Mmmmmmmmm Good!

I've photographed this sweet girl since she was a wee thing. Last Saturday, she was enjoying a Steel City Pop while waiting on her Mom and Dad ( Cliff and Maureen Holt/ Little Savannah) to finish up their Chef's Demonstration at Pepper Place Market. 

Multitasking

Pepper Place Market

I wish I could still do that!

Home Grown in Alabama

For as long as I've visited the Pepper Place Market, this gentleman and his family have been in the same spot, every Saturday.  Here in Alabama, WE LOVE OUR FARMERS!

Shoot The Lyric - Part II

If you are a regular follower of this blog, you probably are familiar with the historic Lyric Theatre in downtown Birmingham.  This 98 year old lady started out as a vaudeville theatre and over the years has had many different "lives".  Thanks to Alabama Landmarks and the Light Up The Lyric fundraisers, she will be restored to her former glory by her 100th birthday.  I have had the privilege of photographing this historic place many times, but last week I organized a group of photographers for a Sunday afternoon "Shoot The Lyric" event.  We were allowed to venture into all the safe places in the theatre and adjoining office building.  These enthusiastic photographers will then share some of their photographs with the Light Up The Lyric group and hopefully share on their websites, Facebook pages etc. to bring public awareness to this historic treasure.

Today I share one of my photos of photographers LaTrelle Grayson and Pat Dortch , as they discussed their next shot from the stage.

Memorial Day - Alabama's National Cemetery

Alabama's National Cemetery, just south of Birmingham in Montevallo,  was begun in 2009.  For this Memorial Day 2,100 flags were placed here by volunteers. A beautiful resting place for our veterans.

In Full Bloom

The beautifully restored  Jordan Home, build around 1906, is in full blown and caused a u-turn for photos on Friday.  Loved the color choice of the geraniums this year!

Pink X 3

Spotted at the Alys Stephens Center's Lux Somnia

Green Shutters and Shadows

Shutters and scaffolding shadows

Southern Accents Architectural Antiques

See Saw

Railroad Park

Hanging Around

What a wonderful way to repurpose Grandma's old silverware.

La Vie en Rose

Dunn Rose Garden

Bear with me, I'll quit posting Birmingham in the springtime photos very soon. I stopped by the Birmingham Botanical Gardens last Saturday to try and capture the last of the fabulous  Birmingham Rose Society's rose show with the results of Friday night's storm. I was rewarded.

They Shot The Lyric

L-R Katy, Charlie, Stacy, Patty, Larry, Caroline, LaTrelle, Michael and Pat

Yesterday an enthusiastic group of my photography buddies gathered at the historic Lyric Theatre for a little photo shoot. Thanks to Birmingham Landmark's Glenny Brock for opening on a Sunday afternoon and giving us a little history of this 99 year treasure.  It was hot and dusty but everyone scattered to find what caught their eye.  In return, they will all share some of their photos on blogs, websites and Facebook as well as donate images to Light Up The Lyric's fundraising efforts.

If you would like to make a much needed donation or schedule a tour, contact:brant@alabamatheatre.com

Historic Lyric Theatre

1816 3rd Avenue North

Sunday Church Series - 16th Street Baptist Church

The 16th Street Baptist Church such a part of Birmingham's history and the Civil Rights Movement.  This afternoon I spotted this man taking his young son to see this historic place.

A Healing Place

The new Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children is a wonderful place and we are so grateful for it.

Ona's Music Room

Ona's Music Room has moved to the Pepper Place after  15 years on 20th Street South.  I visited during the day and the light on this wonderful wall of photographs caught my eye. Now I'm ready to head back there one night and experience the music I've been hearing about for years!

Ona's Music Room

2801 2nd Avenue South

Traffic Stopper

The corner of Highway 31 and Shades Crest Road in Vestavia Hills has been in bloom for 30 years, thanks to the Men's Garden Club of Vestavia.  Traffic is always whizzing by this busy intersection but when you get caught by the light, it's a delight to see what they've added.  This arbor that is just blooming with purple clematis caught my eye.

Cyber Grafitti

Back to Lux Somnia at the UAB Alys Stephens Center about a week ago. There were so many creative uses of light.  Here a young woman had fun "spray painting" digitally!

Everything's Rosy

The Dunn Formal Rose Garden at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is gorgeous this week. They held the annual Rose Show last week so get there soon and enjoy the blooms.

Haw He Haw!

Friday's shoot included Saturday's chicks but also these adorable donkeys.  They are begging for  pieces of green apple lovingly doled out by Ginger. Your smile for the day!

Remembering Our Mothers

My sweet Momma, known as Gigi by her 2 granddaughters and 5 great grandchildren, and Mrs. Kelser by everyone who knew and loved her at Howard College and Samford University.  

Chic Chicks

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting new friends Ginger and David, in their gorgeous home south of town.  Besides a beautiful home, they have a delightful farm complete with three much loved donkeys ( coming soon) and their newest members of the family Flo oand Addie.  These two chicks have the chicest home I've ever seen, complete with blooming geraniums. They love their two story home but also get plenty outside time as well!

Hello Sunshine

BESA

BESA Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II, is a photographic exhibit by photographer Norman Gershman.  His book by the same name contains portraits and and moving text by 65 Muslim families in Albania who saved Jews during the war.  The photographs are beautiful and the stories compelling. I don't know when I've been so moved by a book.  The exhibit is free if you do not wish to tour the rest of the Civil Rights Institute and runs through June.

BESA means promise or vow and the stories of how these Muslim families risked so much for  the Jewish people that they did not know,  is a moving and heartwarming story.  Gershman visited Albania many times to photograph and interview those who were directly involved or their families.

I quote from Hamdi Mece, the grandson of Sulejman and Zenepe Mece:
" We never took money from those we sheltered. We took them in under our Besa. We are true Muslims and God granted us the privilege of saving Jews.  All life is precious and given by God. To save a life is God's gift.  My  grandparents and my uncle were unafraid.  They had full consciousness of what they were doing. "

Don't Put Your Eggs....

well you know.  I believe this is the first time I've seen quail eggs for sale at the Pepper Place Market. They were so beautiful, I couldn't stop taking photos.

Mountain Song Farms

Mentone, AL

Vintage

There's a lot of hoopla about our new Regions Baseball Park that recently opened downtown, but let's not forget historic Rickwood Field,  America's oldest baseball park .  Built in 1910, it's a treasure.

Lite Brite!

Lux Somnia - Light Dreams at the UAB Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts encompassed many wonderful multimedia installations. This giant Lite Brite was a hit with the kids, and the adults as well. I was hoping for the big kids to back off and let the little ones have the fun!

The Rose Knows

My friend Cathy's garden amazes me month after month,  as I visit often for our garden project.  Last week, this perfect red rose just seemed to know to tuck its head through the fence to adorn her birdhouse!

Hoopla!

Part of the Lux Somnia - Light Dreams evening at UAB's Alys Stephens Center, were interactive activities.  The kids, and a few brave adults, had a ball with the glow in the dark hoola hoops.  I wished I'd not lost my touch!

Since it rained last night, you can still catch this fabulous evening tonight!

Light Dreams

Jean Jacques Gaudel

Birmingham's multi-faceted artist,  Jean Jacques Gaudel amazed the hundreds gathered outside of UAB's Aly Stephens Center for the Perfoming Arts last night with his amazing digitally projected artwork.  Randal Crowe and Joe Walker were also featured.  In addition there were other installations by local artists, as well as musical groups participating before and after this presentation.  If you are in the Birmingham area, you can catch another performance tonight at 7:00.  For more information about Light Dreams, click HERE.

I regret the quality of these photographs.  My iPhone saved the day as my camera just wasn't up to the task, or maybe it was the photographer!

Waiting

Sitting all day, waiting for interested customers is one of the hardest things about showing your work at an art show.  This artist's silhouette caught my eye as she relaxed under the shade tree during the Magic City Art Connection last weekend.

City Daily Photo Theme Day - The Creative Artisan

Ira Chaffin is a world renowned sculptor living right here in Birmingham.  He is well known for his portrait sculptures,  but today I share a sample of his carousel horse and menagerie work.  I found thepieces as beautiful as the finished pieces.  The Ira Chaffin Carousel Carving School is an amazing place to visit and photograph.

Today is City Daily Photo Theme day and photobloggers around the world are sharing creative artisans in their city.  Click HERE to see them all.