floods

I read and read about the Georgia draught for many months. I thought it was odd to believe that we had to restrict our water and our lakes were drying up. I even received jabs from friends who thought our mayor was a religious kook who led a public prayer for rain (after meteorologists had already predicted it in the forecast). It wasn't until the local Cactus Car Wash put up a sign proudly proclaiming that they recycled all their water that it really hit home. My thought is that people never truly pay attention until something affects them directly, or more bluntly, interrupts their way of life. I don't wash my car and don't have a yard, unless you count the stoop where vagrants hide their used syringes, so I guess that's why the drought is not part of my routine.

In any case, most Atlantans truly believe that we've had plenty of rain in the past several months. I snapped this photo near the Taco Bell just after a recent downpour. The rain collected in the lot and remained there for days. With visual proof like that, I don't blame them. But the fact is that our biggest lakes are still way below their levels and the drought is still a reality. Most visitors are astounded to learn we still have a water shortage here in the city too busy to hate. The funny revelation is that most locals are too.

On a side note, I only took one photography class in my entire life. That might not come as a surprise to some people and may even explain a good portion of my pictures. The class is a vague memory, but I do remember my photo teacher, Tim Janicke, reviewing my work and asking me if I knew why a particular photo I had taken sucked. When I answered no, he told me it was because there were no people in it. People and their actions or reactions are what make images interesting, he said. I was young and I tried to heed his advice. And so began a lengthy odyssey of always having people in my frame. Many years later, I still heed that advice but I don't apply it to every situation. However, in this instance, I agree that someone walking by would make this a more alluring image.

conservation

Atlanta has already been hit by a barrage of advertisements promoting Earth Hour this coming Saturday. A huge banner hangs at City Hall East and I saw a couple at the local gas station pumps as well. In short, from 8 to 9 PM, citizens are encouraged to turn off their lights, shut off their cell phones and refrain from driving. The goal of the project is highlighting energy conservation and promoting the ability to live without excessive voltage use.

The Earth Covenant Ministry, a religious/conservation grouping of local Presbyterian congregations held a candlelight vigil Thursday evening at their headquarters at the Druid Hills Presbyterian Church on Ponce de Leon. The vigil lasted a hour and featured several speakers discussing the failure of government energy conservation as well as the benefits of clear air energy and alternative fuels.

The only downside was the high wind blew out all of the candles, but the participants continued to promote their ideas via signs and speeches. Dozens of passing motorists honked in support and a few dissidents took the time to yell crude obscenities. Paster Chad concluded the vigil with a spirited rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" in front of the church.

I'm curious to see if Earth Hour reaches the Ponce residents and causes the street to fall dim on Saturday night.

bunny

Grace Methodist held their Easter egg hunt on Saturday in the playground behind the church. The youth pastor, Allison, had her father, Don, dress up in a bunny suit for the children. Don is a photographer and we briefly talked shop before he was lured up the street to try and promote the hunt to any passing families.

He was in great spirits and waved to everyone. The funny thing I noticed that several people who honked at him were older guys just driving by. Some kids walked by, barely taking notice of the grown man dressed liked the Easter Bunny. They sounded lost and were trying to figure out the bus schedule when I took this snap, which sums up alot of odd scenes that I've witnessed on Ponce.

Don's enthusiasm managed to win a few more interested parents and their children and we returned to the hunt. The church had the whole lot set up with decorations and treats. The setting and good weather took on the tone of a block party, something that seems rare in a neighborhood where many keep to themselves.

mitchell green

Mitchell Green was hanging out at the Open Door Community last week, grabbing some coffee and playing his trumpet. We got to talking and he told me how he had been a bugler for the Army many years ago. I asked him what was a harder instrument to play and he gave me a look like there was no doubt. "Trumpet," he replied. "No valves to operate on a bugle. Just use your mouth."

Mitchell is a frequent fixture on the intersections of the Highlands and Little Five. He said he'd been interviewed by video crews several times for his street performances and the videos had made him a local celebrity on YouTube. I couldn't find any of them, so hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to him again and hear some of his music.

hard rain

After several concerned phone calls I realized last night's little storm was in fact a big deal. Even my neighbor from Scotland confirmed that the BBC had the "tornado" on their news list. I don't care what everyone is saying, I still don't think what hit the city was a traditional tornado.

Somewhere after 9pm the wind picked up and I heard the faint sounds of sirens in the distance. Having never heard tornado sirens in Atlanta, I opened the windows and rattled off a few shots. They don't look like much but the key thing that's missing is the Bank of America building, which usually can be seen jutting upwards from behind the halfway house. After the sirens sounded, the lights went out and the rain beat down like a howitzer in the trenches of Aisne. The power went out across town and the famous orange glow atop the Bank building went out momentarily. I stood transfixed but most of the streets still bustled with the madness of motorists intent on reaching their destinations.

Downtown is still a mess and many of the buildings endured weather like they hadn't seen in many years. However, having chased many storms during my time in Kansas, I don't think this was a full-fledged twister. It was a microburst at best, but kudos to the media for trying.

cones

The burden of roadwork seems to have migrated from Peachtree/Piedmont and planted itself on and around Ponce. Shirley Franklin seems beloved by the city but when it comes to our neighborhood, she's public enemy number one. Between her water pipe upgrades and her campaign to end homelessness, I doubt any one has Franklin's back on Ponce.

This crew only lingered for a few hours but there's quite a bit of road construction in the Highlands and Midtown. Personally, I can't complain when it comes to cleaning up the water. Ever since my first cup of Midtown tap water embodied a lovely adobe tint, I've been drinking out of a filtered pitcher.

guns

My scanner has been less-than-cooperative recently and I ran out of fixer, so I pulled this image out from an earlier set. I actually snapped this several weeks ago while walking south on Charles Allen. I've seen this boy many times outside his family's apartment, but today he was actually playing guns with another boy, so I got a quick frame of him before heading home.

larry

Larry Elrod was killed last week in a house fire just off Ponce on Linwood. He and other homeless people were sleeping in an abandoned house when it caught fire. Larry, a longtime resident of Ponce, was the only person who didn't make it out. His death was a shock to many who saw him as a good man who had been dealt a difficult life. Later in the week a memorial service was held at Druid Hills Presbyterian by his friends. They were gracious enough to let me come and be a witness. The comments ranged from casual jokes to flowing tears. Many spoke about the city's attempts to curb public outreach for the homeless, but mostly it was a chance to remember a
friend.