The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my explorations of my newly adopted home of Atlanta. Each post will focus on a particular Atlanta neighborhood, with some images, a little history, and a few personal observations. So, let's start at the beginning of the beginning...
Atlanta has a fairly unique layout that reflects its own particular history. Part of the uniqueness is that there are at least three "downtowns," or financial centers - Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead.
Downtown Atlanta is the oldest part of Atlanta, and is currently home to the State Capitol, CNN center, the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, the World of Coca-Cola, Peachtree Center, Georgia State University, Underground Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and Phillips Arena. Downtown Atlanta is deceptively big, and it has several fairly distinct mini-neighborhoods - Five Points, Fairlie-Poplar, Government Center (also called the South-Central Business District), Centennial Park, Civic Center and the Hotel District. I can assure anyone that the covering all of downtown on foot is a pretty daunting expedition.
Atlanta came to be as a city of transportation, and that's most visible in Downtown. I-75 and I-85 merge just as the skyline comes in to view, and create the "downtown connector," creating an incomprehensible mass of highway traffic. The Atlanta subway, MARTA, uses Downtown as its main hub, with the Five Points station being the connector of east-west and north-south MARTA traffic. And, there is a major mass of railroad lines that cut through the south end of Downtown.
It's still clear that Downtown Atlanta has seen some rough times. There are pockets that are fairly run-down with little street life, and most of the area could use a little makeover. But, at the same time, it's clear that there is a transformation coming, as people are moving into old buildings that have been converted to urban lofts, and there are signs of new life in the Fairlie-Poplar area, and around Luckie Street, with some new restaurants and lounges leading the way.
In comparing Downtown Atlanta with the downtown area of my most recent home, Miami, it struck me how drastically different the two cities are. The architecture and feel of Downtown Miami is about color and shape, whereas with Downtown Atlanta, it's about texture and reflection. I've tried to focus on expressing this perspective in my images.
Atlanta has a fairly unique layout that reflects its own particular history. Part of the uniqueness is that there are at least three "downtowns," or financial centers - Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead.
Downtown Atlanta is the oldest part of Atlanta, and is currently home to the State Capitol, CNN center, the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, the World of Coca-Cola, Peachtree Center, Georgia State University, Underground Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and Phillips Arena. Downtown Atlanta is deceptively big, and it has several fairly distinct mini-neighborhoods - Five Points, Fairlie-Poplar, Government Center (also called the South-Central Business District), Centennial Park, Civic Center and the Hotel District. I can assure anyone that the covering all of downtown on foot is a pretty daunting expedition.
Atlanta came to be as a city of transportation, and that's most visible in Downtown. I-75 and I-85 merge just as the skyline comes in to view, and create the "downtown connector," creating an incomprehensible mass of highway traffic. The Atlanta subway, MARTA, uses Downtown as its main hub, with the Five Points station being the connector of east-west and north-south MARTA traffic. And, there is a major mass of railroad lines that cut through the south end of Downtown.
It's still clear that Downtown Atlanta has seen some rough times. There are pockets that are fairly run-down with little street life, and most of the area could use a little makeover. But, at the same time, it's clear that there is a transformation coming, as people are moving into old buildings that have been converted to urban lofts, and there are signs of new life in the Fairlie-Poplar area, and around Luckie Street, with some new restaurants and lounges leading the way.
In comparing Downtown Atlanta with the downtown area of my most recent home, Miami, it struck me how drastically different the two cities are. The architecture and feel of Downtown Miami is about color and shape, whereas with Downtown Atlanta, it's about texture and reflection. I've tried to focus on expressing this perspective in my images.
Joe...your photography, while always skillfull, has grown tremendously. Your framing is purposeful yet not contrived, your lighting is understatedly excuisite, while your colors are subtle yet still manage to be vivid. Ultimately, your images are successful because you show a point of view. It is apparent how much you love your new home. I look foward to future installments--I want to learn all about Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteJoe...your plans, while always devious, have grown exponentially. Your framing of photos of Atlanta in a way most appealing to Weaver, is purposeful in its intent to convince him that this is a city he should check out. Ultimately, your plan, to relocate him here, will be succesful. It is apparent how much you love him and hope to have him in your new city. I look forward to future relocations of your Miami friends to Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteMitchell...your comments, while always on point, have grown evermore insightful. Your framing of your observations of Joe's intention is most intriguing, yet not condescending or trite. Ultimately, your posts are successful because you speak truth. I look forward to subsequent commentary by you.
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