On Sunday I took the boys over to the Cobb Civic Center to walk around the Civil War Relic show. While we were there we stopped at a table that held lots of books. As I looked at them all, I realized they were all by Jim Miles, then I looked up and saw Mr. Miles staffing the table. He was incredibly nice and a pleasure to talk to. I wish I had know he was going to be there, I would have brought several of his books to have him sign them. Below is a review of one of his books that I posted earlier this year.
Category: Clint Brownlee Photography
Photography days 31, 32, 33, and 34 are done!
Last Tuesday, I photographed multiple locations in south west Atlanta near Cascade Heights and Westend. They were all associated with the Battle of Utoy Creek. I was also able to photograph to antebellum structures in the area and both were used by soldiers during the war.
Last Wednesday, I met with the Walker family at the McDaniel Farm Park in Gwinnette County. They are reenactors and living historians. There were multiple outfits used for different impressions. I made some fantastic images and hope to share some of them soon. Just need to find time to edit.
Last Thursday, I returned to south west Atlanta to photograph some Federal earthworks off of the Lionel Hampton Bike Path. Yes, I did ride my bike to the location. First time I have ever traveled to a location for photography on a bike. After the bike path, I began the process of photographing the locations of the Forts that were part of Atlanta’s inner defensive perimeter. I photographed Forts “A” through “K”. “K” was located where the Fox Theater is now. From here I traveled up Peachtree Road to Piedmont Hospital to photograph the monument in front of the hospital and then made some follow up images in the area of the Battle of Peachtree Creek.
On Saturday, I got an early start and was in downtown before 7am. I made a few shots of the city sky line and then followed the route of Hardee’s Night March south from the capitol and past the Federal Prison. This is also part of the route that S.D. Lee’s Corps used to march to Jonesboro and part of the route used when the Confederates evacuated Atlanta. I made some follow up shots of this route and some shots of the South River at Moreland Ave. From here I went to the old site known as Rough and Ready. Now it is called Mountain View is on 41 in the little triangle created by 41, I-75, and I-285. From here I followed the route of Hardee’s March to Jonesboro. When I got to Jonesboro I photographed multiple location associated with the Battle of Jonesboro and then I photographed multiple period homes that were used for various reasons by the armies in the area. I also was able to photograph Stately Oaks Plantation. It was decorated in period mourning decor. The tour with a discussion of mourning customs of the period was really good. From Jonesboro I went to Lovejoy an photographed the Nash Farm Battlefield as well as some other areas around town.
Photography Days 29 and 30 are done!
Photography Day 29: July 28th, The Battle of Ezra Church
I had the boys with me today and we had a really good day. The Battle of Ezra Church took place in South West Atlanta in the area from Westview Cemetery on the south side to Turner Middle School to the northwest and toward Mozley park to the northeast. It was a very pleasant day with good weather. We made lots of stops in the area that is mostly residential. We then went into Westview and photographed the small set of remaining earthworks and the grave of Lt. Clingman that sits in front of them. We also photographed the monument to the Battle of Ezra Church, the former location of the Alms House (poor house), and the Confederate section of the Cemetery. We had a picnic lunch at the monument to the battle. I have some relatives buried in different sections of the cemetery, so after a call to may Dad for some hints on their locations, we were able to visit their markers. It was a great day all around.
The boys at Westview Cemetery
Photography Day 30: July 30th, The Battle of Brown’s Mill
This was another great day with the boys, they are always so good for me when we go on the road taking pictures. We started in the area near Six Flags and photographed the site of an old house as well as the location of the small skirmish at Sweetwater Creek Bridge. We then headed towards Campbellton and photographed a home that was McCook’s Headquarters on the night of the 27th before he crossed the river at Smith’s Ferry. The home is still occupied and in use today. We then went to the location of Smith’s Ferry. I was able to photograph the period road, which is still in use as well as the exterior of the period home on the site that once belonged to Ferry owner.
From Smith’s Ferry we crossed the Chattahoochee river into Fulton County and Campbellton. Here, I photographed a period home, the Beaver’s House. I remember when some of our family friends, Mr. and Mrs. Fountain, purchased and remodeled the home. It was occupied by them for some time before being sold to Fulton County for preservation purposes. I remember when they were remodeling the home and would find minie balls in the walls. We also photographed another period structure here, the Masonic lodge, as well as the site of the old Latham House. It has since been destroyed, but as a child, I remember going in the house and seeing the dent in the wall where a cannon ball had come through the window and lodged in the wall. In the 90’s it was used as a set for a horror movie called “Body Parts”. From Campbellton we traveled into the Rivertown and Rico areas and made more images of period homes and the terrain where a small skirmished happened after McCook crossed at Smith’s Ferry.
After Rico, we went toward the Redwine area where Hutchesons Ferry Road and Hwy. 70. Here I photographed the old Redwine Plantation home on the corner, as well as two other period homes in the area. From here we moved to Palmetto and on the way we stopped to photograph a period home on Hearn Road, where Hood’s Army of the Tennessee stopped on their way out of Palmetto in September of 1864. They stopped here and picked up 44 bushels of corn. In Palmetto we photographed the former Palmetto Stage Coach Inn, now Barfields Law Office and we also photographed the railroad tracks, depot and monument in town.
We then moved south to Newnan. Here we stopped for lunch and met an old friend at The Redneck Cafe. The food was great as usual. I photographed the court house square area then we went to the Brown’s Mill Battlefield Park. I gave the boys the point and shoot camera to share and we set out on the trail. There was nonstop laughter along the trail as they made crazy pictures.
After leaving Brown’s Mill we went into town and photographed more period structures, including “Buena Vista”, which was Wheelers Headquarters on the night of the 30th. From here we made a snack stop at the Dairy Queen and then proceeded to the Confederate section of Oak Hill Cemetery.
Since we don’t get to Newnan very often, we met my cousin and her family for dinner and a couple of hours at their neighborhood pool. By the end of the day we were all exhausted and finally made it home after 16 hours.
Boys and I at Brown’s Mill
Photography Day 28 is done!
I am a little late posting this one, but for day 28 I took my boys on a tour of the Atlanta Battlefield and route of Hardee’s night march. We had a great day together and visited the locations of Sherman’s headquarters and Hood’s observation post as well as the Walker and McPherson monuments. It was a pretty fast paced day and we got to go the Cyclorama and see it on the 150th anniversary of the battle that it depicts.
The next day it was announced that the Cyclorama was going to be moved to a new location at the Atlanta History Center. I hate to see such a historic land mark be moved, but I think in the end it will be for the best. An updated facility and private funds for the care and restoration of the painting are a good thing. I suspect that the Atlanta History Center will be better able to care for it than the city. Mostly due to funding. It will be interesting to see what the new facility will look like.
Images from my portrait project
I thought I would share a few images from my portrait project of reenactors. I have met quite a few recently and really enjoy talking to them about reenacting. They all have such a passion for it and for many different reasons. They have all been so nice, supportive, and enthusiastic about my project. I have a feeling that before all this is over, I to, will be a reenactor.
Photography Day’s 26 and 27 are done!
For day 26, I wrapped up the locations in Roswell that I needed to shoot. A fairly short day compared to some of the days I have had. I made images of the mill area and of the period homes and structures.
Yesterday was day 27 and my son Ian decided he wanted to go and spend the day with me and wanted to take pictures as well. We stopped by Gilliam Park, but the events of the day before were over and the reenactors were packing up. They did give Ian a really cool souvenir, a brass button from a Federal Officers Uniform. Thank you Mr. Jerram for that, he really enjoyed it and it was the first thing he told his brother and mother about when we got home. Ian and I then went to the area of the Battle of Peachtree Creek. We made images at several locations and braved the rain for a walk at Tanyard Creek Park. I made some good images, but may go back for a few more that I missed while trying to keep us dry.
Photography Day 25 is Done!
Yesterday was day 25 of photography for the War Was Here project. I spent the day at Barrington Hall in Roswell, where they had a reenactment of the Federal occupation of Roswell and the arrest of the Roswell Women mill workers. I mainly focused on the portrait project of reenactors and I made some fantastic portraits of Federal soldiers and civilians. They were all great models and a few of them “hammed it up” as well. It was great fun and a great group of people to be around. Everyone is very much into their role and during the “arrest” on the town square, the mill workers were mingling with the spectators and asking if they knew what was going on and then the Federal Cavalry and some infantry arrived and read Sherman’s orders to arrest those that were aiding the rebellion and march them to Marietta, where the would be taken up north by train. The interaction with the spectators was really great. The Federals were trying to “arrest” some of the spectators too. They all were so into their roles, that it really gave you the feeling that the event was real. I have to wonder what the people driving down Mimosa Blvd. thought when the Federal Cavalry came into the street on their horses with their weapons drawn, to stop traffic, as the infantry marched the mill workers down Bulloch Ave.
I hope to have some preliminary images posted tomorrow. I have a lot of images to edit. I am looking forward to the events that are happening in East Atlanta this coming weekend. If you are looking for something to do, check out the events listed on this page: B*ATL. I will be out at Gilliam Park making more reenactor images. Should be a fun event with artillery demonstrations and lots of other goodies. If it is not raining, Wendell Decker, will be there making Collodion images in the tradition manner. He is a master of his craft and a true artist. If I get some period clothing I am going to get him to make my portrait. I think it would be great for the picture of me on the book jacket. That is assuming my book gets printed.
Photography Days 23 and 24 are done!
I have spent the last two days making more images along the Chattahoochee River from I-20 up to Roswell. It has been a very hot two days as well and with some of the terrain I have been through, I hope I don’t get poison Ivy. I was able to photograph the last remaining portion of the “Outer Defensive Line” for Atlanta. It is over near Crestlawn Cemetery. It is a beautiful cemetery, it has a great view of downtown and if you go to Casey’s Hill and walk to the back part of the cemetery where the residential area starts, you can get a great view to the Northwest and you can see Kennesaw Mountain. I also shot some images of other earthworks, river crossings and structures. For the last three days I have made about 4,000 images. I am so far behind on editing it’s not funny.
Photography Day 22 is done!
I spent the day doing a very detailed study of the Chattahoochee River Line and the Shoupades. I was able to visit 5 of the Shoupades that are left as well as a seven gun battery. After covering the River Line I moved a little to the North West and made images of the Smyrna Line and the areas around the Battle of Smyrna and the Battle of Ruff’s Mill, including the Concord Covered Bridge. Part of the original mill is still standing as well. It was a grist mill and was spared by the Federal troops. The covered bridge was built after the war to replace the one that was burned by the Federals on the July 4th, 1864. From there I went to the Lovette School and made some images of the Earthworks there and also made some images of the “trading rock” in the river at Pace’s Ferry. On the way home I stopped in Vinings and photographed the Pace house and the railroad tracks. I will be back in that same general area tomorrow to photograph some other locations. A good day, even though it was hot and humid. I had about 29 gigs of data which works out to about 1800 images. I have so much editing to do. I even had someone come up and speak to me, sort of, I was fairly deep in the woods and I was the only living soul around, but I did hear a voice right behind me and I turned to answer them and saw no one there. Creeped me out a little. I have a digital voice recorder that I attach to my tripod for taking notes, it’s faster than pulling out pen and paper, I will have to go back and listen to it see if I can here the voice on there.
Photography Days 20 and 21 are done!
I spent this past Friday and Saturday out at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. They were hosting a special event over the weekend to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. I started out Friday morning with a minute by minute real time walk through of the Federal assault at Cheatham’s Hill. Ranger Jim Ogden, led our group of about 100 people through the walk. He is a great speaker with a very vast knowledge of the Civil War. After the walk, I photographed some reenactors at Cheatham’s Hill and then went to the 24 Gun Battery for the Union Artillery demonstration. It was cool to see the batteries being used in the same place they were set up 150 years ago. I also photographed the Federal encampment, complete with a blacksmith, at that location. The next day I went to the Visitors Center and photographed the activities there. Made some portraits of reenactors and photographed the “Fashion Show” that displayed what civilians of different classes would have worn. I also went to the top of the mountain to photograph the Confederate Battery that was doing demonstrations. Saturday night I went to the memorial service at the Illinois Monument. A very moving ceremony with 3400 luminaries in the field to represent the soldiers the fell here in battle.
War Was Here 