I'd be very interested in this one as well. I've heard about the furnaces before, from Gary among others. I'm gonna do a quick search on them as well. -- For the forseeable future, my Saturdays are unavailable for a day trip, but just about any Sun. will do with a little notice. Perhaps one of the May Sunday's between Mother's Day and Memorial weekend? I wouldn't expect the heat to be too bad at that time either.

Well, May 8th is out for me, our first wedding anniversary! A Sunday shoot sounds like the best way to go for everyone so lets chime in with any other preferences, then we can get down to a real "when" to go.

Well, May 8th is out for me, our first wedding anniversary! A Sunday shoot sounds like the best way to go for everyone so lets chime in with any other preferences, then we can get down to a real "when" to go.

I'm pretty busy on Sundays with my church work, but I might be able to make a few hours in the early afternoon. You guys pick a date, and I will really try hard to be there. The road trip for me is just a few minutes!

So we're looking at either Sunday 15th, or 22nd? Meeting in the general area at some point mid-afternoon would still give us several hours of good shooting - and based on the last outing, they'll go fast. How do either of those times sound?
Scott

Either one will be fine with us. Toss a coins and see which day will work.:)

Either one will be fine with us. Toss a coins and see which day will work.:)

Heads or tails... I'll try to make it over there.


Thanks,

Bill

In that case maybe plan for the 15th, and in the event of anticipated bad weather, we'll have a back-up for the following weekend. I'll pencil it in.
Scott

OK... May 15th or if we have to go to plan "B" then the next weekend. Pencil here too.

Okay, it's on my calendar!

So we're looking at either Sunday 15th, or 22nd? Meeting in the general area at some point mid-afternoon would still give us several hours of good shooting - and based on the last outing, they'll go fast. How do either of those times sound?
Scott

Where is the 'general area'? :)

Where is the 'general area'? :)

I would say the best place to meet would be in the parking area for the Furnaces. Personally I'd rather be there just after lunch. If someone close by could check out the area and find a decent place to eat maybe we could meet there?

Are you talking about the Sloss Furnaces in Alabama (http://www.stateparks.com/sloss_furnaces.html) ?

Are you talking about the Sloss Furnaces in Alabama (http://www.stateparks.com/sloss_furnaces.html) ?

Fer shure!

a map:
http://www.frightfurnace.com/images/directions%20map%201.jpg

I would say the best place to meet would be in the parking area for the Furnaces. Personally I'd rather be there just after lunch. If someone close by could check out the area and find a decent place to eat maybe we could meet there?

I'll try to check on it in the next few days. What kind of "decent place to eat are we thinking of? Burgers, Mexican, fast food, sea food, bar-b-que?

The Sloss furnaces web site says :
Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm; Sunday 12 to 4pm; Closed Mondays
Admission: Free!

http://www.slossfurnaces.com/media/html/home/sloss_story.php

Please understand that it's out of sher ignorance (never been to Alabama much less 'the Furnaces) that I'm asking this but why was this location chosen? What sort of photographic opportunities will there be?

Thanks for the education :)

Hi Digi, take a look at the link in the comments above. A search engine under Sloss Furnaces will give info as well. For the most part it's an abandonded industrial site, on a huge scale. I've never been, and don't really have any specific expectations, which makes it a bit fun.

As to the hours of operation, seems we'll want to shoot for no later than 1:00 to be inside and setting up to get 3 hours of shooting in. If we get in as they open I'd be OK with that too... So far as food goes, burgers, bbq, mexican, chinese, just something a step up from fast food works for me.

I'm told by folks from the Southeastern Photo Society who've been there if you ask nicely they will let you stay after closing time to shoot in the fading light. We shall see!

Please understand that it's out of sher ignorance (never been to Alabama much less 'the Furnaces) that I'm asking this but why was this location chosen? What sort of photographic opportunities will there be?

Thanks for the education :)

The attached shot is from Sloss (man, my scanner sucks:() . Lots of cool shapes and textures there, lots of decay.

As I told Gary off-post, I wouldn't let rain keep me away. In fact, it might be a plus.

I hope to join ya'll there.

As to food: there are a lot of great choices within 10-15 minutes of Sloss. I'm there frequently on business, and for me, B-ham is all about barbecue.

Sorry I did not get back to you sooner... Had a little "run in" with the medicos at the hospital... OK now. Sloss furnace in naturally in an industrial area of town, but within 20 minutes is just about every kind of food place. If its barbeque you crave there are a number of locations of "Jim and Nicks". They are hard to top. I'm usually a brown bag kind of guy, but I'll meet you anywhere you like.

Bill, what's your take in this, since you're the local guy? Think one of these places will be a good drop in for us out of towners to meet and do intros before the shoot? It would need to be a place where you could push a few tables together if necessary. Some places are all immoveable booths and make it hard for a group to sit and chat. Another helpful quality is to be easy to find coming off the freeway.

The sloss location is just about down town Birmingham off 1st ave North. Most of the eating places 20 minutes are in the down town area too. Easy to get to and near the Sloss furnace, but maybe hard to find for first time out of towners. Maybe for those who have never been here before we might consider meeting at Sloss parking lot, then go in mass to an eatery and then return. Another option might be to meet at an interstate exit coming in to town that would be easy to find have lunch there then go into the Sloss area. Everyone coming here I think has to arrive I59, I20, or I65, so we could pick something easy to find on one of these Interstates and meet there.
Doug in Huntsville is probably as familiar will Birmingham as I am and has been to Sloss before, so he may have ideas from his times before.

Golden Rule BBQ (http://www.goldenrulebbq.com/locations/irondale/) in Irondale would be handy for folks coming in from Atlanta on I-20. It's right off the interstate. The exit for Sloss, 1st Ave. North, is just a couple of miles on down the road.

Sounds like you have something there Doug. What do the rest of you folks planning on coming think of this plan?

I'm ready for ribs...

Golden Rule BBQ (http://www.goldenrulebbq.com/locations/irondale/) in Irondale would be handy for folks coming in from Atlanta on I-20. It's right off the interstate. The exit for Sloss, 1st Ave. North, is just a couple of miles on down the road.

That's a great idea Doug! I'll sure try to be there.

Bill