I’ve posted to this my Kevin Liles Photography Facebook page, but I thought I’d share here too. I never get tired of photographing silhouettes, no matter how cliché some may say they are. Even after being away from newspapers for almost 3 years, I’m still compelled (when I’m not rushing somewhere) to stop and photograph features when I see them.
It all started a couple years ago, when a couple of local guys starting talking trash over who could build the fastest boxcar (I’m pretty sure a fair amount of alcohol was involved). A few years later, it’s turned into a major (by Griffin standards, anyway) event, involving several boxcars—though some of these don’t qualify as boxcars in my book. 
Since I’m now only a block from the high school football stadium, I strolled over to take a few frames of the Spalding High/Mary Persons game tonight. I saw the fog collecting around the lights and knew it would make for some interesting photos.
I try to at least photograph one high school football game each year … and so last Friday, I went out to game between The Heritage School and Griffin Christian High School. The atmosphere is a bit different than going to a Griffin High School game, or any other large high school, but the small field and crowd size really give the game an intimate feel. It was really nice to be there.
I’ve always wanted to photograph this old textile mill, which is right off High Falls Road in East Griffin. And after seeing this slideshow of beautiful photographs of old dilapidated buildings in Detroit , I felt compelled to do so.
The mill, which was built in the late nineteenth century and operated until the 1950′s, was one of many owned by the Dundee family in Griffin. It stands there like the Parthenon — a symbol of what once was. The textile industry was the fabric that made up this city — it was Griffin. The mills built and sustained the middle class in this community, like the industry did in many other communities across the country. But the last remaining thread of that fabric was destroyed earlier this year when Springs Industries — who purchased several of the old Dundee mills years ago — closed it’s last Griffin plant.
David Fields, 13, plays basketball at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Riverdale along Ga. Highway 314. I stopped for a second to photograph him while headed out of town for an assignment. I wish I had more time to spend with him — to learn about what he loves about basketball, what drives him to practice. I’m constantly amazed by people who love something so much that they practice, hone their skills, every chance they get. Now it’s entirely possible that I just happened to catch David at the church the one day he decided to practice. But I’d like to think that he’s there every afternoon, shooting until he can barely see the worn out goal held up by a few concrete blocks.
I shot this several weeks ago for the inaugural edition of Kitchen Drawer magazine, which is coming out this week. Pickup a copy or visit they’re website. I’m told the first 200 people who register as members will be mailed a copy of the magazine, which publishes bi-monthly.
Though it’s been under several owners since it opened in 1977, there two things that remain the same at Anderson’s Cafeteria in Griffin: the food and the people. “It’s the food, that’s why I come around here,” said O.J. Moore, a twice-a-week regular at the Taylor Street restaurant. “And the hospitality” During the lunch rush, which starts early by some standards — at 10:30 a.m. — customer after customer files past the stainless steel hot bar, telling the women behind it whether they’re a roll or cornbread person. “How you doing today?” asks Mae Watkins, who’s been serving food there since it’s inception, of one the customers as she peers through the glass separating her from her catfish and corn-on-the-cob. “I don’t feel too well today,” Mae tells the woman after they exchange pleasantries. But you would never know it by the way she serves customer after customer, with no complaints. Because she knows that’s all about the food … and the hospitality.
I got the chance to hang out with Griffin resident and artist Shannon Lake earlier this week and photograph him while working on a mural on the side of J. Henry’s restaurant . His work can be seen on many buildings in Griffin and Atlanta … it’s safe to say that he’s put his mark on Griffin. The full-time artist started this project in the spring of 2008 and works on it while in-between other projects. Though Lake does oil paintings and portraits, murals comprise most of his work, and are definitely his favorite.
“I love the whole idea of public consumption of art,” he said. “The fact that everybody can see it, and you don’t have to go inside an establishment.”
To see more of Lake’s work, visit his website by clicking here.
Got bored again tonight, so I grabbed the dog and the camera and went for another late night stroll. These photos aren’t anything spectacular, but I’m just happy to be excited about shooting again. I’ve been in a funk for a while and shooting has seemed like the biggest chore. I can feel my mojo seeping back in, though I’ve got a long way to go to get back to shooting like I used to. Though the pay was low and the stress was high, working at the paper was some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done, and I miss just going out to shoot just to shoot.
About these photos, I think they (the top two, anyway) show the grittiness that’s so much a part of Griffin. I can’t really put my finger on it, but the whole city just has this attitude that it really doesn’t care what anyone thinks about it — in a good way, that is. And that’s what I love about this little town. It’s not pretending to be something it’s not…it’s just Griffin. Take it or leave it.
I went to the first playoff game of the season tonight, which incidentally became Griffin’s last game this year after they lost 41-7 to Banneker. It felt good to shoot a football game without any deadlines. Anywho, hopefully I’ll have some more images to post this week.| © 2010 photosoup | Suffusion WordPress theme by Sayontan Sinha |
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