Wade on Birmingham

Archive for 'Photos'

The Future of Birmingham: Big ideas

Sunday, September 27th, 2015
Regions Field

Photos: Hugh Hunter. Reprinted with permission.

Regions Field shows how big ideas in Birmingham come to life
through civic partnership and determination.

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Get the full version of this photo essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

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By Hugh Hunter

Birmingham has had big ideas in its past, from the original Vulcan statue created in 1903 and its recent renovation, through the rise of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to Railroad Park and Regions Field.

The Future of BirminghamOur recent success is driven more by individual entrepreneurial vision and passion. What we lack is a community partnership of business and government that seizes on visionary opportunities like the rerouting of I-20/59 through downtown, below, and makes it happen.

I-20/59

I-20/59

Or as David Sher blows against the coarse wind of naysayers by lobbying for some sort of regional government in his blog, ComebackTown.

Roald Hazelhoff, director of the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, started the Darter Festival at Railroad Park and wanted to reposition us as the Gateway to Nature, dropping the old dated Magic City moniker. [Editor’s note: Hugh Hunter served on the center’s board of trustees since 1995.]

Turkey Creek

The Southern Environmental Center is a co-manager of
the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

And my friend and Mr. Birmingham Tom Cosby, below, is championing one of my favorite big ideas: extending the Appalachian Trail to Alabama. He has shown me where the trailhead will start at Flagg Mountain, about 20 miles south of Sylacauga.

Tom Cosby

So, let’s think big, Birmingham!

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Hugh HunterHugh Hunter is owner of Hunter Photography and partner in Hunter Films, both based in Birmingham.

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The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this photo essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

The Future of Birmingham: Collaboration

Saturday, September 19th, 2015
Birmingham Barons, Southern League Championship

Photos: Christine Prichard. Reprinted with permission.

The Birmingham Barons celebrate winning the Southern League
Championship in 2013, the team’s first year back in Birmingham.

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Get the full version of this photo essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

•

By Christine Prichard

Nearly all of the innovative things that have popped up in the ’ham since I dropped anchor here in 1997 exist because of creative collaboration.

The Future of BirminghamSo many productive partnerships are out there, including Jones Valley Teaching Farm + the Birmingham City Schools + Southern Living and Cooking Light. Or Innovation Depot + UAB + entrepreneurs. Or McWane Science Center + corporate sponsors + volunteers.

Collaboration is what created Railroad Park and Regions Field. Collaboration is at its best during the Sidewalk Film Festival, where the rich talent of our local film production community plus enthusiastic volunteers and filmgoers work together to create one of many celebrated arts events in Birmingham.

Sister Golf Shella Sylla

Shella Sylla is the founder of Birmingham company Sister Golf,
which teaches the game’s fundamentals to busy professionals.

And think of metro area youth who passionately participate in arts, sports and academic activities. This wouldn’t be possible without the joint efforts of teachers, coaches, parents, volunteers and the students themselves.

Metro Changers

Metro Changers, a Birmingham-based nonprofit group,
takes a moment for prayer.

All of these projects, places and people collaborate and thereby create a vibrant community for all who call Birmingham home.

Alabama School of Fine Arts gala

A gala benefitting the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham.

Just think what could happen if this collaborative spirit were more influential in areas where Birmingham needs to improve, such as air quality and mass transportation.

World Habitat Day

Habitat for Humanity site supervisor Chris Cosby, left, works
with a volunteer while constructing a house in Avondale for
World Habitat Day.

Collaboration is what makes us great and is the future of Birmingham.

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Christine Prichard Christine Prichard is a Birmingham-based photographer and photography educator who collaborates with solo entrepreneurs and small businesses to create custom photography, mobile apps and mobile websites.

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The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this photo essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

You are beautiful in every single way

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Birmingham Magazine shows off the pretty, pretty people

Each June, Birmingham Magazine singles out the fairest of them all, the city’s “Beautiful People.” You can find them all in this slideshow, or on the newsstand this month.

Ogle them, rate them, rank them.

At least one blogger has already done so:

“There is hardly any criteria to being birmingham’s most beautiful person. These ppl have normal jobs for the most part, and are semi-attractive according to the pictures. So what? Why is a magazine going to set themselves up for complete criticism by putting the word beautiful on the cover and then not deliver….AT ALL!”

So, are they Birmingham’s prettiest? Or somewhat plainest?

The fallen: Five years in Iraq

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

It’s almost 4,000. That would be the number of U.S. military members killed during the war in Iraq, marking its fifth year today. The deadliest year, so far, was 2007, with 901 killed.

Among the fallen are 75 Alabamians, including those killed since the War on Terror began in 2001. To them, we pay this tribute.

(more…)

Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander
Clanton
(the 2,000th U.S. military death in Iraq)
Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell
Tuskegee
Capt. Donnie R. Belser Jr.
Anniston
Pfc. Joseph R. Berlin Jr.
Chelsea
Pfc. Stephen D. Bicknell
Prattville

View finder: Fired up

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

Jackie the welder. Photo by callingstorm.

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More photos | send us your shots.

View finder: Disc jocks

Friday, August 10th, 2007

Let the flying disc games begin. Photo by Pete Holiday.

Mud Bowl 26 takes place all day Saturday at George Ward Park [map]. The annual corporate tournament serves as a fund-raiser for Pathways, which provides shelter and services for homeless women and children. The event is free and open to the public, plus free snow cones for the 100-degree heat.

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More photos | send us your shots.

View finder: Stripe tease

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

Meg White of the White Stripes, performing to a packed house at Sloss Furnaces last week. Photo by mosesxan.

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More photos | send us your shots.

View finder: Downtown denizen

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Homeless gentleman, Kelly Ingram Park, 2006. Photo by Wade Wofford.

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More photos | send us your shots.

View finder: Cross purposes

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

Outside protesters from Operation Save America rally in Birmingham, demonstrating in front of four churches and New Woman All Women Health Care last week. Photo by operationsaveamerica.

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More photos | send us your shots.

View finder: Old News is …

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

A last look at the former Birmingham News building before its demolition. Photo by esywlkr.

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More photos | send us your shots.