"Driftwood Beach"

Well I have been back to Brunswick, GA again. I have an exhibit hanging in the Ritz Theatre downtown. The Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association was kind enough to give me a one man show thru November 26, 2008. Please come by and see my work if you are in the area.

While there I visited Jekyll Island and Driftwood Beach for the third time. This is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia. The island is accessable for only a $3 a day fee. It has beaches, dunes, wildlife, bike trails and a lot of history. Please visit, you will be impressed. I look forward to my visit in November for one last shoot when I pick up my work.

"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

"More from the 70's"

Both of these images were taken at a Gold Rish Festival in Dahlonega, GA in the late 1970's. I attended the festival regularly for a few years. The Banjo Man was a big favorite of mine because of his expression and the fact that on the print you can see he has only 1 dollar in his hat. That was a pretty good donation in the late 70's.

The top image is one of my all time favorites, the title is Three Men and No Baby. In the print you can see the middle gut is rolling his own with Prince Albert in the can. This is a timeless image and they are totally self involved.

Mike

"Looking for an Old Friend"

I would love to get in touch with my friend shown in the photos. Her name was Turtle Gunn and was my model, makeup artist and stylist for many years during the late 70's. If anyone knows her or can put her in touch with me, I would really appreciate it.

She got married and moved to Bowling Green, KY in the early 80's and I lost touch with her. She was from Marietta, GA and had a sister named Ronnie whose wedding I photographed. If anyone knows her please contact me.

Mike

"Sign of the Times"

This shot was made just across the Savannah River in South Carolina. It was an abandoned and torn down building. All that was left were the concrete pillars. The kids had a field day with the graffiti and apparently they had been doing it for a long time. Actually it was a really cool place to shoot.

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

"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

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

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

A Smiking Sofa & Some Trash !!

These images were made above the gallery at The Ritz Theatre in Brunswick, GA. The sofa really grabbed my attention as soon as I came into the room. The tear in the front was an added addition to the image.

The trash cans were very graphic and the light through the window was amazing. I took about 20 images from all angles and these were the best. The light in the upstairs area was unbelievably as you will see in my later posts from the same shoot.

Sorry to be so late posting today, but I was unable to upload any photos for a few hours today, some kind of an error with the software. Have a great night, will post early tomorrow morning.

Mike

Beauty and Ugly!!

Just a quick post today, I'm very busy. Here is a touch of two worlds, both taken at the same location in downtown Brunswick, GA. I hope you like these two. I will try to get on with the Ritz photos later today.

The Ritz !!

The actual reason for my trip to the Georgia coast was to meet the director of the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Heather Heath. I was meeting her and looking at the gallery to help make decisions about the number of prints I need for my show October 3 - November 26, 2008.

The gallery is in the old Ritz Theatre in downtown Brunswick and while we were there Heather mentioned the upper stories of the theatre had not been rennovated, if you know my work at all that was a photo op I could not pass up.

This was the first image I made on the second floor, you can tell artists and actors frequent this place. It turned out to be a treasure trove of photographic opportunity for me. I will post more images later today. Have a great morning.

Mike

Brunswick Trip !!

These images are from the docks and the farmer's market near there. The first image was really great, a shrimp boat that hadn't been to sea in years and Old Glory was still flying proud. The next imsge is just watermelons in some cool light. Madagascar palm in bloom, at least I was told that was the name of this plant, they are very common on the Georgia coast. The last image is just more melons in cooler light. Will continue to post more images from my trip as they are processed. Have a great night.

Mike

Recovering!!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I'm still recovering from my 4AM till 10PM three day shoot in coastal Georgia. Nobody deserves to have so much fun. Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Sea Island and Savannah in 3 days and we just scratched the surface.

I also set the dates for my show at the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association. The show will be hanging in The Ritz theatre in downtown Brunswick, GA. Directions and address to follow closer to the show.

Below is the first image I shot before sunrise at the Boneyard on Jekyll Island. We shot for about 3 hours and really had a blast. More images tto follow later.

Mike

In God I Trust

Her is a color version of a different angle on the morning post. I hope you all like it, as I said this morning I have been passing this at least twice a week for a long time. Just goes to show how you can put things off and the next thing you know they are gone. I will try not to put shots off again, but oh well, sh*t happens!! Try to do better than me is my best advice to all.

Delivering Photographs to Rockmart Civic Arts Commission for a show which begins June 21, 2008 at the Rockmart Arts Gallery. Will have more info later.

Mike