visits to columbus ms

The Background

Well, alright. I finally have this blog-like thing working. I was first thinking about using Adobe Spark, which I learned about in an Adobe class for educators and found easier to use than WordPress--or, least, the WordPress of a couple of years ago. Once I got the hang of using a new page builder, however, and working with post templates and such, I  found working with WordPress to be easy enough to let me go ahead with communicating, rather than attempting to be a serious web designer. 

In any case, today, I'm dedicating a post to Columbus MS, where I've taken graduation photos in mid-May for three years in a row. More specifically, I've taken them for the Mississippi University for Women, a public university (known as "the W" to graduates), the day after taking them at Holmes Community College in Goodman MS. It's a fun thing, and earns me some modest extra pay.  

What the two days of graduation shoots means is that, by time I've gotten to Columbus, it's already late in the day, and then I barely have any personal shooting time the next day.

 

The Historic Districts, Mostly

Nonetheless, I've always had to take some photos in Columbus, because it's such a beautiful town. I know this in part because my mother is a proud W alum. I also earned my master's at nearby Mississippi State in Starkville. Columbus doesn't have the tourist cachet of Natchez, documented at right, which I visited on earlier graduation shoot trips for Alcorn State in Lorman.  It is an architectural jewel all the same. 

Below are some of the photos I have taken in Columbus over time, most from historic districts near its downtown. Most of these were taken with my Olympus E-5 camera, but a few were taken this year with my new-ish Google Pixel phone, which I used after deciding not to bring the E-5 due to the forecast for heavy rain and overcast skies. By the time I left Columbus on Saturday afternoon, however, the skies were clear again, and I stuck around for another hour or so. 

These are mostly shots of the big, older homes, with all their mythological, if sometimes (or oftentimes, in some cases) dark allure, and history and occasional odd decorations. I also took shots of native flora, however, because I have found its abundance, particular in the area north of downtown, as unique among Mississippi towns. There are native cedar trees of a sort that it's practically startling to see in residential areas now.  

The Campus

Unfortunately, I do not have much time to get into the W campus here, nor of its interesting recent, co-educational history. Google is your friend! What I can say is that the campus is beautiful in its own right. I've taken a smattering of photos there.

Downtown and Environs

Ones from downtown, showing storefronts, the Tennessee Williams birthplace and museum (Victorian house), and the Columbus River Walk

Next Year?

Who knows? If I go next year, though, I'm going to concentrate more on the W's campus. After that, it's African-American historical spots. Also Waverly, if I ever, ever have the time. Might take a special trip.