Architectural Landscaping Design!

Meet Tony and Laura!

It was very fun seeing them again!  I walked up the aisle and noticed the very cool display of water, fire, stone, etc.  They really did a nice job.  I recognized them from last year.  And, they recognized me!   So, I owe them photos!

Take a look at the fantastic stone table/bar with fire and water.

A close up!

A different view!

And a nice image of the gas fireplace.

I thought they did fantastic design work.  Check them out on on their website here or on Facebook here

They were wonderfully creative!

Thanks Tony and Laura

Creative Neon!

Meet Brian from Creative Outdoor.

I rather liked his neon work!

I could see this in a nice man cave!

Thanks Brian!

Aronia: A Wonderful Fruit!

Meet Bill and Connie from BellBrook berry farm!

I had not heard of Aronia before.  So, I had to do a little research.  

From Wiki:
Aronia is a genus of deciduous shrubs, the chokeberries, in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern North America and most commonly found in wet woods and swamps.^[2][3][4] The genus is usually considered to contain two^[5] or three^[4][6] species, one of which is naturalized in Europe.^[7] A fourth form that has long been cultivated under the name Aronia^[6] is now considered to be an intergeneric hybrid, Sorbaronia mitschurinii.
Chokeberries are cultivated as ornamental plants and as food products. The sour berries can be eaten raw off the bush, but are more frequently processed. They can be found in wine, jam, syrup, juice, soft spreads, tea, salsa, chili starters, extracts, beer, ice cream, gummies and tinctures.^[8] The name "chokeberry" comes from the astringency of the fruits, which create a sensation making one's mouth pucker.^[8]

And, the juice is WONDERFUL!

 Check out their website.  You may want to order a LOT of this.  At the risk of taking away some of the health benefits....a little vodka may go very well with this!

Thanks Bill and Connie!

Stone Pocket: Artistic Landscaping

 Meet Tim from StonePocket!

I really liked his display.  It was a blend of asian (with the bamboo and metal screen) and more traditional stone or faux stone planters.  

The name of his company comes from land set aside by the Nature Conservancy called  Parfies Glen.  One way to enter this sanctuary is on a farm road called, StonePocket. 

He describes the area, and his mission, on his website.

He didn't have a large space to showcase his work.  But, if you are interested in someone with a beautiful artistic touch with nature, please reach out to him.

Thanks Tim!   I loved your work!

Home and Garden Show: A Super Hero with a Delightful Sense of Humor and Creativity

Meet Ashley!

Ashley was hilarious.   When I asked for a little information about her for the blog, she responded with:  I am a super hero who sells hoses by day and can see through walls and read minds with her super powers.  And, she is working on telekinesis! 

I believe I got 4-5 emails from her as I was wandering around doing other photos as she added to the story.  Here is a portion of one of the emals:

"I spend my nights solo, wandering the darkened streets of disparity with naught but my cape and my wand, righting wrongs, defending the weak, and protecting the endangered.  I do not age, as justice and good-doing give me life....."

She thanked me for helping her deal with the downtime during the show.  

Thanks Ashley.   It was a delight meeting you and I am glad I provided a brief respite from the day!

The Home and Garden Show: Installers

Meet Pauline!

She worked for New Age Consulting, a company that helps with Direct TV installs.

Thanks Pauline!

The Home and Garden Show: Habitat for Humanity

Meet Kathryn!

She is a volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity organization.   And, she was more than happy to let me take her photograph as long as I promised to voice her message.  So, here it is:  "Come volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity!"

Seriously, it is a worthwhile cause.   When even a former President of the United States is willing to put on jeans and grab a hammer to help, that catches my attention.

And, the signs about their display told stories of families that have been helped.

What was new to me  was ReStore.  This is where tools can be donated and then sold to other volunteers.  This raises funds for building materials.

Thanks Kathryn!  It was a pleasure meeting you.  And, thank you for being the first volunteer to be photographed by me that day!

Inside: A New Bar in the Atlanta Area and Shooting with very Low Light

As I have said, I like taking photos inside of bars.  The decor/colors are usually awesome.  And, the lighting is always a challenge.  So, I tried this at a new bar restaurant I had not visited before in Atlanta.

With a flash.   Much cleaner.   But, it looses some of the ambiance.  That's a very big word for a guy like me.

Mac McGee's has a waitress!

I totally didn't get her name!   But, she was excellent!  She took good care of her customers.  AND, she even handled Fred pretty well!

That is no small task!

And, Two Friendly Bartenders Are Even Better!

Meet  Fred!

Actually, you have met Fred before.  

He was, once again, delightful and funny!  A perfect bartender. No listening to your problems.  He wants you to laugh, smile, and have a couple of drinks.  

I like taking photos inside of bars.  The colors are usually quite fascinating.    And, trying to get a photo without glass reflecting light is almost impossible. But, I still like it.

I particularly like this layout at Mac McGee's.  A small, mirrored shelf for the good stuff.   

Thanks Fred!  I hope to be back.

Back to Atlanta: A Dinner with Borepatch

On one of my trips to Atlanta this year, I had a chance to escape and visit Borepatch and check how his wing was doing.  We had a great visit at his house and then walked to the restaurant row that is THE place to be.

Meet Hye-Ja!

I had to try a couple of different photos.   And, she was gracious enough to give me a couple of looks!  You can judge which you prefer!

She is from the DC area and is an artist.  She loves to paint and do yoga.   Finally, she is an aspiring world traveler and strongly encouraged everyone to stop in, give her a big tip, and help fund her traveling adventures!

Thanks Hye-Ja!

A Friendly Bartender is a Good Thing!

Meet Jeremy!

 He hails from Green Bay.    I am not exactly certain how he ended up near Atlanta.  But, he took good care of Borepatch and me!

And...The Basil Hayden's isn't bad at all!

Couples at the Reception

It was nice to see the various couples celebrating their own relationships.

Getting the Kids to Celebrate

I really like seeing the kids with parents celebrating big family events. 

Someone, they kids remember.  Seeing cousins and running around.

It was a nice evening.

Time to Dance: Part 2

Wrapping up the dancing photos.

Time to Dance!

It is a challenge getting photos of people on a dance floor.  You can get some strange faces, postures, and weird backgrounds.

These aren't too bad.  You should have seen the ones I didn't post!

It is enough to know that people were having fun and they were celebrating the new life together of the wedding couple as well as their own lives.

Guests: At the Reception

By this time, the dancing was just about to start.

 

The Bride and Groom!

Finally, I got to the Bride and Groom!

And, the mother of the groom and the groom!

By this time, the dancing was just getting started!

Some of the Wedding Party: Part 2

This was a LARGE wedding party!

 

Some of the Wedding Party: Part 1

At the beginning of the reception, the wedding party congregates at the back of the hall.  As they are introduced, they walk in.

I was asked to get photos of them as they walked in, in turn.

And, everyone was starting to have a very good time!

I am not sure I am cut out for this wedding photographer stuff.   But, I had fun.