Atlanta-based photographer Peter Essick’s “Work in Progress” is an ongoing series documenting the changing Atlanta landscape through drone photographs of construction sites.
The photographs in this series attempt to document the environmental impacts of construction and serve as an outlet for personal creative expression. Photography has a history of documenting everyday life. In his neighborhood in Atlanta, construction activity is an everyday occurrence. It wasn’t until he started flying a drone that he realized construction sites offered so many different visual perspectives.
“I find it hard to explain my deeper motives for photographing construction sites,” says Peter. “On a personal level, I enjoy the unique challenge of capturing an ever-changing landscape. Construction sites change by the day, and the light and exposure are never the same, so there is always a sense of joy in capturing the perfect moment. Soil, wood, steel and concrete relate to each other in infinite varieties of order and disorder. Surface reflections can create altering moods and various meanings.”
These photographs also attempt to document the environmental impact of construction, land use and suburban sprawl. Construction and development eliminate tree cover and result in loss of habitat for wildlife. More pavement heats up the city and exacerbates global warming. Sprawl is a major contributor to poor quality of life, and a sedentary lifestyle produces many detrimental health effects. All this development is happening on the traditional lands of the Muscogee people, whom the federal government forcibly removed from the region two centuries ago. Drones have been and continue to be used as weapons of war. “I try to understand all of these contemporary and historic issues and incorporate them into my photographic practice,” says Peter.
"Construction Site, Stone Mountain, GA #3, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Stone Mountain, GA #1, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Pendergrass, GA #4, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Pendergrass, GA #3, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Jefferson, GA, 2025," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA #2, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Pendergrass, GA #1, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Buford, GA, 2020," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA, 2017," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Stone Mountain, 2019," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA #1, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Pendergrass, GA #2, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Stone Mountain, GA #4 , 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Stone Mountain, GA #2, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Buford, GA, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA #1, 2021," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA #3, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Lilburn, GA, 2017," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, McDonough, GA, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Mountain Park, GA, 2019," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Pendergrass, GA, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Lithonia, GA, 2017," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Atlanta, GA #2, 2021," archival pigment print on paper
"Abandoned Tennis Court, Snellville, GA, 2018," archival pigment print on paper
"Deconstruction Site, Decatur, GA, 2025," archival pigment print on paper
"Deconstruction Site, Tucker, GA, 2020," archival pigment print on paper
"Deconstruction Site, Decatur, GA #1, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Deconstruction Site, Decatur, GA #2, 2024," archival pigment print on paper
"Construction Site, Social Circle, GA, 2023," archival pigment print on paper
"Reflection of Truist Building, Atlanta, GA X64," archival pigment print on paper
"Omni Hotel, Atlanta, GA X64," archival pigment print on paper
"Midtown Atlanta, GA X 64," archival pigment print on paper
"Downtown Atlanta, GA X36," archival pigment print on paper
"999 Peachtree Building, Atlanta, GA X9," archival pigment print on paper
"Georgia Pacific Building, Atlanta, GA X54," archival pigment print on paper
Peter Essick is a photographer, teacher and editor with 30 years of experience working with National Geographic Magazine. He specializes in nature and environmental themes. Named one of the 40 most influential nature photographers in the world by Outdoor Photography Magazine UK, Essick has been influenced by many noted American landscape photographers from Carleton Watkins to Robert Adams. His goal is to make photographs that move beyond documentation to reveal in careful compositions the human impact of development as well as the enduring power of the land.
Peter is the author of four books of his photographs, The Ansel Adams Wilderness, Our Beautiful, Fragile World, Fernbank Forest and Work in Progress. His photographs are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Booth Western Art Museum and many private collections.
Peter Essick's photographs are offered in the following unframed sizes:
15 by 22 inches, edition of 10, $800
24 by 36 inches, edition of 5, $1,400
40 by 60 inches, edition of 3, $2,800
Click HERE to purchase a copy of Peter's latest monograph
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