Why this local artist, photographer enjoys doing his work in Macon

When looking closely at the large-scaled artwork displayed at Macon businesses like the Thirsty Turtle or the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, one could spot a common denominator.

Digital artist and photographer Doug Nurnberger’s signature can be found at the bottom of his panoramic cityscapes which capture the intimate details of Macon culture and skylines.

His areas of expertise include 360-degree panoramas, environmental portraits, high dynamic range and drone photography that leave lasting impressions on viewers.

The Macon native said the city’s serene sunsets motivated him to become an aspiring professional photographer nearly 10 years ago. While his camera lenses still capture the stunning performances of Mother Nature, Nurnberger has expanded into focusing on Macon’s architecture, events and people.

Artistic inspiration isn’t hard to find when walking the streets of Macon, Nurnberger said.

“In Macon, everything is cool. You’ve just got so much to look at,” he said. “There’s trees and buildings. There’s people walking around. It’s just that busy city-life. There’s always someone playing music somewhere, whether it’s a street corner or cafe.”

In just seconds, something could catch his eye and prompt him to set up camera equipment and wait for the action to happen, he said.

Nurnberger said that he tries to be technical and correct with his photography, especially since cameras have the power to distort reality.

“The angle of a camera can change the whole shape of a building if you’re not careful,” he said. “I try to stay perfect. When you try to take a picture of something and show people, you don’t want it lopsided and out of shape.”

Certain camera set-ups are not proportionally correct and do not enable historical photographs of buildings to be taken, he added.

His patience and technicality has earned his candid shots recognition in several local media outlets, including 13WMAZ, 11th Hour and Macon Magazine. Some of his work has also been featured in Forbes and National Geographic magazines.

Nurnberger said his favorite pieces of work are his lightning shots, “because they’re hard to take first off, and you don’t know where the lightning’s going to be. After that, it’s just Mother Nature at work. Then, you have the cityscape underneath it all,” he said.

Occasionally, Nurnberger captures a specific landmark or structure that is significant to Macon history. The iconic coaling towers on 7th Street, which he described as a big, beautiful monster, are always fun to shoot, he said.

And of course, he can’t ignore the locals who contribute so much to the unique character of Macon, he said. Throughout his photography career, Nurnberger has also been the designated photographer for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and annual beauty pageants across Middle Georgia.

When covering local events or searching for subjects while taking long walks around the city, Nurnberger said he tries not to be overly voyeuristic—a term used to describe the practice of shooting images of people without their knowledge.

Nurnberger said through his digital documentation of Macon life, there’s only one way to describe the beloved city.

“Macon has its ups and downs. It’s imperfect, but within imperfection there’s beauty,” he said.

The next time you see a panorama of Macon hanging up, look for Nurnberger’s signature at the bottom.

This story was originally published April 10, 2024 at 11:54 AM.