Geoffrey Greene, Atlanta

Background: Greene is a real estate agent whose former business partner is Uri Vaknin, owner of Vaknin Gallery, who got him started collecting photography. "He gave me my first piece ever," says Greene, who collects mostly landscapes, especially urban scenes. Photographs hang throughout his Midtown condo. "Most photos tell a story about what's going on right then," he said. "Painting takes time, but a photo is immediate. I like that."

Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com/Staff Photographer (ENLARGE)

Atlanta real estate agent Geoffrey Greene enjoys the vibrant colors in 'City of Hope,' a photograph by Harriet Leibowitz.

Favorite piece: "City of Hope" by Atlanta photographer Harriet Leibowitz. He bought the 18-inch-by-20-inch digital print for about $1,500 two years ago when the artist had a show at Vaknin Gallery. The photo, of a run-down old factory and empty parking lot, was taken somewhere in south Atlanta, he says.

Why he likes it: Greene likes the way the bright colors and blue sky bring life to the picture. "It's a pretty desolate scene," he said. "If the photo were in black and white, you would have a completely different feeling about it. In color, there's energy and vitality. It's a contrast with what you should think about a boarded-up factory or warehouse."

My Favorite Piece is a way to let Atlantans talk about the best-loved works in their collections. If you have a suggestion, email Kirsten Tagami at ktagami@ajc.com.

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