" Bamboo "

Well, from bright and colorful to dark and forboding. This bamboo field contains some of the largest and oldest I have ever seen. Most of it is as big as my thigh. It is fairly hard to get around in side of, you have to twist and turn to maneuver. Just something new for me. Hope you enjoy!!

" Paulding Fine Arts Winners"

Well, I had a pretty good day at the 19th Annual Paulding Fine Arts Competition. Above are my 3 entries. Top "No Trespassing" won third place in Photography, middle " Water Abstract " won first place Photography, and the bottom " Quarter Wins " won Best of Show. I was very proud of my images, they are all new and never printed before. I really hope you enjoy them as much as our judges did. We had a great turnout with categories, Oil & Acrylic, Watercolor & Tempura, Dimensional & Mixed Media, Drawing and Photography. Thanks for checking my blog.

" Affordable Gas "

This reminds me when you could fill up for about $8.00, wouldn't that be nice. I have photographed this old store numerous times and I'm still not happy with the images. Still all in all they are OK.

Headed to The Pocket Wildflower Preserve today, hope to have some really nice flowers for tomorrow. Not sure if we may be too early, but we won't know without going. It is in N.W. Georgia near Lafayette, GA, you can Google it and get directions. Hope you enjoy!!

" Digging "

Just plain fun, this dog found something interesting in this pile of cans. His friend happened to be on the outside looking in, with no way to reach the cans. Just thought this was a cool shot. One of many dogs found at Summerville Junkyard. Hope you enjoy!!

" Lunch at Summervilles "

Lunchtime at Summervilles Junkyard. These images were made on my second trip to the junkyard in Aragon, GA. The top photo is Marlin Jones, a retired railroad worker who just comes by to visit and hang out with all the guys. The bottom is one of the men who help run the day to day process at the yard. Everyone I met was great and some of the most friendly people I have ever met. Thanks to everyone who welcomed me. Hope you enjoy!!

" Olivia & Jesse "

My daughter and Jesse. A quick shoot in the Dallas Theater a couple weeks back. We were just playing around with off camera speedlight and having fun. Hope you enjoy!!

" Make Yourself at Home "

Traveling just outside Aragon, GA I ran across this junkyard or used auto parts establishment, to be politically correct. I seriously doubt Johnny and the boys would care. These were some of the nicest, down home, ordinary Americans you could ever want to meet. This was my first trip to visit,but would not be my last. They told me to go anywhere and shoot anything I wanted. I did just that and will be back again and again. Hope you enjoy!!

" Parking Deck "

Here are more from my self assigned Parking Deck shoot. This is one of the parking decks I know of where you can shoot without any interference from security guards. They actually never bother to even come around, even with a tripod! It sits up on a very tall hill and has an excellent view of the Atlanta skyline and also 3 other buildings close by. It also has a good sunrise and sunset view in relation to the buildings.

I really enjoy the graphic qualities that can be found inside and outside the deck. All in all a great place to shoot. Everyone should try and give your local parking deck a try, it is very rewarding and lots of fun. Hope you enjoy!!

" Memories Past "

Memories are a very strong and powerful thing. this image brings back memories of my brother, who played baseball most of his childhood. Though he has been gone for 7 years, I still think of him often when out shooting.

This image was shot in Cave Springs in an old building where all the old sports equipment was stored. Apparently they just left everything there and bought new. I really enjoy this area, it is fairly close to home. Hope you enjoy!!

" Which One "

Just wondering which one you like best. I actually prefer the black & white, but that's just me. Leave me a comment, I really would like everyone's opinion. This staircase goes up to and old storage room filled with old sports equipment and christmas decorations. They have cleaned a lot of the stuff out since last year. They may be planning to tear down this building also. I really hope not. Hope you enjoy!!

" Waiting on Spring "

This image shows tomatoe cages stacked next to the old homeplace just waiting for spring. Hoping for warm weather and a chance to plant tomatoes. This is a common site this time of year, as anyone who plants a garden knows. After the recent cold winter temps, we are all looking forward to spring. Hope you enjoy!!

" The Interior "

Here are a couple of interiors of the old abandoned farmhouse near Aragon, GA. This is still one of my favorite subjects, I just love getting inside old homes. These 2 images lent themselves to black & white because of the monotone colors. Also the rich textures of the walls and the hay. This is another subject born from just riding the backroads until you see something interesting. Everyone should try this sometime, I promise you will eventually find something to shoot. Hope you enjoy!!

" Amicalola River II "

Another beautiful shot of the river. I was just thinking back on my trip to the Amicalola and remembered that I didn't see a single piece of trash while I was there. That in itself was a great thing to see, I guess people really take care not to litter at a place like this. Thanks to all who took out all their trash. I usually have to pick up a piece or two from my shots, but not here.

The river is also one of the best trout fishing areas around, although it has some very stringent catch and release winter rules. Take a short ride and check this area out, it is well worth the trip. Hope you enjoy!!

" Winter Dreams "

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and hope you have a great New Year. Here is a little hope for the future, especially with the bleak cold weather we are having in the good old USA. Maybe this will give everyone something to look forward too. I shot this in 2007 and boy was the weathwer nice this summer day. Hope we get lots like it in 2009. Hope you enjoy and think positive!!

" Hiram Christmas "

"Merry Christmas from Hiram, GA. This image is my Christmas card for 2008. It was taken last year at the lighting of the Hiram Christmas tree. I spent most of the night photographing the lights and the people. I was there for about an hour and a half and saw about 10 trains come by. Hiram has a switch track for trains to pull over and let others pass. I was about to leave when this idea crossed my mind with the train going by and the tree in the back. This shot has won a couple of competitions with a Christmas theme. Hope you enjoyed!!

" Some Locals From Brunswick, GA"

Here are a couple of images of local people from my trip to Brunswick, GA in October. The first image was an accident sort of, I stopped and parked to photograph a front porch with a hammock. When I got out I saw the girl playing on her Mom's front porch amongst the laundry hung out to dry. I thought, what a cool shot, I didn't even notice the play pistol in her hand when I shot the image, but what an addition to the image.

The second image was a group of folks sitting under some trees in their front yard plating Spades. I drove by once to scope it out, then went around the block and came back to ask if I could photograph them playing. As usual they were happy to let me. This is the only shot out of about 30 that I wanted to use. I love this shot as it seems to show all about the game.

"Back to Brunswick, GA"

I am hreaded back to Brunswick to pick up all my work. Will be photographing for the last time for a while on the coast of Georgia. I have never shot there in the winter, hoping for some clouds on the beach. Not to run it in the ground, but this is a wonderful place to shoot anytime you can. Jekyll Island is great for a lot of different opportunities, beach, dunes, marsh and of course the driftwood on Driftwood Beach. If ypu ever get the chance to go, don't miss it. Hope you enjoy!!

Won't be posting again until after Thanksgiving, unless I find time while on the beach.

Just a fun image taken in N. Georgia on a trip to The Pocket outside Lafayette, GA. It is a well known wildflower destination. We came across this farm on the road in and when we began to photograph the barn these cows came quickly over to check us out. I also checked them out. Just a fun image to take you into the weekend. Thanks for viewing.

Close encounters of the Bovine kind. This is a shot I did last year while in S. Georgia. I had been out shooting abandoned buildings and landscapes when i ran across these cows. They were very freindly and I started shooting. This one came the closest and he wound up being the most interesting of the herd. It is really a neat shot with lots of detail. Hope you enjoy!!

"Smokin"

Two more imagwes from the 70's, back when smoking was still cool and safe. The top image is a good friend of mine who went on to be a teacher and I think quit smoking. The second is Dent Myers who I have photographed for over 30 years. The last time was October 2007 at his store "Wildmans Civil War Surplus" in Kennesaw, GA. He is partly responsible for the law that makes it mandatory that you own a handgun in Kennesaw.

Mike