trike While It's Hot: Living History at Tannehill Historic State Park

There is one rule in the blacksmith's shop — strike while it's hot. Hesitate, and the moment is gone.

At the historic blacksmith shop in Tannehill Historic State Park in McCalla, Alabama, that ancient rhythm is still very much alive. Tongs grip a piece of iron pulled fresh from the forge, its tip glowing a fierce, brilliant red — the only color in an otherwise dark, monochromatic world. A hammer is mid-swing, the craftsman's hands and body leaning into the work with the practiced confidence of someone who has done this a thousand times before. The massive iron anvil anchors the scene, worn smooth by generations of exactly this kind of work.

Shot in selective black and white with the glowing metal left in full color, "Strike While It's Hot" captures both the drama and the intimacy of one of America's oldest crafts — still practiced, still relevant, still alive in the hills of Jefferson County, Alabama. Tannehill Historic State Park preserves this living history, and this image preserves a single perfect moment within it.

Bring the fire, craft, and living history of Alabama's ironworking heritage home with this museum-quality fine art photography print by Bama Price — available as metal, canvas, or glossy paper.