But let’s be honest, what street photographers do is inherently a little creepy. We take pictures of random people on the street without their permission. It’s weird.
But at the same time, it’s beautiful. It’s art. It’s IRL storytelling.
As a street photographer myself, I’ve taken thousands of photos over the years.
Here are the 3 easy ways street photographers can avoid looking like creepers.
1) Keep Your At Your Until Your Subject Walks Past You.
If you snap a picture of someone and then immediately drop your camera, it’s obvious that you just took a picture.
And you’ll look like a creep.
Instead, after you snap the picture, keep your camera at your eye until your subject walks far out of frame. This’ll make it look like you were taking a picture of something in the background.
It works like a charm.
2) Appear Extremely Interested Or Concerned With Something Behind Your Subject.
This one requires a bit of acting.
It you forget Rule #1 and drop your camera before your subject leaves frame, you have two options. You can either…
a) Run away like a bat outta hell – you’ve been caught after all , or
b) Pretend like something in your subjects background has your full attention.
Option B is better.
Scrunch up your face and look at something beyond your subject. This’ll fool their creeper detector.
3) Never Ever Make Eye Contact.
The second you make eye contact with one of your subjects, you’ve broken the fourth wall. The gig is up. They’re forced to acknowledge your presence.
They’re also forced to acknowledge your creepiness.
So don’t make eye contact. Pretend like your subjects are the Basilisk in Harry Potter – one look will kill ya!
Truth is, we shouldn’t care what strangers think of us. But we do anyways.
So do yourself a favor and follow these 3 tips to avoid looking like a giant creeper on the streets!
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It was a perfect time to take on the Nashville streets.
Take a look...
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
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Not enough to go sledding, BUT enough to find some local winter wonderlands...
So that's exactly what I did.
ENJOY!
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
PS. You can purchase prints of any pictures you see directly from this site!! Just click on the picture you want! It's as easy as that!
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I arrived around 3:30PM and was lucky enough to catch a few magical moments moments before dusk.
Take a look!
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
PS. You can purchase prints of any pictures you see directly from this site!! Just click on the picture you want! It's as easy as that!
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A full scale replica of the Parthenon sits in the center. A lake sits on the backside of the park. Walkways and greenery exist throughout.
An amazing place to chill if the weather is right.
I stopped by and snapped a few photos.
ENJOY!
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
PS. You can purchase prints of any pictures you see directly from this site!! Just click on the picture you want! It's as easy as that!
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Order the print!
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See for yourself...
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any pictures you see directly from this site!! Just click on the picture you want! It's as easy as that!
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I love searching for art in the ordinary. I love looking for interesting compositions, interesting people, interesting scenes.
I rarely have a destination when I go on these journeys.
I just walk and walk and walk until I find some inspiration.
Last Monday, I found quite a bit.
Take a look...
Available as an NFT
Available as an NFT!
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any pictures you see directly from this site!! Just click on the picture you want! It's as easy as that!
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On Black Friday, while the rest of the world was either shopping or trapped in an unrelenting food coma, I decided to walk the streets of Nashville in hopes of capturing some money shots!
I started my adventure near the state capitol and then just wandered - letting my feet take me wherever they wanted.
My creative juices were flowin so I think I snapped some great shots!
Let me know what y'all think!
Enjoy!
Available as an NFT!
Available as an NFT!
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any picture you see on my site!! Just click on the picture you want and follow the prompts!
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I whipped out my camera. Slapped on my portrait lens. And started shooting.
Enjoy...
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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We first visited Monticello - the home of Thomas Jefferson.
As a gigantic history nerd and Hamilton fan, I was PUMPED about this stop.
Here are some of my favorite shots...
The next stop was the University of Virginia campus. We were a bit on a time crunch so our tour mainly consisted of the Rotunda. This is probably the most famous building on campus since it was designed by Jefferson himself.
Check it out...
That's all I got!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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^ Available as an NFT!
^ Available as an NFT!
^ Available as an NFT!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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PS. You can purchase this prints on my site!! Just click on the picture and follow the prompts! I recommend the 10 x 30 Canvas Print for this piece!
This piece is also available as an NFT!
Here's a few more!!
^Available as an NFT!
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Some Black and White action as well!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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All the photographs in this post have been minted as NFTs on the blockchain!!
What are NFTs, you ask??? Check out this article for a basic overview!
The NFT link is underneath each photo.
I hope you enjoy.
Link to NFT
Link to NFT
Link to NFT
Link to NFT
Link to NFT
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Don't kid yourself - you know you love a good, cheesy pun!
Anyways...
The olympics were on this summer, in case you didn't know.
(what a natural transition, I know)
As I was flipping through channels, I saw Olympic Speed Walking. It got me thinkin...
What is the most obscure olympic sport?
After a bit of research I discovered there's actually a locomotive olympics!!!
Can you believe that? Crazy.
In fact, it's highly competitive. I hear you have to TRAIN really really hard for it...
😂😂😂
Okay. Okay. Okay. That was the last one.
Back to bizness.
I wanted to take advantage of the sunset last night so I took my camera for stroll through West Nashville.
My favorite spot is the area around the train tracks and giant mural.
Although I've been there a million times, I've never actually seen a train.
But this time? You guessed it. A BIG OL' TRAIN parked directly in front of the mural!
I couldn't have asked for a better scene.
The train wasn't moving but it was extremely loud.
I wasn't technically sure if I was allowed to roam around the tracks while a running train was there. But whatever - I did it anyways.
For the art, man. For the art!
Plus, I figured the train driver was already asleep.
Now why would a train driver go to sleep so early?
Great question.
Because a train driver's day starts early: he has to get up at the TRACK of dawn!
OKAY!!!! That's the last one - I promise.
Time to give the people what they want...
Check out my glorious shots!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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The old factory buildings and train tracks make this area PERFECT for photoshoots.
I've added this spot to my repertoire, so let's breakdown my photoshoot with Actor, Stephen Castaneda.
Some full body shots to get the party started...
I call these establishing shots.
Why?
Because they establish the scene. It grounds your subject in the location and sets a general vibe for the rest of the shoot.
Starting wide also gives your models time to get comfortable. You want everyone loose and relaxed before moving in for close ups.
Moving in closer...
MONEY.
Prop Time!
I brought a couple props to this photoshoot.
The first was a folding chair.
Take a look...
The chair wasn't anything special to look at so I did my best to minimize it's screen time.
With that said, I still wanted a few full body shots - the background was just too damn good.
I also snagged a detail shot of Stephen's boot.
These type of shots can really add a splash of artistic flare to a shoot.
I love me a good detail shot.
Time for the film slate.
This is my favorite prop to use.
It's fun. It's colorful. It's great for portraits.
Stephen's an actor so the slate not only looked cool but it also spoke to his character...
Vibe change!
I decided to change up the shoot a bit.
We moved to the other side of the tracks where it was more shaded.
Stephen changed his shirt and put on a swaggy hat.
We continued on, repeating the same process as before.
Read em and weep...
I
Time for some artsy shots!
Y'all know I love me some black and whites...
That's a wrap!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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I learned so much about the Battle of Franklin during my visit to the Carter House Museum.
The battle was such a pivotal and violent event during the Civil War.
5 hours of fighting.
9,500 casualties - 2,000 dead, 6,500 wounded, and 1,000 missing.
The confederates took the ground BUT the battle was overall a United States victory.
The Union Army's success continued at the Battle of Nashville, two weeks later.
This one-two punch, at Franklin then Nashville, was a decisive blow to the confederates.
5 months later, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse, effectively ending the Civil War.
The Tour
The Carter House tour was incredible.
Here's a couple moments that stuck out.
The first happened inside the Farm Office...
The building is littered with HUNDREDS of bullet holes.
The horrific violence of the battle hit me smack dab in the face when I stepped inside and saw the bright sunshine shining through the individual holes.
The second moment was towards the end of the tour.
Our guide explained that most people think of the Civil War as an ancient conflict that occurred many many many years in the past. But in reality, the Civil War wasn't THAT long ago.
He gave an example that really landed...
During the battle, In that basement of the Carter House was the father of someone STILL alive today.
I'll say it again for the people in the back...
Someone's FATHER was there during the Battle of Franklin.
This fact blew my mind. It's wild to think that we are only a few generations removed from this war.
I highly recommend visiting this site. The Battle of Franklin Trust does an amazing job maintaining the property and the walking tours provide a wealth of information about not only the Battle of Nashville but also the Civil War period in general.
What a great experience. I also snagged a few photographs along the way...
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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Are you a little uneasy about booking a photoshoot?
It's okay if the answer is yes. Most people are. And for good reason - they've never done it before.
I mean sure, you've seen Zoolander. We've all seen Zoolander. But aside from watching Derek Zoolander perform the iconic "blue steel" pose, you don't have any real 'modeling' experience.
But guess what? You don't need any.
Regardless, the thought of paying someone money to take pictures of yourself still may seem...a little weird.
Let's pull back the curtain and break down one of my portrait sessions.
Why? Because knowing what to expect will make you feel a whole lot more comfortable.
And once you're comfortable, you can turn your anxiety into excitement and book a session.
You won't regret it.
The results will make your ex hella jealous - it's science.
LOCATION
This session was at the Percy Warner Park Stairs in Nashville, TN.
I absolutely LOVE shooting here. The stone steps and natural backdrop make for BEAUTIFUL portraits.
Here's a little taste of the visuals...
WARDROBE
Sunset shoots are my favorite - you get the MONEY light. But timing is critical.
We can typically make two or three outfits work, no problem. Just know the more wardrobe changes, the less time we have for shooting. Daylight burns with every wardrobe change. Time is critical on sunset shoots!
We technically had one fit for the Percy Warner shoot, but we turned it into two by taking off the client's blazer.
LET'S GET INTO THE THICK OF IT
My model, Brad, met me at 6:45PM.
The sun was setting and we only had an hour of solid daylight.
We chatted for a bit, got pumped for the session, and then started shooting.
WIDE SHOTS
I like to start my sessions with wide shots.
They establish the location with gorgeous scenic shots and also allow you to warm up your chops and get comfortable in front of the camera.
What do I mean by warm up?
Well, you see less detail in wide shots and therefore can afford some slips in performance.
AKA if your poses and facial expressions aren't on point yet, the shots will still look good.
We can work out all the nervous jitters from the jump.
SIDE NOTE - Film Directors do this as well. They shoot their wide coverage first and then move in for close ups once the actors are performing at a high level.
For this shoot, I started off with wide shots of Brad walking up the stone steps...
After nailing the wide shots, it was time to move in close. I switched to my 85mm prime lens and scoped out the location. I noticed a small grouping of steps off to the side of the primary stairs...it was perfect.
Once there, I noticed the windy stone steps in the background. AND I WAS FEELIN IT. So I posed Brad up against a stone wall and grabbed a few more full body shots...
Bullseye.
Okay, so now it was time to move in closer. For real this time.
These three are technically mid shots but I felt confident with what we captured, so we moved up the stairs a bit towards the center.
I asked Brad to pop on his blazer so we could get a different look. I made sure to get a couple full body shots with the blazer...
Those last two were just for fun but they turned out GREAT! Brad was clearly getting comfortable in front of the camera so we moved in closer.
MEDIUM AND CLOSE SHOTS
Posing is often extremely awkward.
What do you do with your face? With your hands? Your Feet? Your Shoulders?
Fear not. I will work with you until we get those MONEY poses and expressions.
Brad was a natural so I gave him a few GO-TO poses and let him run with it...
TIME TO GET ARTSY
A photoshoot isn't a photoshoot without some artsy, editorial type photos.
I noticed a stone ledge that was perfect for Brad's enormous frame (he's 6 foot eight BTW). My hope was that he could lean over it for some sexy, artsy type vibes.
I asked him to take off his jacket to better fit the mood I was going for...
I posed Brad up and let 'er rip!
TIME TO PLAY
We were feeling a little silly after the sultry type shots so we decided to end the session with a little fun...
THAT'S A WRAP!
It's as easy as that.
We show up.
We talk through the shoot.
We start wide.
We move around.
We ease into medium and close shots.
We change up the wardrobe (if you want).
Then we call it a day!!
Until next time...
STAY CREATIVE MY FRIENDS!
Interested in Booking a Shoot? Click the "BOOK A SESSION" button in the bottom right hand corner of your browser!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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The sky was cloudy. The weather was humid. The spiders were EVERYWHERE (I'll get to that later).
But most importantly, the sun was going down - FAST. We had 30 minutes until sunset.
AND SO IT BEGINS...
It was roughly 7:30pm when we pulled into the Visitor Center Parking Lot at Radnor Lake State Park.
There wasn't a soul in sight - just me, my camera, my girlfriend, and about 50 million spiders - I wish I was joking.
Now - to be clear, we never technically SAW any spiders .
BUT we walked through roughly 12 million spiderwebs on the way to the waterfront.
It was what nightmares are made of.
But we carried on, nevertheless.
TIME FOR THE PHOTO OP
We arrived at the PERFECT TIME. The clouds had just opened up and the light was dancing off the lake. Take a look...
This was our peak light, for sure. And It went away quickly.
The atmosphere turned dark and moody after that.
But here's the thing, I WAS HERE FOR IT...
NOTHINGS WRONG WITH FEELING A LITTLE EMO
We decided to call it a day. It was getting dark and I felt content with what I'd captured.
BUT before we journeyed back, we were joined by a friend...
"COME ON IN, THE OTTER'S FINE"
Maybe?
I'm not really sure what it is to be honest.
But an otter-like animal took a little swim by our feet.
We didn't bother her. She didn't bother us. A mutual bond was struck.
A tender moment.
We waved goodbye to our friend and headed back to the car.
MARTINI SHOT
We thought we were finished. We really did.
But seconds before reaching the end of the walking path, a baby bit of light peaked through the clouds.
This was the last light of the day, so I scrambled for the perfect spot.
I found it! Just in time too.
The tree limbs framed the lake and surrounding hills PERFECTLY.
I lined up the shot and hit the shutter...
Oh baby!! That's it. That's the one. The money shot!!
The shot that made the spider infested voyage worth it.
And just like that - another adventure in the books.
Until next time...
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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LET'S DO THIS
My subject here was Erica Boozer - an Actor most known for playing Rachel in the horror film, "Pledge" which is currently streaming on Hulu.
We shot at Percy Warner Park - one of my favorite spots in Nashville. The stone steps provide for a gorgeous backdrop for wide shots and the trees/forestry give off soft green backdrop for close ups.
My goal here was to catch a vibe and tell a story through wide, mid, close, and detail shots.
I had a general idea of standing poses I wanted to incorporate but really wanted to give Erica complete freedom to do her thang. This wasn't her first rodeo - she's an actor after all.
LET'S KICK THINGS OFF WITH SOME FULL BODY SHOTS
I wanted to warm things up from a distance before moving in for those more intimate close ups.
I stayed with my 85mm lens and used spot metering for my exposure because I wanted ALL of the focus on my subject.
I went through a few poses with Erica and then we went to town.
I I LOVED what we were getting - so early in the shoot too!
I was satisfied with the head on shots so I swung over to the wing. I wanted to see if an angle change could spice things up. Boy was I right...
These winged full body shots are probably my favorite wides from the shoot.
TIME TO PLAY MIDFIELD...
We nailed our full body shots so before long, we moved in for some mids.
We were both REALLY feeling this pose. I didn't want to miss the full vibe so I stepped back and scooped up a quick full body shot before moving on.
Nailed it!
TIME FOR HER CLOSE UP
This framing is typically my favorite because I can truly capture the emotion in my subject's faces.
I was especially looking forward to shooting these with Erica because I knew she was an actor. AKA I knew she'd deliver some magic in front of the lens! And she didn't disappoint...
BRAVO!!
NOT EVERYTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE (but these most definitely are)
As I was working through post production, I noticed that several close up shots looked amazing in black and white.
The lack of color added to the moody, dramatic scene.
Take a peek...
The pop of drama the black and white gives us is MONEY. I love it.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS...
No photoshoot is complete without at least one detail shot...
BOOM. It's clean. It's seductive. It ties together the whole shoot.
THAT'S A WRAP!
I was thrilled with what we captured. In a little under an hours time we captured a variety of poses, expressions, and vibes.
I was happy. Erica was happy. All was right in the world.
Until next time...
Want some portrait content? Email [email protected] for rates.
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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19th Century Nashville was known for its insane amount of brothels and taverns. In my tour guide days I used to joke around with my guests and tell them that if they saw an original 19th century building anywhere between 1st through 5th Ave, there's a 90% chance it was once a brothel.
FUN FACT - prostitution was actually legal in Nashville during the Civil War. I'm being completely serious. Look it up.
Anyways, that party tradition has continued on into the 20th and 21st centuries. And after a brief hiatus during the pandemic, locals and tourists (but mainly tourists if I'm being honest) are ready to party on Broadway once again.
With all of that said, I took a little Sunday stroll around Downtown Nashville and the party brigade was out in full force. IT WAS PACKED.
A packed anything isn't necessarily my cup-a-tea (unless it's a burrito of course) but I decided to do a little photo journaling regardless. Take a walk with me...
PRINTERS ALLEY
I parked on 3rd Ave so naturally started my adventure in Printer's Alley. Surprisingly this area wasn't really 'Lit' as the kids say. I mean there were people coming in and out of bars but it wasn't crazy.
PORTRAIT TIME
Since there weren't many people around and I felt like the light was moody, I decided to snap a few portraits of my beautiful girlfriend / adventure partner. Read em and weep...
ARTSY STUFF
I noticed some pretty cool potential compositions as we were leaving Printers Alley so I framed up a few buildings and let-er-rip. Just a heads up though, these are a bit artsy.
THE RIVERFRONT
Movin on up outta Printers Alley, we headed to the legendary Nashville Riverfront. This spot is full of photo ops. Downtown Nashville runs right into the Cumberland River. Just a hop, skip, and jump across the river leads you to the Titan's Football Stadium. GO SPORTS!
The stadium and river make for some primetime photo subjects...
I was super pumped when I saw the green boat chugging on down the River because I thought it might add a bit of juice to the foreground of my photo. I think I was right. ;)
SIDE NOTE - typically when I'm down here I see TONS of homeless people sprawled out on the lawn but not so much today. I was surprised to only see a few.
2nd AVE DAMAGE
For those who may not know, a bomb went off on 2nd Ave at 6:30AM on Christmas Morning last year. The blast caused irreparable damage to several historic buildings on the street. Most of this area is still, 7 months after the event, fenced off to the public. It's upsetting to see because I used to give ghost tours in and around all of the damaged buildings and now I can't even gain access to the sidewalk.
I decided to approach the buildings from the back (via 1st Ave). Here's what I saw...
The damage isn't as apparent on this side but you get the gist. Hopefully these historic buildings can be saved. It'd be wonderful to see 2nd Ave restored to its former glory.
BROADWAY TIME
After thoroughly exploring the Riverfront, it was time to head into the belly of the best. AKA BROADWAY.
And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Never does. Unless you're looking for cheap drinks. In that case, it disappoints EVERY TIME.
Anyways, I hadn't even made it past 1st ave before running into several party buses. More emphasis on party and less emphasis on bus. You'll see what I mean...
Hell of a start to the party if you ask me!! But up Broadway we go.
BROADWAY TIME (FOR REAL THIS TIME)
My only goal here was to snag a photo of Merchants Restaurant. Aside from the building's aesthetic, which is beautiful, it used to be a.....yup you guessed it...BROTHEL! It was also a pharmacy for a number of years and at one point was a speakeasy owned by Al Capone.
I made it up to Merchants but couldn't get a clear shot due to traffic. The damn party buses kept photobombing my shot!!
Actually, come to think of it, the party bus above may be the same one from earlier. LOL. That man driving is certainly tearin up the town!
After a few more failed attempts at a car free photo, I decided to frame the street outta the shot and call it a day.
Success!!! That's basically the photo I wanted - Basically. I guess I'll just have to come back at dawn if I want a picture without any cars in the foreground.
But the day wasn't yet finished with my journey!
I snapped a few classic tourist shots of the signs on Broadway. So vibrant!
I also snagged this uber patriotic photo of an American Flag flying off the side of a building...
Merica!! I loved that I could frame it up against the white sky.
CLOSING TIME
After making it up to 7th Ave or so I decided to leave the craziness and head back home. I was only downtown for about an hour but all the hoopla exhausted me.
All in all, it was a successful walk through Downtown Nashville - AKA Music City/Brothel City/ Party Bus City.
I'll leave you with a photo of the iconic Batman building.
See you next time!!
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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Our protagonist, let's call him Jason, is a boat owner. He's rented a boat slip at a new Marina known for its beautiful sunrise views.
Jason's been dying to catch a glimpse of these legendary views.
Here's the rub...
Jason's a night owl.
For him, getting up early in the morning is like running a marathon wearing a sweatsuit, in Florida, in the middle of July - AKA it effing sucks.
But Jason's had enough. Too many people have asked him if he's seen the sunrise yet. It's time to take the plunge.
He sets 12 alarms and vows to get his butt up and see this damn sunrise.
And so begins our photo journey...
THE DRIVE
FINDING THE PERFECT SPOT...
NEARLY OUT OF TIME...
THE MOMENT HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR...
BLISS
In the end, Jason saw his sunrise.
Was the juice worth the squeeze?
You tell me!
THE END
PS. You can purchase prints of any and all pictures you see on my site!! Just click on the pictures you want and follow the prompts!
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BUT I had a problem. I was quickly running out of time.
I misjudged the distance of my walk and found myself in an awkward half walk, have run situation trying to chase the sun.
THE APPROACH!
I did my best to frame up a couple of wide shots as I was en route. Here's a few...
Notice the color of the building. It appears white in these photos. The bright tungsten spotlights underneath the building hadn't yet turned on and the sunlight was still neatly diffused behind the clouds.
THE ASCENT UP THE MOUNTAIN!
Unfortunately for my legs, the capitol sits on a gigantic hill. The quickest way to get up the hill is to hike up the mountain face. The slower but way less exhausting method is to use the steps off to the side. Considering I had just come from HOT YOGA, the capitol hill was beginning to resemble Mount Kilimanjaro IMO. Therefore, I took the path of least resistance - AKA the stairs. It ended up being the best choice creatively because I was able to snag this shot...
.
There it is! The yellow brick road to my destination. You can really see the golden light peaking out from the clouds and illuminating the capitol building on top of the hill. I was anxious to get up there - taking two steps at a time.
VICTORY!
After an exhausting climb, I finally made it. Just in time too! I circled the building and took a variety of Wide, Mid, and Close Up shots. Here a few of the wide shots...
The Sun had just about set when I took these. The golden light of the sun mixed with the tungsten spotlights coming from down below almost turned the building into a orangish/redish color. I did some minor color corrections but nothing crazy. I love how the building pops against that soft sky in the background. Once I nailed the wide, I moved in for more detailed shots. Take a gander...
Being a history nerd myself, I've always appreciated historic buildings. Construction on this one started in 1845 but it wasn't finished until 1859. FUN FACT - the architect, William Strickland, died before the building was complete. Since he considered this building his crown jewel, he was actually buried on the north facade of the Capitol. I've heard rumors that this building might be haunted. Maybe I'll go back late at night and try to catch some orbs - who knows!!
WRAPPING THINGS UP
My adventure chasing the sun up to the Tennessee State Capitol was a success. I got the close detailed shots I was hoping for and also got in a baby workout climbing those steps!! Until next time...stay creative!