Beautifully Bizarre + Mystically Magical!

I met my new friend Butch Anthony last month in Florence Alabama while working with the lovely Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin. An invitation was extended to come visit Seale, AL where he is based and since I was heading back south to photograph my girlfriends wedding, I figured why not.

I try to make a habit of traveling without expectations, but it was difficult to not have any this round. I knew from the New York Times that Butch had built by hand his impressively beautiful house, there was a Museum of Wonders, a auction every Friday (which we missed) and mention of a sign painter named Ralph that I had to meet in Columbus. That was obviously enough bait for me to make the 4 hour drive from the wedding, since just one of those things sounds incredible. 

My good friend Janet came with me from the wedding and we spent just a few hours shy of 2 days in Seale. The only way I can explain my time there is it felt like a chapter of a book crammed with too many juicy details to really process. Something I'll have to reread a few times. Here's a smattering of images that barely does my trip justice:

 










The Doo-Nanny Grounds 





















































Sign painter Ralph Frank's house:





Butch & Ralph














All I can really say is there are certain things you don't know are missing from your life until you experience them. Trip highlights not pictured include digging for fossils in the creek + evening porch time with Butch & his neighbors. This trip made me thankful to be alive and ready to keep living.

Bob 7, Dent, Chris, Drew and Ralph I am so very pleased to of met your acquaintance and do hope to visit again soon. And Butch I owe you one.

View the full photo set here.