the american south/uncle pat's

Sunset at Uncle Pat's childhood home in the wilds of Sharon, GA.

the american south/new orleans and kudzu

Here is another image that shows what I mean by the vegetation and the structures in the South becoming one...I guess to rather detrimental effect for this particular house. The guy in the upper left, Francis, had the lovely job of pulling all this kudzu off this house. I think they were going to just rip the house down after that...brutal job.

the american south/a location begging for a portrait

Sometimes I run across a place and it is just begging to have a portrait shot here. I JUST SEE a person there....This porch in South Carolina was one such place. I was on a job for Atlantic Broadband and this house was empty, but owned by one of the people I was photographing for the job. I fell in love with the way vegetation was beginning to take over the porch. (This is something I love about the South in general. It is so lush and the landscape and structures are so entwined, it is impossible to separate the two.) I offered to do a portrait of the owners son on the porch - it seemed fitting. So here is the portrait. I shot it really quick because we had about 100 miles to drive to the next location (at least it felt that way...) I really like the result. He thought I was a little weird wanting to photographed him at the old abandoned house next door...

the american south/graceland

I thought I would continue with more images of the South this week.

Something about it being summer just makes me want to go on a road trip. But since I am in "Staycation" mode this year until the book comes out, I am traveling through my memories of road trips past. This one was actually taken on the tour of Graceland in Memphis, TN. This little shooting range (if you can call it that) was in a tiny room at the back of the house next to Elvis' office. I love the colors in this, though, and the fact that it was SO small and strange makes me like it, and Elvis, more. I wonder what all the hooks in the ceiling were for.

wanderlust/i've got it bad....

Another beauty from South Carolina. I love the South.......

wanderlust/i've got it bad....

Sometimes I get to point when I am just aching to take a road trip or travel somewhere new. I crave the feeling when everything you are looking at is new and slightly strange. Sadly I have no travel plans for awhile so I have been looking over some images I took when I was in South Carolina last year (or I think it was last year). The Village Inn is a favorite. I was lost when I passed it so I will never be able to find it again. Wish I could drive by when the doors are open the Village Inn is full...what a room of characters that would be!

my morning walk/fort miley

I have to admit, I shoot these types of images a lot. There is something that fascinates me about these overgrown places that feel like a cave or animal's home. It feels wild and at the same time hidden - like a secret discovery. I have learned not to look inside because once I interrupted someone sleeping (which freaked us BOTH out). But I still have some romantic notion about them. I think it goes back to making forts in the summertime with friends...or tree houses. Anyhow, this seemed fitting because it is summer.