, also by Marco Tagliarino (Interior)

    Entry photographs are divided into six categories: Exterior, Interior, Sense of Place, Buildings in Use, Mobile (with Bridges being this year’s theme), and Portfolio (focusing on the theme of Transport Hubs).

    Glass Floor, Tokyo, Japan, by Tom Ponessa (Buildings in Use)
    Architecture 1, location not listed (but pretty cool, IMHO), by Stephane Navailles (Bridges)
    Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, China, by Kangyu Hu (Transport Hubs)

    There are many more to be enjoyed: ArchDaily has an article and gallery up, and the Guardian has a gallery, too. Enjoy.

    The post’s featured photograph, top, is Nest, Dali, China, by Alex Chan, from the Exterior category.

  • 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!

  • Beautifully Briefed, Late October 2022 [Updated X2]: Translucent Hummingbirds, Honda, Landscape Photography, and … Vampires!

    Beautifully Briefed, Late October 2022 [Updated X2]: Translucent Hummingbirds, Honda, Landscape Photography, and … Vampires!

    In this edition: Hummingbirds, the UK’s 2022 Landscape Photography of the Year 2022, a potential new logo treatment from Honda, and something just in time for Halloween.

    Who Knew: Hummingbird Edition
    Wow.

    Taken when the creatures are mid-flight and beating their wings at incredible speeds, Spencer’s striking photos capture sunlight as it filters through their feathers, emitting a full spectrum of color. The opalescent phenomenon is caused by diffraction and transforms their limbs into tiny, ephemeral rainbows.

    This is Colossal

    Let’s set aside for the moment the time and energy get these photographs and just celebrate that Australian photographer Christian Spencer worked to get these shots. Better still, there’s a book:

    Like the typography in addition to the photograph, too. Thanks to This is Colossal for pointing us in this pretty wonderful direction.

    New Honda Logo?

    This hasn’t been reported anywhere, so I don’t know whether there’s a shift ahead for Honda (pardon the expression), but…:

    This is a photograph — well, graphic — of the 2024 Prologue EV. Note that instead of the classic “H” seen on every Honda since I don’t know when, the name is spelled out.

    Maybe it’s because this is a rebadged GM?

    Either way, you heard it here first. (Read more about the Prologue on Motor1.)

    Update, 29 October 2022: Motor1 has another preview, this time of the upcoming 11th-gen Accord, the rear of which uses the usual “H.” So, electric-only? Models from 2024?

    Update, 7 November 2022: Here’s a future Honda model for China with the name spelled out. (Here’s the Motor1 story, and a second, better article from Autopian.) So … maybe?

    2022 Landscape Photography of the Year

    These haven’t gotten much press here in the US, and they deserve better:

    Windmill in the Mist, Itay Kaplan – winner, historic Britain
    Loch Awe, Damian Waters – winner, lines in the landscape

    My personal favorite is this stunning shot:

    Ascension, Demiray Oral – winner, classic view

    The Dragon’s Back.1The aptly-named Dragon’s Back is in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Black Mountains, Wales. Take a walk. Thanks to The Guardian for the slideshow. See the entire list of winners on the official contest website.

    Vampires!

    Speaking of slideshows on The Guardian, they had a great subject just in time for Halloween: “Cinema’s unquenchable thirst for vampires celebrated in posters.”

    A classic.
    A future classic — scary-great.

    Unquenchable thirst, indeed. Enjoy.

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      The aptly-named Dragon’s Back is in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Black Mountains, Wales. Take a walk.
  • Updated Gallery: Sandersville

    Updated Gallery: Sandersville

    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.

  • New Gallery: Sandersville, Georgia

    New Gallery: Sandersville, Georgia

    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:

    Washington County Courthouse #3

    Can’t close without a plug for the home team:

    Drink Coke, Get Waves

    See all of the photographs from Sandersville in the new gallery, and stay tuned for more tomorrow. Thanks!

    See also: Gerald’s journal post on the trip.

  • Beautifully Briefed, Early October 2022 [Updated]: Triboro’s Lyrics, Hoefler’s Daggers, and Skoda and Citroen Provide Contrast

    Beautifully Briefed, Early October 2022 [Updated]: Triboro’s Lyrics, Hoefler’s Daggers, and Skoda and Citroen Provide Contrast

    This time, we’ve got some great book design (with a bonus), Hoefler educates on typography (with a bonus), and two updated car company logos. Let’s get right to it!

    Print Magazine on the design of Lyrics

    The still-very-relevant-in-2022 Print Magazine brings us a great feature on the design of Paul McCartney’s book, Lyrics:

    Front and back covers of Paul McCartney’s Lyrics, by Triboro Design.

    Turns out it was designed by an outfit called Triboro Design, from Brooklyn (appropriately). Print brings us an interesting interview with David Heasty, the principal:

    I […] found him to be sharp, quick, articulate, and modest. Below, we discuss Paul’s involvement with the project, the book’s gorgeous bespoke typeface, and the importance of staying true to a legend’s vision.

    Ellen Shapiro, Print Mag
    The “S” spread of Paul McCartney’s Lyrics, by Triboro Design.

    Interesting and informative. Catch this interview when you can.

    Bonus: Looking at Triboro’s website, this lovely piece of typography stood out:

    Triboro Design’s Zolo Jesus album typography creates desire.
    Hoefler Discusses Daggers

    In “House of Flying Reference Marks,” Jonathan Hoefler talks about daggers, or, what you use when an asterisk isn’t enough:

    Hoefler on daggers.

    Beautiful examples, complete with a phrase you don’t hear everyday: “twisted quillon.” Read and enjoy. (If the opportunity presents, follow on with the ampersand article — which, uh, takes a stab at where the word came from. Nice.)

    Bonus: Creative Boom’s article, “18 highly respected type foundries that remain fiercely independent.” (I guess you could say I’m still surprised Hoefler is now, well, Monotype.)

    Skoda and Citroen have new logos

    It seems like nearly all of the major car manufacturers have introduced a new logo in the past couple of years, but here are two more. One’s best described as “an update,” while the other … goes a little farther.

    Skoda, for those that don’t know, is a Czech company and part of the massive VW Group. Frankly, it shows:

    Skoda’s 2022 Kodiaq, a thoroughly VW Group product.

    For 2023, they’re introducing a push to separate themselves from VW a little, resisting the downmarket image. As is (now) normal with updated car company identities, there’s a concept:

    Skoda’s Vision 7s concept.

    It’s … not inspiring. Maybe the actual updated logo will turn the corner:

    Skoda’s 2022 logo.

    Solid. (Pardon the pun.) But seriously, even an avid car nut like me didn’t know that represents a winged arrow — and I’m not sure the new version helps. At least they get points for consistency:

    Evolution of Skoda’s logo, 1895–2023.

    Read more at Brand New’s “Czech this Out,” or Carscoops’ more optimistic take, “Thriving Skoda Brand Forging Its Own Path Within The VW Group.”

    Then there’s Citroen. Even under the potentially-smothering corporate blanket that is Stellantis (there’s a name!), the pioneer of decades past still manages to actually thrive. First their new logo:

    Citroen’s 2022 logo.

    They’re not quite as consistent — the dual chevrons have varied a bit. This time, they’ve literally gone back to their roots, pulling the 1919/1921/1936 version out and dusting it off for modern use:

    History of Citroen’s logos, 1919–2022.

    Points to them for hinting at what’s to come, too:

    Citroen’s 2022 logo, with just a slice of concept car showing.

    …Which turns out to be something with, ahem, Oli bits:

    Citroen’s Oli: the antithesis of a Skoda.

    “Nothing moves us like Citroen,” they say. The Oli moves me, to a point where I truly wish Citroen was once again available in the ’States. Cool and radically innovative, without losing sight of something VW has truly lost: fun. Well done.

    Read more on the logo: Motor1, “Citroen Unveils Updated Retro-Flavored Logo And New Slogan,” and Carscoops, “Citroen Unveils New Logo Inspired From Its Past, Teases New Concept.” Read more on the Oli at the excellent Autopian: “The Citroen Oli Concept Is An EV Made From Cardboard And Good Ideas.”

    Updated, 19 October, 2022: Brand New adds to Citroen’s new logo story, with a slightly-less-than-enthusiastic take on the logo and has frankly unkind things to say about the new, custom typeface (custom typefaces are now de rigueur — a policy as much related to rights ownership than creativity, alas).

    I really like the cursive in this Vimeo screenshot:

    YouTube? What YouTube? Citroen posts to Vimeo. Ahh, the French.

    BN also includes a number of extra photographs of the simply awesome Oli, too. Here are a couple, for your enjoyment:

    Plug-and-Citroen.

    Note the removable Bluetooth speakers (the black tubes with “+” and “-“) and, especially, the seats:

    I love everything about this interior.

    Check the rest, and BN’s take, here.

    Apologies to both Skoda and Citroen for the lack of language-correct accents. WordPress needs a glyph function.