St. Simons Island

We spent some time recently in St. Simons Island on the coast of Georgia. It is a beautiful little town with many things to look at.

St. Simons lighthouse built 1868 to 1872

A view of the Atlantic Ocean on the way up the lighthouse stairs.

At the top of the stairs, just before going out on the balcony, the sun light was detracted by the prisms in fresnel lens.

A stained glass window just inside the door to Christ Church.

Oyster shell line the bottom of one of the house foundations in Fort Frederica. Fort Frederica was built between !736 and 1748 to protect the southern boundary of the British Colony of Georgia from Spanish raids.

Hamilton Plantation slave cabins now used by the Casino Garden Club for their flower garden.

The cabins were built using tabby which is a type of concrete made buy burning oyster shells to create lime and then adding water, sand ash and broken oyster shells. you can see what it looks like without the stucco and paint on the right.

A Golden silk orb-weaver in the window of the Horton House.

A closer view of the Golden silk orb-weaver

The Wallnius Wilhelmsen ship Thermopylae a vehicle carrier registered in Malta leaving Georgia.

St. Simons lighthouse seen through the branches of a live oak tree.

It was a beautiful trip and we had lovely drive home on the backroads of Georgia.

Savannah

One of my favorite cities. All the trees covered in moss, especially the live oak trees. The squares, just two blocks apart throughout much of the city. The architecture, all the different houses and other buildings constructed with style and a restriction on height keeping all the details within sight.

The Davenport houseMaster builder Isaiah Davenport, a native of New England, designed and built the Federalist style home as a dwelling for his growing household as well as a demonstration of his building skills in 1820-1821. — The Davenport house
Master builder Isaiah Davenport, a native of New England, designed and built the Federalist style home as a dwelling for his growing household as well as a demonstration of his building skills in 1820-1821.

Somebody got carried away with the traffic signs on this street.

Florence Martus the unofficial greeter to all ships entering and leaving the port of Savannah from 1887 to 1931.

This is her in 2013. Someone has since broken the light at her feet. I put a flash set to a low power behind the light to light it up.

This is a beautiful city to shoot at night so that is when I enjoy making pictures.

Savannah is also home to Savannah College of Art and Design and one of the main drivers for the reclamation and restoration of old buildings and neighborhoods.

This building was originally part of the Central of Georgia Railway. Now it is the Eichburg Hall and Eichburg Hall Extension.

The Sergeant William Jasper monument, memorializing his death at the Siege of Savannah in October 1779 while attempting to rescue his Regiments colors.Designed by Alexander Doyle — The Sergeant William Jasper monument, memorializing his death at the Siege of Savannah in October 1779 while attempting to rescue his Regiments colors.
Designed by Alexander Doyle

the James Oglethorpe Monument dedicated to the founder of the Georgia Colony in 1733. He is facing south to “keep a watchful eye on the Spanish”Bronze by Daniel French. Base by Henry Bacon. — the James Oglethorpe Monument dedicated to the founder of the Georgia Colony in 1733. He is facing south to “keep a watchful eye on the Spanish”
Bronze by Daniel French. Base by Henry Bacon.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. The Eighth Air Force was activated on 2 January 1942 at Savannah Army Air Base.

The Chapel of the Fallen Eagles at the mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.

Savannah is a beautiful city to visit with lots to experience.

Newnan, City of Homes

One of the pleasures of living in Newnan is photographing all of the lovely homes here. That is especially true around Christmas when many people dress up their homes with Christmas decorations and lights. some are subtle while others quite ornate.

This gingerbread house has been a home, bed and breakfast. and a movie prop.

This home owner is extremely creative but they have huge crape myrtle trees in front of their home which makes it difficult to photograph so i chose these ornaments to represent their display.

These homes are difficult to photograph because of the amount of contrast between the bright lights and the darkness of the rest of the home but they are gorgeous to see.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

We made the trip into Atlanta To visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the Garden Lights, Garden Nights display.

The light display, atmosphere, and music is incredible, well worth the trip.

Taking pictures of the lights is difficult because of the great contrast between the lights and everything else so shooting in manual mode and trying to get the exposure right so that the lights are not blown out, bright white, loss of color, and the shadows aren’t solid black. Once you find the settings it can make for some beautiful pictures although the beauty of the experience can not be fully captured with pictures.

If you are going to take pictures of the people that are with you. You will want to bring a flash and small diffuser to light them up.

The PhoenixRepresenting Atlanta after it was burned during the Civil War. — The Phoenix
Representing Atlanta after it was burned during the Civil War.

Dale Chihuly’s Parterre Fountain Installation

Light Spheres on the Great Lawn with the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and some Atlanta city lights in the background.

A reflection inside the Christmas Light tree.

The falling lights in the Channel Garden, Boardwalk and Beachwood Overlook overlooking the Storza woods is magnificent and must be experienced to see just how beautiful it is.

The Earth Goddess in the Cascades Garden.

Tunnel of Light. A great place for selfies but better if you can get somebody else to take the picture for you.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta

1345 Piedmont Avenue,
Atlanta, GA 30309

404-876-5859

The Atlanta Botanical Garden

We went on a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park. This is a beautiful, very photogenic garden. I could spend an entire day here with just a macro lens photographing all the flowers, plants, and critters.

This trip they were having their Imaginary Worlds Once Upon a Time exhibit and Scarecrows in the Garden exhibit at the same time.