Dog Days of Summer

Last week I photographed different hot dog stands for an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Three of a Kind photo feature. I visited the downtown location of The Varsity, one of the icons for the city Atlanta. I also visited Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs in Marietta off of the Church St. Ext. Finally I photographed America’s Top Dogs in Duluth which has a 40 item topping bar for your food. All three of the restaurants had great opportunities for photographs. These are my favorite images from the assignment.

Evan Ivester, 6, (left) shoves a hotdog in his mouth as he sits with his mother Susanne at the Varsity off of North Ave. in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Evan and his family, who hail from Good Hope, stopped at the Varsity after visiting Zoo Atlanta.

Jersey Wilson, 8, (right) serves a hot dog and french fries to Margaret Chafin at Brandi's World Famous Hot Dogs off of Church St. Ext. in Marietta on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Brandy Wilson took over ownership and changed the name from Betty's World Famous Hot Dogs nine years ago. The hot dog stand has been open since 1915.

Tom Duvall reaches for a spoon of coleslaw at the topping bar at America's Top Dogs off fo Satellite Blvd. in Duluth on Thursday, July 14, 2011. The restaurant has a 40 item topping bar so customers can create the perfect hot dog.

Bob Mitchell eats a chili dog at the Varsity off of North Ave. in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Mitchell and his family stopped off at the Atlanta icon on their way back to Springfield, Il from vacationing in the Bahamas.

Connie Simmons lays a hot dog in a bun at Brandi's World Famous Hot Dogs off of Church St. Ext. in Marietta on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. The hot dog stand, which has been open since 1915, sells between 500 and 600 hot dogs each day on average. Simmons has worked at the restaurant for the past 18 years.

Jack Berberena, 4, pours ketchup on his hot dog at America's Top Dogs off fo Satellite Blvd. in Duluth on Thursday, July 14, 2011. The restaurant has a 40 item topping bar so customers can create the perfect hot dog.

Valerie Phillips, 10, laughs as she takes a bite of her naked dog at the Varsity off of North Ave. in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

Harley Berberena, 3, (left) gets a face full of mustard and ketchup after taking a bite of her hot dog while her twin sister Jordan laughs at America's Top Dogs off fo Satellite Blvd. in Duluth on Thursday, July 14, 2011. The restaurant has a 40 item topping bar so customers can create the perfect hot dog.