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Glory Beneath the Vines.

6/27/2022

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One brutally hot afternoon I straddled my motorcycle and took to the Wiregrass's highways to work on my next photography book. Alabama's jungle-like heat and humidity, made worse after a week of heavy rains, made me reconsider setting out that morning.  My urge to complete this book gave me the motivation to brave the heat. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.
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My backpack can get hot and heavy quickly. So, in the interest of comfort I left my heavy full-frame Canon 6D at home, and brought along my trusty (and light) cropped-sensor Canon Rebel, along with a bare-minimum EFS lenses.

​I'd been riding for about an hour when I saw it near a small town's downtown. It was so camouflaged  by overgrowth and vines, I almost missed it.  ​I whipped around, parked my bike and started shooting. 

​The Victorian home's double chimney's barely poked above the untamed shrubbery, lush and wild after a wet early summer. Vines smothered most of the structure.  Even in its current state, this house was stunning! I've never seen such a regal home in such as state.  
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To the reasonable observer, several clues suggested this was an abandoned structure: the ajar doors, refuse on the front porch, and wild vegetation consuming the house.  The house gave off a "post-apocalypse" vibe, which was odd, because I'd seen nothing else in this particular town this run-down. If fact, this town's beautiful downtown and  main street were only a few blocks away.  I also know towns like this will often designate such structures as historical landmarks.  

While I don't know when the home was built, or if it is in fact historic, its construction and the surrounding homes, offered some clues. Its close to the town's main street, and several of the surrounding homes are, in fact, very old. Its porch, with its second story balcony and high columns, as well as the two main chimneys, suggest it was possibly built in the 19th century.

As I took my photos, a local resident approached. I asked him if he knew anything about the structure. To my surprise, he said it was not abandoned, at least not fully. As a photographer and author, an occupied home is a far different  situation than an abandoned home. 
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I will not disclose this home's location out of respect for the occupant(s). I ask any readers who happen to know where this is, or its occupants, to please refrain from disclosing that information in the comments.  Let me be clear that my purpose posting these images is to simply celebrate this beautiful home. That is why I'm featuring it here on my blog.
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Even in its current state, this home is beautiful, glorious even. Even through the foliage, its uniqueness shines through. Neither the vines nor the thickets can conceal this homes unique charm. It's not hard to imagine its potential should it ever receive a restoration.  Such a home could be a  treasure to make any community proud. ​ 

Maybe one day soon, I'll drive by and see this house vine-free and restored to her former glory.

#abandoned #urbex #antebellum  #southernhomes #dixie #abandonedwiregrass 
NOTE TO READERS: All these images were taken from the adjacent public road or public sidewalks.

If you enjoyed this blog, please like the post and leave a comment or if you're feeling brave, share it on social media. This platform is my entire advertising budget and is how I share the word on my books. Also visit my Facebook, my author page and check out my photography book from America Through Time, "Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South's Lost and Forgotten Places." ​​​​​​​​​​
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FAMILY, WORK AND VACATION

6/16/2022

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For those wondering, I haven't abandoned the blog, writing or photography. My day job, family and a much needed vacation has taken priority the past few weeks. I think most of you can relate to that. Regularly scheduled posts will resume in July. 

​See you in a few weeks. 


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While you're waiting for the return of content after my vacation, how about checking out my books? This platform is my entire advertising budget and is how I share the word on my books. Also visit my Facebook, my author page and check out my photography book from America Through Time, "Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South's Lost and Forgotten Places." ​​​​​​​​​
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