Farmers Market is back

The Roswell Farmer’s Market is back after the winter recess.  We made our first visit this weekend and were pleased with the food and artistry that was on display.  There is not quite as much fresh produce available yet but there was some great baked goods as well as many other hand made items.

This is one of those things that has become a weekend ritual and I look forward to going back many more times as the Summer comes on.  Also another nearby opportunity for some nice images.  Count me in!

Roswell Farmers and Artisans Market

Nikon D7100
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
300mm @ f/9 – 1/125 sec – ISO 400

Humm… Let me think about it

I really enjoyed watching the gorillas at Zoo Atlanta.  The expressions are what I found most compelling.  Sometimes fierce, sometimes bored, sometimes playful but always interesting.  You just see those faces and wonder what they are thinking.

In this case, you see a young gorilla looking like he’s deep in thought.  He sat there for quite a while looking from one side to the other and playing with his toes as he enjoyed the beautiful, warm day.  I’m sure it is the close relation to humans that make the apes so attractive.  You know they aren’t human but still want to think of them as our wild brothers.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
150mm @ f/5 –  1/400 sec – ISO 800

Hey, were sleeping here!

One of the first things you come across when entering Zoo Atlanta are the flamingos.  Of course, that means everyone seems to stop here and crowd around.  As a result, we passed this up on entry and went further back where not as many people were.  I had to stop on the way back to get a little of the amazing colors and beautiful feathers.

It was rather challenging trying to get a good shot here.  The crowd was still milling around and the birds were doing one of two things.  Many of them were doing the iconic flamingo pose – standing on one leg with the head tucked down.  The rest seemed to be walking in circles.  I would try to focus on one that was moving and another would cross in front.  Then they would change direction and I had to start over.

In this shot, there was only one moving around and he gave me an annoyed look and shook his head seeming to say, Can’t you see I don’t want my picture taken?  Well, I think that added to the interest of the scene.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
150mm @ f/5 –  1/400 sec – ISO 800

Sun bathing

Going to the zoo is not something I do regularly, so I was quite impressed by how substantial the child-specific portions of the zoo are.  There is a lot of educational information and helpful guides through out the zoo but there are also several “kid zones” at Zoo Atlanta.  These turtles are in the children’s petting zoo section.

While the animals in the children’s section are not all that wild and ferocious, you can get up close and enjoy seeing them quite easily.  Most of the walking areas in the zoo are shaded which is great for the guests but these turtles wanted to soak up the sun.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
400mm @ f/6.3 –  1/2000 sec – ISO 800

Details

Sometimes, it’s the details that are most important.  When visiting Lindale Mill, I spent most of my time looking at the vast, industrial spaces and the interesting light patterns that came in through the windows.  It would have been a pity if I had not also been paying attention to the details.

There were so many interesting small things in this place.  Items like the gears and pipes shown here and all the amazing detail of the texture and color that was all around.  One of my greatest pleasures as a result of being into photography to notice these things.  So often, we pass by the details without paying any attention.  Try to focus on this more often and you will be rewarded with many amazing things that other people miss!

Lindale Mill
Lindale, Georgia

Nikon D7100
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor
105mm @ f/22 – 1.3 sec – ISO 800

#LindaleMill #LindaleGA #TextileMill #industrial #machinery #UrbanDecay #texture #detail #decay #abandoned #macro #pipes #gears

Feeding Time

There is a platform at the Twiga Terrace in Zoo Atlanta where people can feed the giraffes.  It is a lot of fun to watch these towering animals come close and take pieces of Romaine lettuce from the hands of visitors with their long tongues.

As you can see here, they get pretty close to people so you get a really good look.  With this particular giraffe one of the things you notice are the bumps on its forehead.  All giraffes have the two horns known as “ossicones” but many also have bumpy growths which are made up of the same type of calcium deposits.  This guy had quite a few, right between the eyes.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
250mm @ f/5.6 –  1/160 sec – ISO 800

Lun Lun sleeping

The Giant Pandas are among the most popular animals at the Atlanta Zoo.  When they are inside, you get a great close-up view of the whole family, including the twins.  Unfortunately, the glass windows that let you see them is terrible for photography.  The reflections off the glass make it really hard to get a clear shot but I did get a couple.

This is Lun Lun, the adult female who was in the enclosure with her two cubs Ya Lun And Xi Lun.  The father, Yang Yang was in the next enclosure busily eating.  I would have much preferred to see them in a natural habitat but, you have to take what you can get.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
250mm @ f/5.6 –  1/160 sec – ISO 800

Western Lowland Gorilla

On Saturday, Joyce and I drove down to Zoo Atlanta to meet up with the North Georgia Photo Club.  It was a pleasant morning with the exception of the drive.  The damage to I-85 continues to make traveling through downtown Atlanta difficult.  To make it a little worse, I discovered that Google Maps is not quite up to speed on the road closures.  My usually dependable navigation app got me off of GA-400 at the right place but kept trying to re-route me to a closed road.  After some busy side roads, we did get back on the highway and made it to the zoo.

The day was pretty warm but Zoo Atlanta is nicely shaded and there was a nice breeze that made it a great day to be out walking around.  The Gorilla habitat was a great stop as the troop were active with feeding and moving around.  I have been there before when they were just sleeping and this was much more enjoyable.

Many of the adults, including the big Silverback were visible and I got some nice shots of their expressive faces.  The image above is an adult male (we think his name is Charley) who was busy eating his veggies and posing for portraits.

My big-honkin’ Sigma lens did a great job on this shoot.  I’m going to see if someone else would like to give it a new home soon as I have a new Tamron long lens now.  Looking forward to see what that new glass will let me capture.

Zoo Atlanta

Nikon D7100
Sirui P-204S Monopod
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
500mm @ f/6.3 –  1/60 sec – ISO 800

Overhead machines

Not sure exactly what this machinery did but it was very interesting to see.  There was obviously some king of process that took textiles or fibers from one end of this room to the other on an overhead track.  Through out the room, there were these silver wheels that must have turned or spun materials.  I’m guessing maybe for drying but that’s only a guess.

This big room was a great spot to watch the sunlight coming in.  The patterns and colors created by the seeming random pattern of painted-out window panes are wonderful.  So much texture, color and light to take in.

Lindale Mill
Lindale, Georgia

Nikon D7100
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II
19mm @ f/18 – 1/10 sec – ISO 200

#LindaleMill #LindaleGA #TextileMill #industrial #machinery #UrbanDecay #texture #detail #decay #abandoned #WithMyTamron

Where did I put that file?

Walking through the old Lindale textile mill was a great adventure.  Most of the facility was full of the industrial machinery that made the plant run.  There are still some pieces of the office furniture and equipment that would have been used in running the business.  Items like these old filing cabinets are spread around along with old computers and various other bits and pieces of the company’s business fixtures.

You can imagine how the mill would have been buzzing with activity back in the days when it was in full production.  Now, the buildings are quiet and empty but still very interesting to see.  It is a great piece of history and an excellent source of inspiration for photography.  Hope to get back here before too long.

Lindale Mill
Lindale, Georgia

Nikon D7100
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II
19mm @ f/18 – 1/10 sec – ISO 200

#LindaleMill #LindaleGA #TextileMill #industrial #machinery #UrbanDecay #texture #detail #decay #abandoned #WithMyTamron