Capture Life Through the Lens

Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival

Jonathan Phillips — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:54 +0000

Saturday, June 15, 2013

The Chattahoochee River was overflowing with paddlers on Saturday. 419 paddlers to be exact in 313 canoes and kayaks made their way down the river and through Roswell during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival. Organized and run by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the race covered an 8-mile course from Garrard Landing through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and to Riverside Park. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission is to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, in order to restore and preserve their ecological health for the people and wildlife that depend on the river system. Established in 1994, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is an environmental advocacy organization with more than 6,000 members dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin — drinking water source for nearly 4 million Georgians. CRK was the 11th licensed program in the international Waterkeeper Alliance, now close to 200 organizations strong. From the north Georgia mountains to the Florida border, the Chattahoochee River is impacted by unplanned development, storm runoff and trash from industries, roads, and construction sites, and discharges from sewage treatment plants. Withdrawals from the river by municipalities and industries also affect its health through consumptive loss of water that is not returned to the river, impacting downstream water quality, recreation and ecology. While significant improvements have been made in the river, much remains to be accomplished. Thousands of attendees came out to party with the paddlers after their run on the river with food, live music and vendors.

Dave Gewertz (left) holds his kayak as he waits in line for the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Lake Summerhill (center) carries two kayaks towards the edge of the water before the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Charlie Stephens repositions his paddle as he moves into position for the start of the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Christina Parkhurst (center) paddles her kayak as she takes off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Jen Griffith (right) carries her two kayaks towards the edge of the water with the help of her husband Kevin before they start the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Lake Summerhill (center) and Aliina Rousu paddle their kayaks as they take off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Jonathan Johnson paddles his kayak as he takes off from the starting line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Kelly Harbac (bottom right) paddles her kayak as she nears Don White Memorial Park during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Brendan BassMarra paddles his kayak during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Connor Gilreath lets his feet skim the top of the water as he rides down the Chattahoochee River in a canoe in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Ryan Bjork (right) and Ben Esser paddle their canoe during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Canoers and kayakers paddle down the Chattahoochee River as they near Don White Memorial Park in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Christy Fountain (left) paddles past Scott Taylor as they near the finish line during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Paul McClung (left) and his two sons Holden and Caleb paddle down the Chattahoochee River in a canoe in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Canoers and kayakers paddle down the Chattahoochee River as they near Don White Memorial Park in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Betsy Gentry and Sophie Harkins paddle their canoe under the bridge at Don White Memorial Park in Roswell during the Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Sean Kinsey unclips his paddle as he prepares to exit his kayak at the take out point on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Kim West (left) paddles to the boat take out on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Juneteenth Celebration

Jonathan Phillips — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:54 +0000

Saturday, June 15, 2013

The Cobb NAACP held their annual Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday. The day was full of food, music and performances celebrating African-American heritage and the end of slavery. For the past 10 years the Cobb NAACP has put on the festival which commemorates the name given to the date June 19, 1865, the date that the last United States slaves were freed. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. On June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is the oldest, largest and strongest Civil Rights Organization in the United States. The principal objective of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States. The NAACP was formed in 1909 in New York City by a group of black and white citizens committed to helping to right social injustices. The NAACP is a network of more than 2,200 branches covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and Germany.

Akella Clore (left) dances with Deja Bolton as Aminah Khan dances with Kaia Bolton during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Niara Minnifields (center) and her mother Colette taste some of the food available during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Nia Caudle (center) jumps into the center of a hoop as she plays games during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Lisa Faust (right) looks at sundresses for sale during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Matthew Gibbs (center), half of the performance duo Kinetix, performs with James D. Love during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Brent Echols checks on the meat cooking in his smoker during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Isha Faye (right) and Oumie Faye sit on a bench as they watch the performances during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Matthew Gibbs (center), half of the performance duo Kinetix, performs during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

James D. Love (left), half of the performance duo Kinetix, performs during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

King Jones (right), Sterling McClary, Charles Reed and Julian Guzman perform during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Paige White (right) and Chardonnay Morgan perform during the Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Marietta Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Portraits of Jacquelynn

Jonathan Phillips — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:33:39 +0000

Sunday, June 9, 2013

I spent the weekend in Valdosta with my friend Jacquelynn Buck helping her with a wedding and a portrait session. As we made our way to Cooledge for a family portrait session we passed through Pavo, Georgia. The small downtown had a very rustic feel to it so we stopped and I practiced a little portraiture.

Jacquelynn Buck. Pavo, Georgia

2013 Alpharetta Fishing Derby

Jonathan Phillips — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:49 +0000

Saturday, June 8, 2013

The fish were biting on Saturday morning as children ages 4-12 cast their rods and reels into the pond at Brookside Office Park in Alpharetta, The storm on Friday evening had filled the pond with more water as the banks were slightly overflowing in places and a few trees were knocked down however that did not stop the young fishermen from competing for the longest fish and the most fish caught during the 3 hour event.

The Alpharetta Fishing Derby at the Brookside Office Park pond on Saturday, June 8, 2013.

Holly and Chris’ Wedding

Jonathan Phillips — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:02 +0000

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Holly Hamby and Chris Beem tied the knot at a beautiful plantation home called The Crescent in downtown Valdosta, Georgia. The whole day was filled with laughter and jokes as the two exchanged vows in front of family and friends. The ceremony was followed by dinner, dancing and some of the more traditional fun and games as the night progressed. Holly and Chris were the dream couple to photograph and I am glad that I got a chance to be a part of one of the most special days in their lives together as husband and wife.

Holly Hamby and Chris Beem tied the knot at The Crescent plantation home in downtown Valdosta, Georgia on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

City of Atlanta Dolphins

Jonathan Phillips — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 04:00:14 +0000

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Summer is here and with summer comes swim team. Children from neighborhoods all over Atlanta practice each day for a chance to go to the county meet. I myself was on a summer swim team for 15 some odd years and loved getting to hang out with kids from my neighborhood and starting the day off being in a pool for an hour or so. Practice consists of laps, laps and more laps. Butterfly, breast stroke, freestyle and back stroke or some combination of the four, sometimes just using your legs and sometimes just your arms to get down the length of the pool. This summer the City of Atlanta Dolphins practice at the Adamsville Natatorium and has around 100 swimmers on the team coached by Tommy Jackson. Jackson has over 30 years of experience coaching college, high school and summer swim teams.

Jamovia Womack (right) uses a kickboard as she swims laps with Isaam Bradley during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Alexandre Grand’Pierre switches out his leg immobilizers for a kickboard as he swims laps during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Sanaa Hardy (center) holds onto a kickboard as she swims laps during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Zahra McIntosh (center) comes up for a breath as she swims a lap of breast stroke during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Sanaa Hardy comes up for a breath as she swims a lap of butterfly during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Aatiq Bradley (left) holds onto a kickboard as he swims laps during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Jonathan Calhoun (top) stretches for the edge of the pool as he tries to beat Omar Greene in a sprint lap during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Erek Cox (center) holds onto a kickboard as he swims laps during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Donovan Johnson comes up for a breath as he swims a lap of butterfly during practice for the City of Atlanta Dolphins at Adamsville Natatorium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Spalding Corners Sharks

Jonathan Phillips — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:00:29 +0000

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Summer is here and with summer comes swim team. Children from neighborhoods all over Atlanta practice each day for a chance to go to the county meet. I myself was on a summer swim team for 15 some odd years and loved getting to hang out with kids from my neighborhood and starting the day off being in a pool for an hour or so. Practice consists of laps, laps and more laps. Butterfly, breast stroke, freestyle and back stroke or some combination of the four, sometimes just using your legs and sometimes just your arms to get down the length of the pool. This summer, the Spalding Corners Sharks have close to 200 swimmers on the team. Located in Peachtree Corners, the team is coached by Willie Hildebrand.

William Wright sits on the pool deck waiting for his next event to be called during a practice swim meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Aspen Alder (left) and Zyanya Martinez wait in line for their next event to be called during a practice swim meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Jack Thurmond pulls himself up on the starting block as he participates in a backstoke event during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Rebekah Niemann makes her way through the pool during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Miguel Schlicht launches himself off of the starting block as he participates in a backstoke event during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Elkin Regina (right) launches herself off of the starting block as she participates in the 25 meter backstoke event during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Erin Ward comes up for a breath as she participates in the 50 meter freestyle event during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

William Wright (left) launches himself off of the starting block as he swims backstoke towards assistant coach Andrew Ramirez-Urbina during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Rebekah Niemann makes her way through the pool during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Emily O’Day (left) and Savannah Whitmer dive into the pool as they participate in the 50 meter freestyle event during a practice meet for the Spalding Corners Sharks in Peachtree Corners on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Decatur Gators

Jonathan Phillips — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:07 +0000

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Summer is here and with summer comes swim team. Children from neighborhoods all over Atlanta practice each day for a chance to go to the county meet. I myself was on a summer swim team for 15 some odd years and loved getting to hang out with kids from my neighborhood and starting the day off being in a pool for an hour or so. Practice consists of laps, laps and more laps. Butterfly, breast stroke, freestyle and back stroke or some combination of the four, sometimes just using your legs and sometimes just your arms to get down the length of the pool. This summer the Decatur Gators have around 150 swimmers from ages five to 18. The team, coached by Beth Costello, holds their practices at the Glenlake Park Pool on the outskirts of the city.

Beth Costello (center), head coach for the Decatur Gators, demonstrates a proper freestyle stroke during swim team practice at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Alexis Rogers swings her arms back as she dives into the pool at Glenlake Park in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Laurent Keenan swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Ava Wong (center) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Sophia Comrie (center) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Anna Taggart uses a kickboard to keep her head above water as she swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

sabel Taggart swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Laurent Keenan swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Ava Wong (center) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Demi Jardine uses a kickboard to keep her head above water as she swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Gabe Smith swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Laurent Keenan swims freestyle laps during swim team practice for the Decatur Gators at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Sophia Comrie (center) kicks as she swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Kai McHale dives into the pool at Glenlake Park in Decatur during swim team practice on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Rosie Couture (left) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Evie Vesper uses a kickboard to keep her head above water as she swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Laurent Keenan swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Gabe Smith comes up for a breath as he swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Isabel Taggart (left) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Ethan Broun (right) comes up for a breath as he swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Isabel Taggart (left) swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Laurent Keenan swims laps of freestyle during practice for the Decatur Gators summer league swim team at Glenlake Park pool in Decatur on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Dunwoody Mermaids

Jonathan Phillips — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:47 +0000

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I have been holding off on sharing these photos until they had run in Perimeter North Lifestyle Magazine. Olivia Plump, her sister Hannah and Claire Rohrbach are three teenage girls living in Dunwoody. The trio goes to school by day but by night and on weekends, the friends transform into mythical beings. Donning hand crafted tails, Claire, Hannah and Olivia transform into mermaids to entertain children at birthday and pool parties. The idea has grown throughout the small community north of Atlanta over the past few years. Starting with a business plan and a focus group, the three high school students are growing, especially now with the inclusion of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. The center allows the girls to entertain children with their fairytale experience not only throughout the summer months in Georgia but also through winter with access to their indoor pool facility.

For the past four years Olivia Plump (left), her sister Hannah and Claire Rohrbach have been performing for special events and birthday parties dressed as mermaids.

For the past four years Claire Rohrbach (right) and sisters Hannah and Olivia Plump have been performing for special events and birthday parties dressed as mermaids.

For the past four years Olivia Plump (left), Claire Rohrbach and Hannah Plump have been performing for special events and birthday parties dressed as mermaids.

For the past four years Olivia Plump (left), her sister Hannah and Claire Rohrbach have been performing for special events and birthday parties dressed as mermaids.

Brew Moon SummerFest

Jonathan Phillips — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 04:00:22 +0000

Saturday, June 1, 2013

As the sun went down, people started dancing in the streets as downtown Alpharetta was taken over by lovers of beer and music on Saturday. The Brew Moon SummerFest offered hundreds of visitors refreshing brews and live music provided by The Glow Band.

The Brew Moon SummerFest in downtown Alpharetta on Saturday, June 1, 2013.