Athens, Georgia based photographer Evan Leavitt has become a bit of a Flickr superstar through his documentation of the rural South. Leavitt’s photos incorporate a post production texturing effect to make them appear somewhere in-between a photo and a painting. In some instances it gets slightly too HDRish for me, an effect I’m not particularly fond of, but more often than not the photos turn out to be wonderful moments in a weathered and seemingly forgotten land. Somebody get Jen Bekman on the phone and get this guy on 20×200. I’d buy about 100 of these as photos if I could. The good news is, Evan is prolific with his art and continues to share through his photostream. Which means I continue to enjoy my daily trips to the rural South.
So much better than actually going south! At least in the summer time.
It’s funny to see people from outside the South so intrigued with what we Southerners consider the typical scenery between the cities, especially in Georgia. But, this exists as what we further consider the old South… tourists aren’t going to see this in any tourist destination, eg Atlanta or Athens [though some of these are less than an our away from UGA].
Pure ACL goodness. Great find sir.
If you like his work, you should love William Christenberry.
yeah this kid is siiick
The one in Barrow County I pass each day driving into work. I have always thought what a great photo that would make and it looks Evan feels the same. Thank you very much for the link!
You don’t like the HDR feeling to them? I love it.. it has a kind of spooky color and warmth to it. It seems like something is moving behind them (specially the ones that have blue sky in the background)…. I’m gonna start following Evan !….
As “Nate” mentioned above, when you live in the South, you drive by this type of scene every day. I am from South Louisiana, and currently reside in Dallas, but often drive to the country on the weekends. So, I will remember Evan’s work now, and dream up my own compositions while gazing out the window while driving out to East Texas……I only wish I had his photographic talent.
Great Post.
The southern patina is unmistakeable. Beautiful ruin.
the wood on those barns are screaming out, “reclaim me!!!!”
i love how you love old….i do too !
and old places….buildings….well, those just fill me up like nothing else.
Fantastic images! I used to take the back roads from Knoxville to Athens for ball games just to get views like these. It makes me want to go home!
it’s pics like this that give me the wanderlust something fierce. argh. must. travel.
you all should check out William Christenberry if you dig this guy’s stuff.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5613101
Absolutely Beautiful!!
Speaking of the Old South, check out this great video (1974) about metal detecting in Georgia. The fella doing the detecting, the late Tom Dickey, is a legend and never used anything but a WWII surplus mine detector. Quite amazing.
http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com/2010/10/metal-detecting-post-5-tom-dickey.html
Ahhhh… There’s nothing like driving down roads cathedraled in Spanish moss.
Thanks for spotlighting Mr. Leavitt. Very nice.
these are amazing
GREAT STUFF!
This just made me crazy homesick. Love it.
Having grown up down south and starting my career at Duck Head Apparel Co. in Winder(Barrow Co) and living in Athens, images like these were around every curve half eaten by cudzoo. Now living in Wisconsin and working in a similar rural town, Dodgeville, I often draw comparisons between it and Winder. Minus the cudzoo, the biggest differences I find are the accents and the weather. Thanks for the reminder!
Southern Patina. Credit Billy Reid and a few others for making that concept chic. Then throw some in for Michael and co for proselytizing. I suspect someone’s probably taking a similar line of shots documenting the Midwest too eh?
Kudzu! I’ve been out of the south for too long! Thanks for listening y’all!
Yup, the south’s lookin up. Thanks Billy Reed, Audwin P. and Billykirk!
@Anthony Creek It’s summer for about 70% percent of the year. Today’s high was 87
so much like Christenberry to the point of almost ripping him off. He took these exact photos 40 years ago.
As a southerner (albeit, one who lives in the NE now), a long time reader, and someone who works in the contemporary photography world I have to say this: this is really some vapid shit right here. I ditto the poster above about William Christenberry. Also, obviously Eggleston. More? Susan Lipper, Mark Steinmetz, William Greiner, Mike Smith, Gideon Barnett, Rob Amberg, Jeff Whetstone and so many more. You’re welcome.
good stuff – kodachrome meets holga
Gorgeous, interesting shots. Love that Barrow County shot.
I appreciate the nod to the South. This is why I live here and would never consider leaving.
This is really great work from Evan Leavitt! But to think this quality of photography is worth only $20 is kind of an insult. I’ve seen prices of around $1000 and up for work not half as good.
Mark — thank you for being the first ever ACL reader to think something is too cheap.
Amazing. Go Georgia.
I prefer Christenberry.
Just beautiful! I miss the South.
This is how the South prefers to see the South.
This is how it really looks:
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?p=24462
WOW! I really need to venture further south.