Life In Black & White -“Fancy Honey”

October 30, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

Today, I’m sharing with you another of my favorite sights along The Golden Isles Parkway (Hwy.341) in Georgia…”Fancy Honey – The Altamaha Apiaries.” We must have passed it about hundred times on our journey back and forth to St. Simons and it wasn’t until our last trip that we finally stopped to take a few photos.

I couldn’t help but wonder about the history of this little, abandoned store, located in Gardi, GA. So, I did a little research and quickly found out this is a very popular landmark to photograph. Built around 1900, it was originally a post office and general store. The Fore family purchased the building in 1941 to expand their honey business.

If you go back and look at earlier photographs (see Buzz Kill below), you can tell that the building is slowly fading away. As we drove around the building you can see remnants of scattered hive boxes peering beneath overgrown vines and brush.

From what I have been able to find out it is still in the family. Perhaps just like my earlier post about the neatly kept, but empty house with water tower and wind mill (For the Love of Photography – “Gone But Not Forgotten” ) the family has many memories handed down from generation to generation that they can not bear to part with it. Whatever the reason may be, I’m glad it’s still around and thankful to have made the stop before it completely faded away.

For more information about this unique building, please visit these links below:

Buzz Kill – Great photo series of other abandoned apiaries.
Sleepy town called Gardi a haven from big-city bustle – Interesting interview with a family member who owns the building.
Vanishing South Georgia – A wonderful blog by Brian Brown from Fitzgerald, Georgia.

Life in Black & White: “Rain”

June 6, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

No words needed to describe a Sunday afternoon rain shower.

Life in Black & White – “Another Stadium?!?”

April 29, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments

My husband will tell you that in the 20 plus years he has lived in Atlanta there have been five (5) stadiums for our baseball team (The Atlanta Braves) and our football team (The Atlanta Falcons).

First, there was the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. An open air arena home to both teams. When baseball and football season overlapped, it wasn’t unusual to see the baseball diamond outlined in the middle of the football field.

Atlanta Fulton County Stadium – Google Images

Then, along came the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and the first transformation took place. The Braves went one way to a new home at Turner (aka The Ted) Field which was built for the Olympics next to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. After the Olympics were over, Turner Field was closed in and officially made “The Home of the Braves” and the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was soon demolished, leaving only the back wall which marked the famous home run of “Hank Aaron.”

Turner Field – Google Images

And, while the Braves were settling into their new home, the Atlanta Falcons made their way up I-75 to the Georgia Dome (the 3rd stadium if you’re counting). Which, at the time it was built was a state of the art indoor arena. When it opened I remember working on a sweepstakes with the local Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottler called “Roam the Dome.” If you won, then you would be one of the first to tour the Georgia Dome before they officially opened the doors to the public.

The Georgia Dome

But, alas just as the Braves are in the midst of building a new home at SunTrust Park (stadium number 4) so are the Falcons building their new home at Mercedes stadium…….right….next door to their current home.

Curious to see what is so special about having a new football stadium (#5) I took a drive around it the other day. Of course, like other areas of the city there are cranes everywhere hovering over the construction zones like giant erector sets.

The old can be seen reflecting off the side of the new building. An eerie reminder that it will soon fall to the hands of a wrecking ball.

I will say, though, that the new architecture is quite impressive with various shapes and angles.

Despite the fact that so many stadiums have come and gone in the past 20+ years, it’s still great to see the growth and progress this city continues to make. And, if you can navigate your way around the multiple construction zones and road closures it’s still a wonderful place to live and call “home.”

Life in Black And White – “The 7 Mile Bridge”

March 23, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

I remember the first time my husband took me to the Florida Keys. It was in the middle of July 1996 just before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. We landed in West Palm Beach late in the evening, waking early the next morning to begin our drive to the Keys. It was our first “no map, no plans, no place to be” trip.

The Keys were everything I had expected and then some. I expected, beautiful waters. I expected a place of adventure. I expected palm trees and white sand. What I didn’t expect was getting sea sick the first time I went deep sea fishing (that’s a story in and of itself)!

But, for me one of the most amazing elements of the Keys was the 7 Mile Bridge. It’s a massive work of architecture which begins in Marathon, Florida (the middle) and ends in the lower keys at Little Duck Key. Architecturally curved to follow the earth’s surface and tall enough for vessels to pass through.

But, more impressive than the current bridge, are the remaining sections of the original bridge built by Henry Flagler as part of the Florida East Coast Railway (1909 – 1912).

Some sections are now used for running, walking and fishing. Others, are simply reminders of the early days of the industrial revolution. Days, when our country was young and the railroad was vital to connecting each corner together.

In many sections of the bridge, both old and new run parallel with each other. A constant reminder of the importance of the past and the present.

The original bridge was damaged by a hurricane on Labor Day in 1935. Eventually sold to the U.S. Government it was later transformed for automobile use. The remaining track rails were recycled and made into the guard rails. It’s also my understanding that some sections were “widened” to allow cars to pass each other. Although, from the stories I’ve heard it was a VERY narrow passage and not for the faint of heart.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend making the entire length of the drive through the Keys. Stretching 113 miles, spanning across 42 bridges and leap frogging from Key to Key, it’s and incredible journey which ends at the Southernmost point of the United States……..“90 miles to Cuba.”

Google Images — 90 Miles to Cuba

And, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of this beautiful area, check out my source links:

Friends of Old Seven – Bridge

7 Mile Bridge Run

Henry Flagler Museum

Life in Black And White – “Bursting at the Seams”

February 15, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

In our area of town, it seems as though someone blew a whistle and all of the building contractors set out on a race to swallow up every piece of empty land. We have roads being widened with mammoth sidewalks, bull dozers moving mounds of dirt and dump trucks lining up to haul it away. And then, there are the cranes……everywhere you turn!

The crux of the growth was the announcement of the Atlanta Braves Baseball Stadium moving from downtown Atlanta to just up the street to Cobb County. It’s still in the city of Atlanta so they don’t have to worry about dropping (or explaining) the name “The Atlanta Braves.” But, to say the move has been without controversy is an understatement (that’s a story for another day).

It was a surprise announcement in November, 2013 and with a little over 14 months left before opening day it seems as though the new stadium is rapidly taking shape.

Stairways and ramps to the grandstands are starting to show signs of life.

And, the giant frames that will eventually hold the jumbo-trons, scoreboards and lights are beginning to rise above the cranes.

Growing up, I never imagined the Braves Stadium would be within walking distance of my home. Why would it? The original Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was torn down to make room for “The Ted” which was built for the 1996 Olympics. So, it would seem that the Braves would forever remain downtown.

At times it can be frustrating to navigate through the road closures and extra traffic, but we’re beginning to get excited about the transformation to our “little town.” We’re getting excited because they’re building more than just a baseball stadium, they’re building a destination…….a place of year long events, shopping, concerts and much more.

So, welcome to Cobb County “Atlanta Braves”…..we’re glad to have you here!

Life in Black And White

January 18, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

The country singer, Jamey Johnson has a song titled “In Color.” In the song he is talking with his Grandpa, asking him about photos that are obviously in black in white. As the song goes on his grandfather says “……And if it looks like we were scared to death
like a couple of kids just trying to save each other you should’ve seen it in color.”

I have always loved black and white photography because of the simplicity and timelessness of the photo. Black and white photos are magical in that they draw the viewer into photo, making a personal connection. A connection that let’s the viewer create the story.

I used to take a great deal of photos in black and white, especially landscapes and architecture, but it seems like the past few years I’ve only been “seeing life in color.” To help me spend more time taking black and white photos, I plan to call one of my weekly themes “Life in Black & White.” I haven’t decided whether or not there will be a specific subject for that week, or just a collection of photos…….so stay tuned as this evolves.

For this first entry, I pulled a few photos from my archives. I know the stories of these photos “in color,” but what story do they tell to you?