Giles Hoover

Photography and design for print production

Category: Gallery and Web Site Updates

Web site and gallery updates here on gileshoover.com.

  • Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    As is typical in July in Georgia, it was hot yesterday — but not so much that I didn’t spend a few minutes wandering around with the camera and superb 90mm. Especially since I was down on MLK, an area of downtown Macon I don’t frequent as much as, say, 2nd St.

    Macon Rocks Mural (401 Cherry St.)
    Music Marker (MLK and Mulberry)

    Some detail shots (as usual):

    Studio Door, Serenity Entertainment, Cherry St. Ln.
    Visit Macon’s Keyboard Building Detail, 450 MLK Blvd.
    Decorated Transit, MLK and Cherry

    Side note: I was completely unaware that Steve Martin and Edie Brickell had teamed up for Bright Star, a musical set in the Appalachians. (I presume, unfortunately, that the 2020 season at Theatre Macon might not have shown.) It probably won’t surprise that I enjoy a musical now and than — and am a big fan of both Martin and Brickell — so was glad to find it on Tidal.

    Bright Star (Painted) Poster, Theatre Macon, 3rd St. Ln.

    In any case, 23 new photographs have been posted to the Downtown Macon (2022-2023) gallery. Peruse and enjoy — and thanks for visiting.

  • Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    It’s hard to understate how much downtown Macon has changed for the better in the last fifteen years: new residents (and lofts), new restaurants, new shops, a high-end hotel, and more — all without losing its feeling of an historic Southern city.

    Balconies, 389 1st St.
    (Sign of) Hotel Forty-Five, 401 Cotton Ave.

    On the subject of Southern, I’m glad to see the completion of the new Cotton Avenue Plaza, a pocket park that replaces not only an awkward intersection but one that had, at its center, a Confederate celebratory statue. Something everyone can share is a big upgrade:

    Cotton Avenue Plaza (with Lawrence Mayer Building)

    Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be a gallery post without some of my signature detail photographs:

    Flower Detail #2, Mulberry St.
    Eyes on Cherry St. (Window)

    The downtown gallery (2022–23) is now up to 132 photographs — check ’em out. (Once you’ve followed the link, click on any photograph for a larger, captioned version.) And, if you’re interested in the city’s downtown evolution, see also the 2020–21 and 2008–2018 galleries.

    As always, thanks for stopping by.

  • New Gallery: Montezuma, Georgia

    New Gallery: Montezuma, Georgia

    Macon County, Georgia, hosts Montezuma, a railroad crossroads on the Flint River. Officially dating to 1851, it was named after the Aztec leader by soldiers returning from the Mexican-American War.

    Montezuma Sign (Crepe Myrtles), S. Dooly St.

    I’ve been meaning to stop with a camera for a while, but it’s always been a pass-through on the way elsewhere — the route from Macon to Andersonville, Americus, and all points southwest go through Montezuma — but it’s taken until now to actually stop.

    Bench Detail, Montezuma Methodist, N. Dooly St.

    Like a substantial part of rural Georgia, Montezuma has fallen on increasingly hard times; the population continues to drop1See Wiki’s article., the empty storefronts multiply, and many of the beautiful old Southern houses need some attention:

    Slight Repairs Needed, 510 S. Dooly St.

    There’s an attractive downtown, though, with old brick buildings and a wonderful historic railroad depot:

    Museum Sign, Old Railroad Depot, Dooly & E. Railroad Sts.
    Bracket Detail #1, Old Railroad Depot, Dooly & E. Railroad Sts.

    Did I mention that it’s a railroad crossing? There are two sets downtown:

    Railroad Apparatus #4, Dooly & E. Railroad Sts.

    Despite the population loss and storefronts marked “for rent,” however, all isn’t lost. There are some new businesses opening:

    Sweet Window, 127 Cherry St.

    I’ve posted 55 photographs in the new Montezuma gallery — peruse and enjoy. And, as always, thanks for stopping by.

  • Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    Updated Gallery: Downtown Macon

    I had the occasion to have lunch downtown yesterday, a day of simply beautiful spring weather — which I absolutely used as an excuse to take the camera for a spin.

    The vast majority of the time, I use what I call my standard lens: 35mm. (Some would argue that 50mm is the “standard,” but I really prefer the wider angle of view due to its additional context.) This time, however, I was using Leica’s superb — and, sadly, no longer available — 90mm macro. The detail, the color, everything about this lens excels:

    Leaves and Berries, Poplar & New Sts.
    Veteran’s Flame and Flag, Macon-Bibb Government Center, 700 Poplar St.

    It’s sometimes a challenge to be creative in an area you’ve photographed often, but I enjoy trying to spy new details:

    L.C. Rick’s Place, D.T. Walton Sr. Way & Poplar St.
    Kudzu Signs and Building Cornice, 512 Poplar St.

    Or revisit favorite architectural items:

    Post and Turret, 690 Poplar St.

    23 new photographs have been added to the Macon Downtown (2022–2023) gallery, bringing the total to 110. (Don’t forget about the 2008–2018 and 2020–2021 galleries, either.)

    Remember, once in a gallery, clicking on any photograph will start a slide show, with much larger images, titles, and more. Peruse and enjoy!

  • New Gallery: Senoia, Georgia

    New Gallery: Senoia, Georgia

    After leaving Zebulon (see below) last Thursday, I continued northeast into the beautiful spring morning. My destination was Senoia, a town of about 5,000 that has a lovely, old-time feel, and is usually busy due to its “touristy” nature. There’s a film studio (!), and major productions like Driving Miss Daisy and The Walking Dead have used it for a location. Plus, given its proximity to Atlanta, it’s a popular day trip for city dwellers looking for a getaway.

    Gerald and I were there last April, and while I had a camera with me, I only took a few photographs and didn’t like any of them. But a church window had stuck in my head, we enjoyed the visit, and I determined to return.

    This time: success. Starting with that church window:

    Church of God of Prophesy (Window #1), Main and Johnson Sts.

    Elsewhere in the historic district, fantastic Southern porches await:

    The Veranda Historic Inn, 252 Seavy St.

    While amongst the dogwood blossoms, there was even a porch for our feathered friends:

    Bird House, 128 Travis St.

    But it’s downtown that folks come to visit:

    Shops and Eats on the Hill (#2), Main St.
    Book Light (Reflecting Tour), 53 Main St.
    Giraffe at Foxhollow, 7 Main St.
    The Classic Market, 30 Barnes St.

    Plenty of history here, too:

    The Museum and the Water Tower (From Baggarly Way)
    Light and Lights Detail, 61 Main St.

    A total of 57 photographs — clearly, it was a good time — have been posted to the Senoia gallery. No matter the weather where you are, wander a picturesque small town on a beautiful spring day.

    Thank you!

  • New Gallery: Zebulon, Georgia

    New Gallery: Zebulon, Georgia

    We’re having an absolutely beautiful March here in Georgia — apologies to places that absolutely aren’t — and I’ve been trying to take advantage by getting out and taking photographs.

    The latest photostroll starts in the small town (pop. 1225) of Zebulon1Named for Zebulon Pike, the general and explorer (for whom Colorado’s Pike’s Peak is named, among other things), in Pike County, northwest of Macon, with the typical courthouse square:

    Pike County Courthouse, Barnesville St.

    The building, from 1895 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is wonderfully detailed, sporting columns aplenty and lots of Colonial Revival details:

    Pike County Courthouse (Column Detail #1)
    Courthouse Square Composition, Barnesville and Thomaston

    The small downtown is well-kept and bustling in a way that small downtowns should be:

    Barnesville St. Storefonts, Zebulon

    Better still, spring is in full bloom:

    Garden Gate in Spring (#2)

    Enjoy the 25 posted photographs from Zebulon — and stay tuned for the main destination of the trip: Senoia. Have a good weekend!

    • 1
      Named for Zebulon Pike, the general and explorer (for whom Colorado’s Pike’s Peak is named, among other things)
  • New Gallery: Eatonton, Georgia

    New Gallery: Eatonton, Georgia

    Confession: For the last several years, I’ve been avoiding Eatonton. Its four-lane bypass is notorious as a revenue generator for Putnam County, so when heading north to Madison or Athens I have been taking the prettier Monticello route instead.

    My mistake. In almost twenty years of living less than fifty miles from this gem — and perhaps because of that bypass — I’d not explored downtown. It’s definitely earned another visit.

    Residence Above Maggie Lane (Mind Your Step)
    Putnam County Courthouse (Tree)

    I also wasn’t aware that Alice Walker (The Color Purple) and Joel Harris (Uncle Remus) were locals — the latter explaining the prevalence of rabbits hopping about:

    Rabbit (Paper Jeff)

    Interesting art, too:

    The FolksArt, 119 S. Jefferson
    Selz (The “Sole” of Honor), 107 N. Madison

    Please enjoy the 30 photographs posted — and stay tuned: I’ll try to travel the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway again soon.

  • New Gallery: Sparta, Georgia

    New Gallery: Sparta, Georgia

    I’ve been meaning to take a camera to Sparta for a minute now; its downtown is small yet old and photogenic in a distinctly Southern way.

    Confederate State of Hancock County

    On that subject: let’s get the elephant in the room out front and center. Sparta is 85% Black, arguably economically and socially suffering, and yet this monument stands front and center. Why?

    Neglect: “It Suits Us”
    Lightbulb Moment, 12745 Broad St.

    However, there are signs of hope. More than one building downtown is being refurbished, and there are at least a couple of businesses that are surviving — perhaps even thriving — by providing a sense of community:

    The Sparta Ishmaelite (Printing)
    Hattaway Furniture, 12755 Broad St.

    By the way, those old buildings often have beautiful cast iron details:

    Building Detail, 12699 Broad St.

    I was glad to have made the trip, and hope that you’ll be glad to take a moment and look and Sparta’s downtown in the new gallery.

    Up tomorrow: Eatonton. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Gallery Update: Milledgeville, Georgia

    Gallery Update: Milledgeville, Georgia

    Spring has sprung here in Middle Georgia:

    Downtown Dogwood

    Gerald and I took advantage of a warm and cloudless March day for a lengthy photostroll which started in Milledgeville — lunch — and wandered northeast, starting at the nearby O’Quinn Mill:

    Old O’Quinn Mill (Wheel)
    Old O’Quinn Mill (Siding Detail #2)

    The old mill building is situated on, natch, O’Quinn pond — a man-made addition to Town Creek:

    O’Quinn Pond Dam (Town Creek)

    There’s a dock and old farm buildings in the complex, which these days is a picturesque event venue:

    O’Quinn Mill on Town Creek

    We continued on to Sparta, then returned through Eatonton, stopping in both towns for photographs. (Updates coming tomorrow and Wednesday: stay tuned.)

    Meanwhile, take a look at the updated Milledgeville gallery, now up to 100 photographs spanning the last twelve years. Enjoy!

  • Gallery Update: Jackson, Georgia

    Gallery Update: Jackson, Georgia

    Spring is beginning to blossom here in Middle Georgia, which means it’s time to restart the traditional Sunday drive and photostroll. This week’s destination was the small city of Jackson, seat of Butts County, and home to a typically pretty downtown square:

    Jackson Historic Square (20 Oak St.)

    The courthouse, as is often the case in Georgia, takes center stage:

    Confederate Butts Forever
    “Dream,” Not Necessarily Reflected

    No, I usually don’t make political commentary. Why do you ask?

    Anyway, there are several examples of my architectural studies, including these:

    Butts County Courthouse Tower (B&W Study)
    Smoking Column Detail, 10 3rd St.

    I didn’t realize that Jackson was the filming location for Stranger Things — a stand-in for Hawkins, Indiana:

    Jackson is Hawkins (Police)

    Check out the full gallery for Jackson, including yesterday’s photographs and those from last year, which include some from nearby Jackson Lake, in the updated gallery.