Feet of Clay

 Another bit of architectural detail found while poking around the collection at The Garage.

Lucky

Sometimes I'm just in the right place at the right time. Just outside of  The Garage on Southside. Thank you sir for parking your fine orange scooter right there!

The Price of Gas

 Cost me an arm and a head!

The Garage

Chair and Door

 The Garage

If I didn't know better, I'd think Fritz Woehle placed this lovely bistro chair in front of this fabulous painted door, and then gave the vines instructions as well.

I will be teaching my photography class, From Snapshots to Creative Photographs at Samford After Sundown again this fall. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested in the Birmingham area.

Also, for those of you planning a trip to Paris, or just dreaming of one, I"ll be teaching a one day workshop, Weekend In Paris at Samford on Sept. 28 from 9-3.  I will share travel tips, a bit of French culture and language as well my favorites things to see and do in Paris. In the afternoon we will talk photography and how to bring home fabulous photographs from your travels.  

Foot Loose!

Today we venture across the street from The Garage to a fenced area where Fritz Woehle stashes some interesting finds.  It's grown up with wisteria etc. ( hopefully no poison ivy) since my last visit so walking around was challenging.  Under the big shed were fabulous old doors and mantels and everywhere you looked, bits and pieces of statuary and ornamental iron, rusted of course.  The stuff that sends photographers over the moon.

I will be teaching my photography class, From Snapshots to Creative Photographs at Samford After Sundown again this fall. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested in the Birmingham area.

Also, for those of you planning a trip to Paris, or just dreaming of one, I"ll be teaching a one day workshop, Weekend In Paris at Samford on Sept. 28 from 9-3.  I will share travel tips, a bit of French culture and language as well my favorites things to see and do in Paris. In the afternoon we will talk photography and how to bring home fabulous photographs from your travels.  

Salvaged

We're back at The Garage again today.  This time the wonderful gates across the front.  The white metal panels were salvaged from the windows of  Birmingham's  beautiful Terminal Station that was demolished in the 1969.  A sad day for Birmingham.

I will be teaching my photography class, From Snapshots to Creative Photographs at Samford After Sundown again this fall. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested in the Birmingham area.

Also, for those of you planning a trip to Paris, or just dreaming of one, I"ll be teaching a one day workshop, Weekend In Paris at Samford on Sept. 28 from 9-3.  I will share travel tips, a bit of French culture and language as well my favorites things to see and do in Paris. In the afternoon we will talk photography and how to bring home fabulous photographs from your travels.  

Chair With Flower

Across the street from The Garage, Fritz Woehle has collected a treasure trove of wonderful old statuary, shutters, architectural pieces and this old chair with the perfectly placed flower growing just so.

These Gates Have a Story

I have been fascinated with these big rusted doors at Fritz Woehle's Garages for many years.  I was lucky enough to find him there once when taking some students for  a shoot., and he told me that the white metal design came from windows in the old Birmingham Terminal Station, which was demolished in 1969 (1909-1969), another regretful note in B'ham's history.  He had them placed on these old rusted garage doors and I LOVE THEM!  The sticker/sign just added more interest for me.

Old Blue Door With Chair

Today we take a Christmas break and poke around The Garage again.  I don't know, I just liked the old wire chair with the ochre wall and blue door.  Holiday festivities and more,  will resume on Monday.

Go On, Write Your Own Title II

Back by popular demand, today I bring you a photograph, and you know the drill, you pen the clever title. Enter as many times as you like.  More fabulous prizes will not be awarded.  After all, the honor of being a finalist should be all the reward you need, n'est-ce pas?  I'll announce the winner/winners on Sunday.  Ask my friend David McMahon says, " I'm throwing down the gauntlet NOW!"

Patina?

One man's grunge is another man's patina, charm? You be the judge.


This is probably the first CDP Theme Day that I've not participated in since I joined up with this wacky and talented group of daily photobloggers.  The theme this month was "Public Transportation" and my choice was so lame I just couldn't bring myself to use it. I promise to be a team player again next month! Click HERE to see the other great ideas from around the world.

The Lady

This beautiful piece of statuary was found across the street from Fritz Woehle's  The Garage.  She's surrounded by all types of architectural remnants, old doors, gates, etc. Somehow she seems to have her own quiet spot.

Fritz

Meet my new friend Fritz Woehle. Fritz, a very well known Birmingham architect, is also the very, very interesting owner of The Garages. I've taken you there many times. ( Here, here and here and many more). Back in April I struck gold when I went on a little photo shoot with some of photography students. Fritz was there that day and he gave us a fascinating tour around this very eclectic space.

Momentos

Some of you long, longtime readers may remember the first time I posted these gates. When I first photographed them at The Garage, I did so purely because they were so visually appealing to me. I envisioned the photographs framed and hung in a grouping. No one seemed as enthralled as I was. Not the first time. Well, fast forward to a month ago when I revisited The Garage and found owner /architect Fritz Woehle there. He gave us a delightful tour around his most unusual and eclectic space. As we wandered outside, I commented on the gates and told him how much I loved them. He told me that the white crosspieces were from the windows of the old Birmingham Terminal Station , built in 1909, and torn down in 1969, an act of total stupidity on the part of this city! Fritz salvaged these pieces and added them to the rusted metal gates. I love them even more now.

Reflections

Yesterday some of the students in my photography class joined me at The Garage for a little photo shoot. Owner, architect Fritz Woehle gave us just the grandest tour of his marvelous space full of antiques, and well just about anything you can imagine. I pressed my camera against the glass for this shot. You can see the reflection of the outdoor eating/drinking area as well. Oh I have so many more photos to come!

Doors From the Past I

I was fortunate to be able to have access to a wonderful treasure trove at The Garage last week. My photography buddy William Nolen and I were given access to an area where Fritz Whaley stores some wonderful architectural pieces. Mind you, it's a mélange of junk right alongside some very special finds. That's what we photographers delight in after all. William and I declared it another "mother lode"! There were so many fabulous old doors ( I thought I'd been transported back to Paris ) that I've decided to embark on yet ANOTHER series. Today the first, with many more to come.

For your viewing pleasure, William has made a little movie of our time spent at The Gargage right here.

RC Cola

My southern readers will remember RC Cola (Royal Crown). I found this old cooler at The Garage yesterday. All that's missing is a Moon Pie!

Hanging Around

This bicycle-like vehicle is hanging on the wall outside of Trey Taylor's art studio in Avondale. 

For some reason it makes me laugh every time I pass it!  

Now this motorcycle, I'm told it's an Indian, is a lesson in "Don't Drink and Drive" .  It's over the front door of the bar at The Garage.  

Keeper of the Gates

We been here to the Garage before.  These gates probably don't look familiar to you because I first posted them here way back in June when almost noone in "blogland",  but Rambling Round, Dusty Lens and Tom Wigley knew I was alive!  I also posted what's on the inside of these gates here.  The Garage is a well known place in Birmingham for assorted "stuff" and a funky little bar as well.  I love these gates so I am happy to have a chance to show them off again.  I would estimate I have taken  close to 60 shots of them from every angle and every time of day.  That rich rust color and the graphic element is very appealing to me.  I envisioned a grouping of 4-6 different shots of them hanging in my home ....... still on the To Do list.  I have come to the realization that the gates might be one of those things that I really like and perhaps few others feel the same,  and that's OK with me.  Call me quirky!

The Tune du Jour is "Someone to Watch Over Me" by Rod Stewart 

PARIS COUNTDOWN.....5 DAYS!!!!

I am resisting the urge to go into HOUR mode. Will save that for the weekend!

Discover Rod Stewart featuring Chris Botti!

The Garage, Something for Everyone

Welcome to The Garage.  Let me try and describe this quirky place for you.   It's a  cross between a European Flea Market and Sanford and Son.  In fact, a lot of  folks say the owner and Fred Samford have similar personalities!   It's a jumble of statuary, concrete planters, rusty, peeling iron work of every description and who knows what else.  There are several inside rooms that I have never darkened,  but from what I could see, there's another world of discoveries to be had in there as well.    Stay with me, it gets more interesting. There is a bar attached that by night has live music and by day serves great sandwiches that can be eaten al fresco amongst the merchandise in the courtyard hence today's photo.  Note the enormous wisteria vine/tree that has wound itself all over the place and provides photographers and patrons with lovely dappled shade.   In chatting with the bar owner, he shared that he often refers to himself as Lamont ( to the owner's Fred Sanford !!!)   I'll share an interesting photo from his place on another day.  The Garage is really a one of a kind place.  Where else can you have cold beer, a tasty sandwich,  and leave with an old gate or a headless statue? 

Previous Garage post: June 23, 2008