f64club

I had posted earlier about what to do in and around Charlotte. I have another question - are there any REALLY SMALL towns in the area that would interest the photographer in me? You know, like the little (forgive the term) redneck towns like you see in some movies? I love the attitude of small town people and hope to capture some of it on film.
Thanks in advance.

gracieb

Just get in the car and drive. There are hundreds of small towns. In fact, NC "cities" aren't really cities, but big towns.

If you want a Mayberry kind of town, the original is Mt. Airy, which was supposedly the basis for Mayberry on the TV show. They (the town) courts tourist that want the Mayberry experience. That's not the kind of thing you probably want to photograph, but honestly, just drive out to a dot on the map and if you are looking for a small town to photograph, you've found it...no matter which one you choose.

I travel that state on business and almost every small town charms me. You can't go wrong. And if you are hungry at lunch, just look for the crowded parking lot at some of the most nondescript buildings. That's where the locals are eating. Just be ready for everyone to look at you when you walk in the door because they'll know you aren't from there! Freaked me out the first time it happened to me, but now I'm used to it.

Scarlett

I grew up in Charlotte and my brother lives in Belmont. Right next door to Charlotte. It is a lovely old town with a beautiful Abbey and lovely old homes. That would be my recommendation.
It has been too long since I was there to venture anymore suggestions..have a good time!

gracieb

Just found an interesting website - ncfilms.com/locations will take you to thumbnails of different possible film locations.
Take a look at the Piedmont region to see some ideas of where to go.

PS - A warning - Please be careful with the use of the word "redneck" and DO NOT use it when you are down here. I hope you mean you are looking for a small southern town. "Redneck" has a very negative connotation, which is not accurate but is reality. A true "redneck" is a farmer who has a perpetual red neck from the sun. His hat covers his face, but the neck stays red all the year. I am ???? generation Southern (since they immigrated from Scotland and Ireland) and ALL my ancestors were farmers, i.e. red necks until the boll weevil and they moved into the "city" to work retail jobs. I am proud to be Southern, proud that my grandfather and his father and his father, etc. were true red necks, but if you were to call me "redneck" or my community "redneck", I'd just soon as stomp on your foot or spit in your face as to look at you!

gracieb

PS - after he retired, my grandfather moved back to the farm that my grandmother grew up on, and my only image of my grandfather is in his overalls, just off his tractor, with his red neck. But, that does not in any way indicate he was stupid, crude, uneducated, unsophisticated or unaware of his place in the global world. It meant he spent his days on a tractor on a farm.