Interspaced across the rolling hills of Historic Riverside Cemetery in Macon GA, these ghostly characters from the October Spirit Stroll were all set to pose for us and tell us some of their stories of times past. With 11 reenactors we had to think fast and keep moving… holding our PHOTOGRAPHIC GOAL in mind: To capture the likeness of each person IN CHARACTER, while also controlling our IN FRAME COMPOSITION to add VISUAL INTEREST and EMOTIONAL TENSION.

We will be doing this workshop again THIS YEAR, and in addition to People, we will also be photographing Industrial Landscapes, Macon’s Amazing Architecture, and having lunch at my favorite local restaurant.

For information or to SIGN UP and join us on this day-long workshop in Picturesque Macon, GA go to thethirdeyephoto.com  or CONTACT ROBIN

Brother and Sister, Hermione (1873 – 1949) and Buddie Ross

The Ross siblings were no strangers to cemeteries. Their grandfather was Simri Rose, the man who designed Rose Hill Cemetery in the 1800s. As children, Hermione and Buddie left their Macon home near Mount De Sales to run a hotel on Cumberland Island with their family.

Deputy Sheriff Harry “Tubby” Green (1896-1925)

Tubby was a moonshine bootlegger that later became a sheriff’s deputy. Tubby once recognized a rumrunner from his former shine days and could tell his car was loaded with hooch. A chase through downtown Macon ended with a fatal gunshot to Tubby.

Leila Gerdine Burke (1879-1965)

As a young kindergarten teacher in Macon, Georgia, Leila Burke found herself in San Francisco boarding a ship to China. She was setting out as the bride of William Burke, a widowed Methodist preacher who was a missionary in Shanghai.

William Frederick Black (1911-1940)

William was a star athlete in high school and later became one of the first ever Georgia State Troopers. The Georgia State Patrol was founded in 1935. While on duty he was shot by Charles Clinton Coates, Jr., making him the first patrolman killed on duty.

Sarah Bull Park (1839-1895)

Sarah Bull Park belonged to a group of women that learned to defend their homes and property during the Civil War. They named themselves the Nancy Harts in honor of Georgia’s Revolutionary War heroine who singled handedly defended her home against a group of invading British Soldiers.

Parks Lee (1873-1957) and Maude Hay (1877-1962)

The Hays are well known for living in Macon’s National Historic Landmark Johnston-Felton-Hay House, considered the Palace of the South. Mr. Hay founded Banker’s Health and Life Insurance and, in 1941, built the company’s new headquarters – the city’s first skyscraper – at the corner of First and Cherry Streets.

Twiggs Lyndon (1942-1979)

Twiggs was a very well-known Maconite who was the road manager for many musicians, including Little Richard and most famously for the Allman Brothers Band in their heyday. His unexpected exit involved a parachuting accident while on the road with the band the Dixie Dregs.

William Craft (1824-1900) & Ellen Craft (1826-1891)

Ellen Craft, a light skinned slave, dressed in disguise as a man and pretended to be her husband’s owner to escape to freedom. She and William fled Macon by train, eventually making their way to England, only later to return to Georgia after slavery was abolished.

The timeworn and moody effects of these images were designed and composed in camera then slightly saturated to have a hand-colored feel. A big THANK YOU to Historic Riverside Cemetery and the Reenactors for their beautiful, sincere and heartfelt portrayal of these real characters from Macon’s rich history.

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Text and Images ©2015 Robin Davis

The Characters History and Descriptions,  courtesy of Riverside Cemetery & Conservancy