I was a Yankee from Philly moving to the south in 1974 with all of my pre-conceived notions about life here. Some of them were true. A small town just 35 miles north of Atlanta was still showing signs of segregation saying "Whites Only". Klan rallies were still occurring right outside of the city and the Confederate flag was still hanging at the capitol.
But Atlanta was in the beginning stages of change and eager to improve its image. When I started photographing here while in art school in 1978, I discovered two distinctly different places, one on the road to development and the other frozen in time. These offered some unique juxtapositions; the gentility and the cruelty, the beauty and the absurdity, the new and the old, the rich and the poor.
For the most part, these photos and ones in other documentaries on this site represent a southern life and history that no longer exists to any great extension in Atlanta, but can still be found in some of the smaller towns around it and in the southeast.
![Clayton Cafe , Snapping Beans](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/fc015626b9fe42638c87a3b43961de43/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Clayton%20Cafe%20copy.jpg)
![Boy from Tiger, Georgia, 1979](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c5ee7b6cbda346619682d364005e289b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/2_0_809_1Boy_in_Tiger_GA.jpg)
![Roadworker, Atlanta, GA, 2001](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/aa7cbf6b98454c3aa2cbc5f7b428806c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/4_0_407_105msAM10182_copy.jpg)
![Atlanta, Georgia. 1978 Auburn Market 1, 1978](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d7dad7396ecc4ca290f2a57f42566451/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/3_0_426_1auburn_market_2_1978.jpg)
![Atlanta, Gerogia, 1978 Auburn Market 2, 1978](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e932376c024840208ad9cc933d578cec/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/2_0_421_1auburn_market1.jpg)
![Mercenary, Powder Springs, GA., 1983. Owner of a camp for training mercenaries. Mitch Werbell, Mercenary, 1983](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/aa3252ce366949f0989a6f2aabe6be4b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/5_0_628_1MS_DOC_rwr_001.jpg)
![Store Owner, Kennesaw, GA, 1983 Dent Myers, Stonewall Jackson Reincarnated, 1983](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/f612fc9a95ee476bbca672d7637ee61e/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/6_0_259_1MS_DOC_rwr_006_copy.jpg)
![New Order of the Klu Klux Klan GrandDragon, Somerville,](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c8bee6e0e0504a73a54c650bf11f2490/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/grand%20dragon%2C%20somerville%2C%20GA.jpg)
![Atlanta, GA, 1981 Vivian and Peggy's , 1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/edc1ffc2860c4033bfb1f3aa5eaa71af/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/5_0_449_1MS_Doc_Hai_0005_copy.jpg)
![Hangin' , Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1978](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e2569d9ba9fd41e2a800bdf1ea79232b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/7_0_410_1Little5_Inman_Deli__78.jpg)
![Sisters, Family Reunion, Gay, GA., 1980](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ac93b230c57c485497f01f6090f10f25/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/sisters2.jpg)
![Sisters 2, 1980](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d5509a68d9bf4e3c9c6fa7e713bf89e3/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/sisters%201_Gay_GA.jpg)
![Sisters 3, 1980](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/b7606d5bef144b9d9421c22d4265dd03/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/sisters3.jpg)
![Candler Park, Atlanta Homeless, Poster for Union Mission, 1985.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c8d2c37a85ae4f0882687aba9ce79cf7/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/10_0_434_1homeless_mom_and_baby.jpg)
![Dana, 1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ac0ae2f5241844a69e156eee564fdc61/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/8_0_409_1Dana_2.jpg)
![Candler Park, Atlanta, 1979. My neighbors. Chastity, Cricket and Tabatha, 1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ca9c3bee2a5141cca209e112d64180ba/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/9_0_413_1MS_DOC_L5P_010.jpg)
![Pawn Shop Owner, Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1979.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/fc93a842b6164d769930695bd705d356/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/13_0_1028_1L5P_gun_shop.jpg)
![Plaza Drugs, Atlanta, 1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/f0cdb287a0c24b5cab082e40b0f7fa8b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/plaza%20drugs2.jpg)
![Shoe Shine , 37 years,1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c8cfe4a8e1044811ad3deea7b17e047a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Little%20Five%20Points%201%20%25281%2529.jpg)
![Waiting, Little 5 Points, 1980](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/bc17b49db1314837942a7ad19fe45d1a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Little%205%20man%201978-2%202.jpg)
![Atlanta, 1982 Union Mission, 1982.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c667f2167f0540c1aa275b8929a3de5d/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/4_0_446_1union_mission_1980.jpg)
![Walking Pug, Savannah, 1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d734858b281a4e25bed5a89a7d7753fa/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/1_0_439_1r16_Walking_Pug_2.jpg)
![Misfit, Atlanta, 1986.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d79b9e08e89840fd91299f38cbfd8c88/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/30_0_659_1r14_Lil5_portrait_16_44_18_copy.jpg)
![Colonial Cab, Atlanta, 1979.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/fe0ea4cc45544d2b8a42e3533f60f7b1/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Little%205%20%20men1978-1.jpg)
![Free Hugs, Little Five Points, Atlanta, 1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/f5fe2af4898a49e0a6eb2f4cd7712b4a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/12_0_548_1MS_DOC_L5P_008_copy.jpg)
![Cashier, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta, 1977.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ed91418f79a14983981585a39592abe3/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/11_0_422_1atlanta044.jpg)
![Dapper, Little 5 Points, 1985.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c291c63229554ca587c32c158d7c92f5/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/17_0_412_1MS_DOC_L5P_018.jpg)
![General Store, Gillsville, GA, 1980.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/a3d8923eeba7491ebc789111e371097c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/19_0_633_1Gillsville_Country_Store.jpg)
![Whittlin', Gillsville, GA, 1980](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ecb399ae146c4e81bf56939d6c491ed5/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Gillsville%20country%20Store%202%20%25281%2529.jpg)
![Hotel Maids, Hyatt Ravinia, 1995.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ed2147b4de9d4bb6bcf2025104679f0a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/14_0_1845_1maids_.jpg)
![Hyatt Ravinia, Atlanta, GA Hotel Maid, Hyatt Ravinia 2, 1995](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/aab106a166334cce801ec34c746c6f64/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/15_0_644_1hotel_maid.jpg)
![Rutledge, Georgia Cotton Mill Worker 1](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/da1f87ce6af944e1a9fbe595f5f10acf/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/12_0_435_1cotton_worker_rutledge_ga__94.jpg)
![Rutledge, Georgia Cotton Mill Worker 2](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e94334543f844639a83e80d1f5db195f/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/11_0_438_1r10_cotton_worker_rutledge.jpg)
![Rutledge, Georgia Cotton Mill Worker 3](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ddb00b8c6af14e439e67b7fb90920dfe/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/13_0_530_1untitled011.jpg)
![Boy at Cotton Mill, Rutledge, GA](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/b49ce4ad410442abb616b23c4c8de17b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/3_0_427_1boy_at_cotton_mill.jpg)
![The 16 Noble Bus, Atlanta, 1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d7ab3dcebc0e4e3b89420de2c7fa5f93/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/21_0_418_1Man_on_Bus_Downtown_1978_.jpg)
![Atlanta, GA The 16 Noble Bus 2, 1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e2202aa1264146619d7132e35d15055d/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/22_0_436_1on_the_bus_79.jpg)
![The 16 Noble Bus 3, 1978.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c93e7cad2db340a894d4f91d7c2b4a0c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/23_0_543_1atlanta037.jpg)
![Atlanta, Georgia, 1981 Vivian and Peggy's Salon, Atlanta, 1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/f736cb8e080547e1acaf50fa8083c302/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/7_0_447_1MS_Doc_Hai_0003_copy.jpg)
![Virginia Highland, Atlanta, Georgia. 1981 Macy's Cinderella Beauty Salon, Atlanta,1981](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e60f661b9118493785ffb6a07de42033/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/6_0_448_1MS_Doc_Hai_0004_copy.jpg)
![Little 5 Points, Atlanta, GA, 1978. Pharmacist, Atlanta, 1977.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ed12b19506ca4c499add99a9b261c7f7/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/8_0_661_1MS_DOC_L5P_007a_copy.jpg)
![1982 Zesto's](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c78f7c596c464ad1ae762a0ee25cfb5f/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Zesto%2527s.jpg)
![Little Five Points Pharmacy,1978 Soda Counter, Atlanta, 1977.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/a9fd8672629f485ba84bb3013d68d078/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/9_0_643_1MS_DOC_L5P_007_copy.jpg)
![Little Five Points, 1992 Lesley Ann Potter, former stripper](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d064970f97154d13a6e93337f3f26b8c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Lesley%20Ann%20Potter.jpg)
![Mr. Wallace, Fiddle Maker, Atlanta, 1977](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/a83286de84114ce5ba1f05743d9d5428/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/24_0_419_1Mr_Wallacefiddle_makerInman_Parkl978.jpg)
![Atlanta Downtown, 1979](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ec026b955666443496fca7699b3fcc8c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Atl%20downtown%20lo%20res.jpg)
![Candler Park, Atlanta, 1980 Church of God Yard Sale, 1980.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e458f521354048029e4da01737260619/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/25_0_425_1_surianiChurch_of_God_Yard_Sale79_2_copy.jpg)
![Bostwick, Georgia Tractor Boys, 1993.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/cbe6839cfd3c42a68db3b635a24c070b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/21_0_691_1tractor_boys.jpg)
![Barnum and Bailey Clowns, Atlanta,1977.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/c632fb49ee824f4a9e26adce3132ee12/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/8_0_836_1Barnum_and_Bailey_Clowns_1980_copy.jpg)
![Mother and Son, Tiger, Georgia, 1979](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/a7e7fa0c0db34ec4b36c1e79ef341382/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/25_0_1026_1new_south12.jpg)
![Clayton Hotel Lobby, 1979.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/b9a928294a064e409341f6820a2dbc9c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/26_0_1025_1new_south11.jpg)
![Fisherman, Brunswick, Georgia, 1989.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d4003f1365574f5ca71bdb8dc5087fb8/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/22_0_544_1MS_Trans024.jpg)
![Savannah, Georgia Union Camp Paper Mill Worker, 1994](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e0e487f3aaa1482faf9e83eaec6d620a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/18_0_1034_1MS_DOC_UC_012.jpg)
![Savannah, Georgia Union Camp Paper Mill Worker, 2,1994](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d6752c674f3c4e33ad823b4a497a6742/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/17_0_1033_1MS_DOC_UC_011.jpg)
![Savannah, Georgia Union Camp Paper Mill Worker, 3, 1994](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/ff5e66a0b7e04992aeeb225362096086/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/19_0_1035_1MS_DOC_UC_015.jpg)
![Svannah, Georgia Union Camp Paper Mill Workers, 2, 1994](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/d6f2dc80c8fa4043ba1cfa5fddca1d79/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/16_0_1032_1MS_DOC_0013.jpg)
![Union Camp Paper Mill, Savannah 2, 1994](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/db87a30608fd4dd6b295425e6acdb060/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/union%20camp%20overview.jpg)
![Union Camp Paper Mill, Savannah, 1994.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/e633175fdaa9413aa5c39f604e985725/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/MS_DOC_UC_029.jpg)
![Civil War Ruin, Acworth, GA, 1993.](https://static.livebooks.com/eaeb3e1c0c954bec94c4ce3f69aa25bb/i/baee8d75520040dc8e94ea0ebc8c4456/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/29_0_1430_1image_1__27_.jpg)