Flag Runner

This man finished the Mercedes marathon/half marathon with backpack and the American flag.

Dine In Or Take Out?

Rumor has it that big fat cardinals go through the buffet line here regularly, but so far they have eluded my camera.  BTW, can you tell we've had a lot of rain lately???

From The Inside...

looking out.  Japanese Bridge from the Bamboo Forest, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Like A Day At The Beach

well.....sort of.

Sunday Church Series - House of Restoration UMC

Built in 1909, when the  Elyton Methodist Church moved to this location,  it was renamed in honor of Corilla Parker Walker.  Today the House of  Restoration United Methodist Church calls this beautiful church home.

631 3rd Street Southwest

Grand Old Building

This building is still referred to as the John Hand Building. Built in 1912 as the American Trust and Savings Building. When it was built it was the tallest building in Alabama.  It is one of the buildings downtown that I never tire of photographing.

Spring Is Just Around The Corner

When you see these fabulous tulip trees around town, you know spring is on it's way to Alabama!. I shot this from Linn Park last Saturday while photographing the Mercedes Marathon hoopla.

Superheroes

were all over the place at the Regions Superhero 5K run on Saturday.  This one looks like he was about to take flight!

Snail Mail

Abandoned church in North Birmingham

Neat Feet

The Kids' Run on Saturday proved that we have come a long way from all white tennis shoes!

Big Time Heroes

If you think running a marathon is hard, try doing it like these guys!

Running For A Great Cause

Saturday was the Bell Center's Run and the Kids' Marathon, all part of the huge and successful Mercedes Marathon Weekend!  I was on hand to photograph the whole shebang and the Bell Center kiddos was so fabulous I can't even count how many photographs I want to share with you. Today, they were off and running, walking, being pushed by proud parents and walking or pushing walkers. No matter how they got to the finish line, they were all winners.

Tomorrow I go back to photograph the big boys and girls running that marathon. I have a sneaking suspicion they won't be quite as much fun as the Bell Kids!

Hello Sunshine!

The weather in Birmingham has been rainy and dismal for weeks. The dafs and of course the winter hearty pansies are a welcome spot of  sunny color at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens!

(Say hello to my photography buddy, Michael Anderson there in the background!)

Layers and Layers

Avondale

Only a crazed photographer would ask the driver to pull over so she could jump out to  get some shots of this old building with its great layers of paint.

Positive Words

For quite some time now, the words, "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" have cropped up around town. I'm not a fan of graffiti, but I will have to admit that this uplifting message has made me smile when I've run across it . This one, is worded a bit differently, but equally appreciated.

Happy Valentine's Day. Tell someone today how beautiful they are, in their words, deeds or spirit.

Fallen

Many of the camellia blooms at the Botanical Gardens have survived the cold snap a few weeks ago.  We've had so much rain that they were scattered on the ground. I loved the browned blossoms along with the pink ones.

For those of you in the B'ham area, I'll be teaching From Snapshots to Photographs at Samford After Sundown again soon. Please join us!

The Tiny Dancer

Just outside the Boutwell Auditorium, I asked if I could take this beautiful little girl's photograph. She was dressed for her performance at the Chinese New Year Festival on Saturday.

For my Birmingham area readers, I'll be teaching From Snapshots to Photographs at Samford After Sundown again. Please join us!

Chinese New Year

Saturday Birmingham celebrated the Year of the Snake at Boutwell Auditorium.  Thankfully I didn't find any snakes at Linn Park, just this colorful dragon!

Anticipation......

Park....

  inside.

Downtown Birmingham

Deserted

I have a few cohorts in crime that have led me to some interesting places around town. This old deserted home held a special surprise.

Globes Warming

Desert Island Supply Company is a creative writing project for kids in  Birmingham. Located in 

Woodlawn.  It's full of wonderful photo ops and I suspect lots of things to spark the creative juices.  

Birmingham Rouge - Vintage Peanut Roaster

I love the Peanut Depot on Morris Avenue downtown. It's like stepping back in time. They have been roasting peanuts since 1907.  This beauty caught my eye of course!

Haute Couture

Who knew that we could shop from Atlanta to New York and never leave Birmingham! 

Hanging On

A spunky little rouge leaf that is hanging on till spring!

A huge thank you to all my readers and those that leave me comments. This past 10 days I've been in Paris and not had time to visit blogs and leave comments.  I'm  home and rested and will be stopping by to say hello this week!

Sunday Church Series - Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

The one hundred year old Blessed Sacrament Church in West End has been lovingly preserved.  It has a congregation of about 150 according to their priest.  A beautiful gem in a failing part of Birmingham.

Blessed Sacrament Church

1460 Pearson Avenue, SW

Back Porch

Arlington Antebellum Home is a former plantation house built between 1845-1850. Owned now by the city of Birmingham, it is a beautiful example of antebellum era Greek revival architecture.

Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens

331 Cotton Avenue

The Lights Are Always On...

at the Alabama Power Company building on 18th Street North.