 I'm taking a break from this week's blog. I'll be spending some time with my family, and a break from writing as well as taking some "recreational" photography. I'll be back next week.
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 Most of my work is fine art and landscape photography, but I do enjoy the opportunity to do portrait photography. Camryn's mom asked me to take her senior photos, and we had a blast that day. I love taking senior photos, and capturing that special moment in a young person's life as they start their journey into adulthood. What's really fun is parent participation during the photo session, as its a shared opportunity for the child and parent to work together on something special one last time. Moms and dads are often pleasantly surprised when I ask them to hold a reflector, shade or light and participate in the shoot. The parents understand the importance of the moment, and the kids will eventually look back and understand as well. If you would like a senior photo session, or any portrait needs, please contact me below.
 "What was that?" my oldest son said and pointed at something along the roadside. When you see something unexpectedly odd, it takes you a second to register it. That was the case for me a few weeks ago.   Travelling between Huntsville and Memphis on US 72 was a new experience for me. Although someone had warned me it was a dull road, I found it quite the opposite. The smooth pavement and light traffic made it an easy drive, and the charming Tennessee River farmland was a pleasant sight. I fell in love with the area instantly. As we approached the Mississippi border and passed by Cherokee, my oldest son in the passenger seat drew my attention to something unusual. At first, I thought it was a strange fruit hanging from a roadside tree, but as we whizzed by, I realized that these were shoes suspended from the branches. I longed to stop, but we were pressed for time. "We'll check it out on our way back," I promised, and we carried on towards Memphis. The following day, I kept my word. As we drove back towards Alabama in the mid-afternoon, I spotted the shoe tree and made a U-turn at the next crossover. I pulled over and grabbed my trusty Canon T-5, taking a few shots. The sun was high, and the air was fresh and cool after a major spring storm two nights before. The tree was beginning to bud with fresh shoots around the shoes. I managed to capture some shots despite the passing vehicles, and then we continued on with our journey.  Before stumbling upon the Cherokee Shoe Tree, I had no idea it existed. However, after a quick Google search, I discovered that it has been around for quite some time, though the exact number of years remains unknown. The earliest article I could find dates back to 2009, from the Tuscaloosa News. The article includes this quote: "... tree comes an unspoken rule: Need a pair, take a pair. But if you can spare a pair, then do it." According to a 2018 article on OMGFacts, shoe trees may have originated during the Great Depression as a way for people to donate extra pairs of shoes to those in need. This theory makes sense on several levels. For instance, Cherokee is just one of at least a dozen shoe trees in the United States. Roadside America provides locations for many of them, and if you click on the link and examine the map, you'll notice that many are located along routes used by economic refugees during the Great Depression. These routes led from the Deep South and the Dust Bowl to places like California and Detroit, where jobs were available. Why do shoe trees still exist today? Is it due to nostalgia, novelty, tradition, or tourism? Some sources suggest that spiritualism may be the root cause. As for the Cherokee Shoe Tree, there is an eerie and sacred quality to it that I find hard to describe. Though this feeling was somewhat subdued by the bright midday light and clear blue sky, which favors reason and logic over mysticism. Under different lighting conditions, such as dim light or murky mist, other aspects of the human psyche may hold sway. These are the moments when both my camera and I yearn for. Yet, even under the brightest sunlight, the primitive magic of this place seeps through. I could feel it, even though my camera failed to capture it fully. Perhaps shoe trees tap into something deeply mystical and ancient that is rooted in our common humanity, reaching back to the dawn of our species. "Trees have been regarded as the first temple of the gods, and sacred groves as the first places of worship.; they are held in the utmost reverence" - Hughes and Chandran. The tree is a universal symbol of life and a life-giving force in nearly every culture and civilization on earth. In the Bible, trees are mentioned 525 times, second only to God and humans. Trees are present at the beginning of Genesis, with the Tree of Life and the Tree of Good and Evil. Christ referred to himself as a vine, and he died on a "tree" of sorts. Christians even have the tradition of the Christmas Tree, which has its roots in European paganism. Trees are also sacred to many other faiths. Tree planting as a sign of life is mentioned in the Koran, and Buddhism and Hinduism also revere trees in their unique ways. European pagans worshiped in tree groves and considered oaks and yews sacred. The phenomenon of shoe trees taps into this ancient tradition. The shoes thrown across the limbs and scattered on the ground resemble a sacrifice, a gift, and a ritual all in one. It represents an interaction between two species, one ancient and one ephemeral. These shoe trees seem more at home in ancient druidic groves than beside a modern highway. If a druid were present, what would they say with each tossed sneaker or pair of high heels thrown into the branches? "Great and Ancient One, these shoes are a gift to the future, for someone I will never know and who will never know me. Please hold them for me. Watch over and guard the shoes until needy hands pluck them from your branches, or until they fall from your limbs like rotting fruit. There, they will cover the ground among your roots, among the fallen leaves until the earth reclaims them like old bones. Remember us, Great and Ancient One, and whisper our names to the forest so that one day others might know we once walked here. "Remember us." Articles About Shoe Trees and Tree Stuff The Legend of the Shoe Tree Grows on America's Loneliest Highway. Shoe Trees in Michigan and the Rumors That Surround Them. Shoe Trees are Popping Up All Around The World. Witness the Shoe Tree of Middlegate. Shoe Tree. Alabama's Legendary Shoe Tree: Lost Soles of Just Old Sneakers Thrown Over A Limb? A Few Youtube Videos on Shoe Trees.
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." All images and literature are protected under US Copyright laws and shall not be downloaded or reproduced without written permission by Brian Braden Photography.
 "Mother and Child On Shore 1" 2019. I'm proud to announce my latest photo galleries are now open. "I Love The Coasts" are three collections of images from America's three coastlines - the Atlantic, the Pacific, and of course, the Gulf Coast. Every photographer knows the shore is a magical place, but the Gulf Coast holds the most magic for me. I consider it as much my home as the Wiregrass. The Gulf Coast possesses a unique beauty that sets it apart from America's oceanic coastlines. Maybe it's the sugar white beaches that line the shores from Pensacola to Mexico Beach. Maybe its the blue-green waters and gentle surf that sparkle like a jewel on a summer day. The Atlantic faces the sunrise, the Pacific faces the sunset, but along the Gulf the sun rises and sets where sand meets the surf. This collection's 33 images were created over seven years, and includes photos from Mobile Bay to Panama City Beach. The great part is I am still adding to it! So sit back, relax, dream of summer and browse the Gulf Coast Gallery. 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." Autographed paperback copy of "Abandoned Wiregrass"
$24.99
Get "Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South’s Lost and Forgotten Places" signed by the author! Welcome to the Wiregrass, a place where abandoned doesn't always mean vacant, and vacant doesn't always mean empty. Nestled between Florida's sugar-white beaches and the agriculturally rich Black Belt, there exists a land of endless peanut fields and high cotton. This is the deepest of the Deep South, Dixie's last stand before accents and culture take on a decidedly Northern flavor along the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula. Narrow asphalt ribbons wind through this region's pine forests, passing through small farming communities that are fighting for survival in the global economy. The lingering aftershocks of the 2008 economic crisis and 2018's Hurricane Michael still reverberate here. These pressures, along with an aging and declining population, have created a region where abandoned buildings are commonplace. These forgotten structures speak of dreams lost; from crumbling sharecropper shacks, to desolate main streets, to modern homes where the owners simply moved on. Take a journey with award-winning author and photographer Brian Braden as he chronicles the slow-motion apocalypse of abandoned homes and businesses of the Wiregrass and also discovers a place of hope and transition, where citizens fight to revitalize their hometowns and preserve a rich cultural heritage. Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. "Chronicles of Fu Xi: Three Book Set" signed by author.
$55.00
Get all three paperback novels signed by the author! Set in the long-forgotten period of ancient history known as "The Younger Dryas," THE CHRONICLES OF FU XI transforms recently re-discovered Black Sea legends, possibly the root of all Eurasian mythology, with ancient Chinese mythology to create an unprecedented epic fantasy series. Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.  I've always known it to be there for as long as I can remember, but I have no idea when it was constructed, who the builder was, or when it shut down. I have a faint recollection of a time when the roadside market, flea market, or tourist trap was in business, but my memories are vague. Over the years, it appeared to be deteriorating more and more, eventually becoming a dilapidated roadside ruin. It was a point of interest, perhaps only deserving a brief glance from motorists zooming along US 231 in Pike County. Unfortunately, a significant portion of Pike Pioneer Village has now been destroyed, and it's gone forever. On Friday, April 7th, 2023, a massive fire ravaged Pioneer Village, located along US 231 just north of Troy, Alabama. The fire destroyed a substantial portion of the abandoned complex, which consisted of cabins and storefronts designed to resemble a 19th-century pioneer settlement. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  Image: WFSA News Several years prior to beginning work on my book, "Abandoned Wiregrass," I happened to pass by Pioneer Village on my way home from another location. On a whim, I decided to stop and take some photographs. I snapped a few pictures of the main gate and a firetruck located along the right-of-way. The produce stand situated at the front of the property still had goods on the shelves, giving the impression that it had been in business recently. The grass inside the main gate appeared to have been mowed in the past few weeks (it was a rainy July, and grass in the southern states grows quickly). As the property wasn't marked with any signs or fenced off, I naturally assumed that some of the buildings within the complex may have reopened for business. So, I wandered into the main courtyard, hoping to find somebody around or some of the storefronts renovated with hours of operation displayed. Regrettably, after surveying the area and taking some photos, it became clear that the complex hadn't reopened. With this realization, I climbed back into my truck and continued on my way. Over the years, the Pioneer Village complex deteriorated further and further due to neglect. Despite my intention to return to the site and my attempts to identify the property owner, I was unable to do so. Each time I drove by, I wondered if someone would eventually take on the task of restoring and reopening the place. Pioneer Village was just one of many abandoned locations along the US 231 highway between Troy and Montgomery, reflecting the economic stagnation of this corridor Whenever I drive along the US 231 between Troy and Montgomery, I can't help but notice numerous places that I wish someone would restore and reopen. Despite being a busy four-lane highway, economic development along the Troy-Montgomery corridor appears to have stagnated since 1985, or perhaps even worsened. Several years ago, the State of Alabama made the decision to close down the only rest areas along this 40-mile stretch of highway, and things have only gone downhill from there. Finding a gas station in this area has become increasingly difficult since the turn of the century. Unless you venture closer to either Troy or Montgomery, it's rare to come across any modern development. The Sikes and Kohns outlet store located in Pine Level, roughly halfway between the two cities, seems to be the only exception to the economic stagnation that plagues this corridor. Despite its decline, I believe that Pioneer Village had become a landmark in Pike County. When driving southbound from Montgomery, the ruin signaled the end of the long journey to Troy and the start of the availability of gas stations, restaurants, and restrooms. Sadly, like many abandoned structures I've photographed over the years, Pioneer Village is now gone forever. Another landmark and piece of local heritage have vanished. While it may have been considered an eyesore by some, I can't help feeling a little sad. Pioneer Village once paid homage to Alabama's pioneer history and, as time passed, it became a part of that history. Any potential it once had for restoration will now never be realized, and it is simply another ruin on the long, tedious drive from one place to another. A lost opportunity. On that summer day, I found Pioneer Village hauntingly beautiful, a place with potential that deserved my time and attention. The soft light, sultry air, and humid conditions made for a perfect Alabama summer evening. I'm glad I listened to my gut and took those photos. In the years since, I've published four of the roadside images in my book, "Abandoned Wiregrass," while keeping the rest private until now. Now that much of Pioneer Village has been destroyed, I've decided to share the previously unpublished images as a historical record with the public. If you have memories of when it was open, knowledge of its history, interesting photos to share, or personal experiences about the place, please feel free to share them in the comments. (All images and material Copyright © 2023 Brian L. Braden Photography and Creative Arts. All rights reserved.) 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."  Its always a good day when musician Bryson Storey asks me to take his photo. I was honored last year when he asked me to shoot the images for his debut album, "Bellwood Road". That was a great photo shoot and taught me a lot about album photography. I was excited when he asked me to create the images for his next album and new website.  This time I wanted to take my images of Bryson to the next level. I spent hours pouring over classic album art and images from the great country and southern rock artists of the past. I also looked back over my extensive library of unique locations throughout the Wiregrass that would most accurately capture the flavor of Bryson's music and the spirit of his Wiregrass roots.  I was pleased with how the images turned out, and excited when Bryson picked the ones he wanted for the album. Please click on the images or here to visit Bryson Storey Music's website, Facebook and Spotify. Support local music! 
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