Seemingly Quiet

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is ranked the world's busiest, but you'd never know it from this picture.  In this flyby from around 10,000 feet, the airport looks quiet and empty.

On Schedule

Dogwood Blossoms, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The 78th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is this weekend.  It doesn't always happen, but this year the dogwoods are in full bloom at the same time as the festival.  In fact, we took this photo just the other day.

Waiting to Azale

Azalea Bud, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This bud is just beginning and will one day blossom into a beautiful azalea flower.  Spring is springing!

On Top of the Class

Emory University and the CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This photo was snapped shortly after take-off as we were making a slow, climbing turn over Atlanta.  Photography from commercial airliners is often difficult because of the aircraft movement, cabin turbulence, window clarity (smudges, scratches, frost), the sun, and our ability to lock in and focus on the subject.

Somehow everything was lined up to get this photo of Emory University and the CDC.  As we often do with our aerial photos, we darkened the photo slightly to reduce atmospheric noise.  For this photo, we also cropped the wing out since it wasn't integral to the photo.

Practice Makes Perfect

Camellia Flower, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

When at first you don't succeed, keep taking photos!  This photo was one of the last of many that were taken of this camellia's flowers.  Among the challenges were wind, changing light, incorrect camera settings, and lots of stooping.  We think our efforts were rewarded with this shot.

Tree Love

Trees, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Marietta, Georgia, USA

You've heard of true love.  This is tree love!  We adored these two trees who appeared to be embracing each other.

Sit a Spell

Bench, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Marietta, Georgia, USA

It may have been a frigid day in the middle of winter, but this spot still was alluring.

Million Dollar Staircase

Staircase, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This beautiful staircase spans four floors within a private office in Atlanta.  It is called the "million dollar staircase".  Maybe it is because of the deals made while admiring it or perhaps it really cost that much.

Heading Southwest

AirTran Boeing 717, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

AirTran Airways will soon be a part of history.  Having been purchased by Southwest Airlines, AirTran is being merged into the Southwest brand and livery.  This 717 was photographed on a wet and foggy morning back in 2005.  Atlanta was AirTran's main hub since the 1990s and gave Delta Airlines some serious competition.

Cold Trails

Snowy Street, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Every few years, Atlanta gets a huge snowstorm that drops inches of snow.  This picture, from 2002, highlights such a year.  Many parts of the country are frigidly cold today (including Atlanta) and would be happy with snow accumulation this light.

Selling a Good Name

Borden Dairy Truck, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Elsie the Cow is familiar to almost anyone in America born before 1990.  She was the mascot and "spokesperson" for the dairy division of Borden, Inc.  Borden was founded in 1857, but ceased to exist in the 1990's.  Nonetheless, Elsie and the Borden brand name live on by licensing agreements to other companies.

Sunbeams

Downtown Buildings, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

We love how the sunbeams radiate off of the Hyatt Regency's Radius Tower.  As the sun moves, so do the beams of light.

Rock-a-bye Fishy

Copper Rockfish, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

We think this cute Copper Rockfish was asleep as it never moved as we took its photo from several angles at the Georgia Aquarium.

Ted's Happier Days

Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Turner Field (aka The Ted) is the home of the Atlanta Braves.  The baseball stadium began life as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.  It was later reduced and remodeled to serve The Braves.

This is what The Ted looked like back in January 1999.  We took this photo during a site-seeing flight.  At that time, Turner Field was the pride of Atlanta.  Visitors and residents alike admired it inside and out.

The Braves have announced that they are moving north of Atlanta and will demolish Turner Field once their new stadium is built.

The Braves are reportedly moving to be closer to their fan base, but their move and promise to demolish Turner Field brings a sad and undignified end to an important part of Atlanta's history.  This, in our opinion, is another example of Atlanta's shortsighted outlook on historic sites, buildings, streets, etc.

Holiday Travels

Downtown Connector, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Many people are on the roads today traveling to friends and family for the holidays.  Unlike the quiet scene above, Atlanta's highways are likely jam packed today.

Atlanta's Downtown Connector is the combined highway of Interstates 75 and 85.  At the spot pictured above, you can see downtown Atlanta and the ramps to and from Interstate 20.

Atlanta isn't just a leader in air travel (Atlanta has the world's busiest airport), it is also a major hub for road traffic.  You can travel I-75 from South Florida to Canada, I-85 from Alabama to Virginia, and I-20 from South Carolina to Texas.

Lift to Work

Construction Cranes, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These cranes helped build new freeway ramps between Interstate 85 and Georgia 400.  While construction may have slowed the morning commute for many, drivers were rewarded with majestic views like the above.

Shrunk By Sprawl

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Unlike the dense megalopoli of Chicago and New York, many sprawling cities look like a collection of small cities from the air.  Whereas New York is a continuous city of skyscrapers, Atlanta's skyscrapers are spread out in groups.

Tracks to Nowhere

MARTA Tracks, Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These are overflow tracks for the end of the MARTA north and south lines.  The last station is just behind where this photo was taken.

A Spring Reminder

Dogwood Flowers, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Leaves are falling and Fall is officially underway.  Here was the scene in the early weeks of Spring when the trees were filling with leaves and flowers.

the atl?

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This is what Atlanta looked like back in the summer of 1990.  It was smaller back then, perhaps it was just the atl instead of The ATL.