"More Savannah Uptown"

What a photogenic city Savannah is. The architecture and the light is unreal. Next is River Street and the alleys and architecture of the area where Oglethorpe landed and the city was founded. I hope everyone enjoys my images.

Mike

"Savannah in Black and White"

Savannah is such a cool place to photograph. These images were made on my trip in June. We had been shooting all the way from Brunswick and ran and checked in to a motel, so we could catch the evening light. It must have been 95 degrees and I was carrying 40 lbs. of equipment on my back, but it was worth it. We started at the Forsyth Fountain and then worked our way through the streets. These images were shot off the park on some side streets and alleys. Hope you enjoy.

Mike

"Flowers Again"

These images were shot late on a Friday evening in Savannah, GA when I couldn't find anything that I really wanted to shoot. These flowers were absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't resist. When in doubt there is always a flower around, well almost always.

Mike

"Christ Church Cemetary"

Here are a couple of photos from the Christ Church cemetary from my trip in June 2008. This is a really old cemetary with some great light. These were taken at mid day. I really love the shot with the US flags. They were apparently put up from year to year. This was a really good place to visit.

Mike

"Olivia in Dallas"

This is from a fashion shoot around the square in Dallas, GA. The theatre was recently renovated back to it's 195o's state. This shot was made just after the lights came on at dusk. What a beautiful model, who just happens to be my daughter.

Mike

"Autumn in Cloudland Workshop"

Announcing a new workshop this November 8, 2008 at Cloudland Canyon State Park. This is one of the most visited parks in Georgia. Cloudland Canyon is a gorge located in N. W. Georgia near Chattanooga, TN.

This will be a one day learning experience where we will teach you to photograph fall foliage, waterfalls and creeks. You will learn composition, determining proper exposure, previsualizing the final image and using shutter speed to photograph moving water.

Bill Kettering and myself will teach one on one with a limited number of students to provide some great hands on experience in this beautiful area. Numbers are limited to 20 so email me now for registration info. mike@mnalleyphoto.com . Cost $100.

Mike

Christ Church on St. Simons Island!!

This is one of the oldest, if not the oldest church in Georgia. It was built by shiprights in the 1700's. It is absolutely beautiful. It is very hard to photograph inside as the lighting is very dim and contrasty. If you get a chance this is one you shouldn't miss. Even if you are not a photographer, you need to just see it and experience the place firsthand.

Mike

Abandoned Cemex Plant!!

Here are a couple of images I shot at an old abandoned concrete plant in Rockmart, GA back in the early spring. You have to get permission to go into the plant, but it is well worth it. I went back 2 other times, but never had the light cooperate like this first time. This just goes to show there are photographs everywhere you go. Hope you like these and I will try to post more later.

Mike

Good Morning From "The Boneyard" !!

Well I finally got to post these great sunrise shots from "The Boneyard" on Jekyll Island. I've been meaning to for days, but things kept coming up. I can't wait to go back. I had decided I wasn't going to go back to the beach, but these have changed my mind.

As I have said already, if you get a chance to go here , DO NOT pass it up. It is the most photogenic place I've ever been in Georgia. I have a few driftwood shots coming next, so look for them later.

Mike

"Bathroom Break" in National Show!!

"Bathroom Break" makes it into the 21st National Juried Art Exhibition sponsored by South Cobb Arts Alliance. The show will be held at Mable House Arts Center in Mableton, GA. The exhibition will run August 23 - September 28, 2008. The awards reception will be August 23, 2008 from 7-9 PM. I would love to see everyone there.

This shot was taken in Cave Springs, GA. at the old abandoned school. This was one of the coolest places I've ever been to shoot. It had this kind of light throughout the building and all the paint was peeling like this, it was amazing. I just got lucky, I met a man who worked for the city and he opened up all the buildings for me to shoot. I really want to thank him. I intend on going back soon, before they renovate the schools.

Mike

"Sunrise on Driftwood Beach"

The sun finally emerged and this is the last teaser shots for the day. I will post the real sunrise shots later. Again if you get the chance to go here don't miss it, it is fantastic!!

Mike

Couple More Pre Sunrise From The Boneyard!!

Just a couple more presunrise photos from "The Boneyard" on Jekyll Island. I still think this is one of the most photogenic areas in Georgia. If you get a chance to go there don't pass it up, it is an amazing place.

Jekyll Island is about 65 miles south of Savannah off I-95. The daily fee is $3.00 and that gets you access to the whole island. There are lots of photo ops, from the Jekyll Island Club, the Boneyard, the regular beach and on the south end are lots of dunes. Hope you get a chance to see this island.

Mike

Before Sunrise on Driftwood Beach!!

These are the first images I shot before sunrise on the beach at Jekyll Island. The first one shows a mud spot on the beach, which can only be seen at low tide. Last year when I was here the tide was never this low, so I never knew there was mud on the beach. I made the mistake of walking through this later and it is real mud.

The second image is the full moon about to set, before sunrise. This is one of my favorite shots from the beach. It was just cloudy enought to make this an interesting image. I love the detail in the mud in the foreground. I will post some sunrise shots later.

Mike

Afternoon on Driftwood Beach!!

The first afternoon on Driftwood Beach or The Boneyard as it is also known. This is an amazing place to photograph. I was last here in July 2007 to shoot a wedding on this beach. I got the chance to come back this year and shot these in the afternoon. My plans were to come back before sunrise the next morning.

These trees are victims of beach erosion and storms. It is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile long and is totally covered with downed live oaks If you ever get a chance to go to this spot on Jekyll Island, GA don't hesitate. I will post some sunrise shots tomorrow morning.

Mike

Last of "The Ritz"

These are the last photos from the third floor of "The Ritz Theatre" in Brunswick, GA. What a unique place to photograph. I have always been drawn to old abandoned places since I began photographing in 1974. I really can't explain it but that is one of my favorite things to photograph.

This place had some of the best light I've seen lately and it was midday so we weren't able to shoot much of anywhere else. I will be back down there in October, it is a beautiful place, so check it out if you get the chance.

HAPPY JULY 4TH!!

Mike

My Favorite From "The Ritz"

This is the kind of light that you look for and rarely find. I had been shooting for about an hour in the old empty areas on the third floor of the theatre. I just happened upon this scene at the right time, this light only lasted a few minutes. I guess part of it was luck, the other part was being persistent and shooting as much as possible.

This is probably one of only 5-10 images that really knocked my socks off in my 3 day shoot on the Georgia coast. I guess 10 really good images in 3 days is pretty good. I will be back down here in October and again in late November we'll see how many more I can capture then. If you get a chance to go to the Georgia coast be sure you visit Brunswick.

Mike

Shadows and Light in The Ritz !!

The plans are to eventually rennovate the upper 2 floors of the theatre. I'm just glad they haven't gotten to it yet. The light was really cool up here, even though it was 3PM and sunny. Downstairs in the theatre is where my October-November show will be held.

The first image is up in one of the old prop rooms looking out on the big Ritz sign, the second is the same place, but a little closer detail. The third is on the 3rd floor and was just a very cool juxtaposition of the glass and the shafts of light. Some places are just filled with opportunities.

Have a great Tuesday and shoot something.

Mike