Thanks For the Memories

I created my Birmingham Daily Photo Blog in June 2008, after following Eric Tenin's Paris Daily Photo ( pictured on the bottom right). Six months later, after my second trip to Paris, Paris Through My Lens. was born.  Since that time I have visited Paris a total of 17 times and posted a photo of Paris almost every day. It's been a life/career changing experience for me. I have made so many friends with fellow bloggers and readers around the world. Many I have had the pleasure of meeting in person. I regret that this collage doesn't represent all of you, but it brought me so much pleasure today collecting these images.

With much regret, this seems like the right time to close both of my blogs. I am so grateful to all of  you who have followed and left comments of encouragement. I value your friendship. I will leave both blogs up so that if you choose, you can still do a search and perhaps finds some photos that you missed along the way. In the meantime, I will continue to post images on my Instagram @vjonesphoto and offer prints on my Etsy shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/VirginiaJones.

Walls of Hope I

Several weeks ago, someof our downtown areas were defaced during the protests. Businesses were forced to board up their windows. Since then, the arts community has risen to the occasion to paint positive messages and images everywhere! For the next several days, I will post collages so that you may feel the love and the positivity as well. Lemonade from lemons, indeed!

Birmingihiam's Rotary Trail

Last Friday a large group of local floral designers joined forces to festoon the Rotary Trail signage with a lovely display of blossoms to bring needed beauty after a really hard few days in our city.

Saturday, when I got there, it was full of folks admiring their handiwork and taking photos. This little girl, who was turning two that day, was posing for photos with her family.

Black Lives Matter in Birmingham

Birmingham has seen its share of unrest and protests in its long history but this past week has again been the scene of peaceful and not so peaceful protests. Today I went downtown to see these two walls. It was good to see people coming here to pay their respects and find a way of showing respect and make their voices heard.

Life At A Distance II

This sweet family allowed me to photograph them in their backyard for this series. 

Life at a Distance I

 Today, is the first of a special project I've begun during this time of quarantining. Although I live alone, with my dear cat Meeps, I've had to grapple with 8 weeks + of isolation. As a photographer, I've searched for ways to get out and shoot while remaining safe and at a distance. This has led me to haunting my neighborhood garden shop after hours and friends' beautiful gardens to shoot and get fresh air! It's also opened up a project I'm calling Life At A Distance.

Yesterday I ventured out to daughter Kathleen's home to have Mother's Day lunch with her family.  For the last 8 weeks she has voluntarily made and donated hundreds of masks for healthcare providers, friends, neighbors, their company, and strangers. She has turned her dining room into a mini factory as have so many across this country. 

Julia and Eudora

Julia and Eudora. Let's just say they were underwhelmed to see me this afternoon.

Remembering With Much Love

 I can't say for certain, but I"m guessing that for most of the 100+ years, the women of Independent Presbyterian Church have gathered on the Friday before Palm Sunday and lovingly made palm crosses that would be pinned on each member as they entered the Sanctuary on Palm Sunday. I"ve been privileged to photograph this lovely gathering many times. There is much laughter and love as the older, more experienced members shared their techniques with the newer ones. I will admit that I mainly come for Betty Schriber's fabulous pimento sandwiches. This year, our church along with others across this country will celebrate in a different way. No palm crosses for us this year, but we still have these memories.

International Holocaust Rememberance Day

Holocaust Survivors, 2018 Temple Bethel.