I have lived in this area since 1992.  I moved first to Lawrenceville then to the beautiful Dahlonega area.  This is home, it is where we will retire.  Up until the draught. I was of one opinion of Lake Lanier.  Basically, it was always in the way. If it was not there, The roads would be different and all travel would be faster.  I was famous for saying, “If the lake was not there, you could drive a straight line and be where you are going, faster”.  Then one afternoon, after hearing all about the low water levels I decided to save some money and charter a small plane to fly over the lake to have a first hand look. 

    Some time later, I got into that airplane and spent two hours above the lake looking down on the water, docks, dry lake bottom and boats with no place to go.  I was surprised at the size of the Lake and sad about the low water levels.  As I drove out of Gilmer Field I decided that I would spend time in every park, campground and boat ramp taking pictures of the lake.  The low water levels were calling me to document what I saw from above.  Since that time I have been in more parks than I knew could possibly exist on the lake.  I posted a few pictures in the Gainesville Times community Gallery using the same name I have here.  I also became the only photographer, early on, to document the drought in the southeast, Lake Lanier in particular, on the yahoo, flickr photo galley website.  There are now several photographers who have some excellent pictures of the drought conditions.  I have continued to visit parks and take pictures and I would guess that I have visited about 75% of the places I can get in and set up for pictures. 

   Now let me tell you what you already know.  This lake is a wonderful and  beautiful resource that is enjoyed by thousands of visitors and residents alike.  From Lula Park to the Dam, and from Lumpkin Park to Federal Park this magnificent lake is an endless place of discovery.  The rowers at Clarks Bridge, the R. C. pontoon airplane flyers at Sardis, The bass fishing contest at Laurel Park, the Islands, The Dragon Boats, the sunsets at Van Paugh and sun rises at War Hill, the marinas with splendid sail boats, the fire works, camping at Bolding Mill, the blue heron who lives at Keith’s bridge along with the eagle nesting at Clarks Bridge, and the Hall County Firefighter’s picnic at Riverside are examples of what I have seen and experienced. 

   I hope that it was the enjoyment of what I was seeing that came through in my pictures that may have caught the eye of Steve, who started up this website,  that caused him to ask me to post pictures here.  I believe I was the first, maybe second to start posting and plan on making it to each park and have pictures here of what I see.  Please take time to have a look at the pictures I am posting here as “coppermine” and stop back from time to time because there should be more every month.  My next goal is to take some from a boat.  Believe it or not, I have never been on the lake.  I will get that done this year! If you happen to see a white haired man with a camera, tripod and a backpack, stop and say hello.  That will be me at anytime day or night taking some obscure picture at a park I am seeing for the first time.


Coppermine