Finally, a small break from politics. The shots in this post were taken to complete my roll of film that I just shot at the protest on the grounds of the state Capitol in Nashville. You can see the protest pictures here. I captured these street moments on my trek from the Capitol Building back to my car. It may sound strange, but I breathed a sigh of relief when I took off my documentary hat and put on my street photography hat. It’s like the feeling I get when I travel abroad. I love visiting other countries, but I am always ready to get back home. This is true even when I travel to our close neighbors Canada and Mexico. There’s just no place like home. Maybe it’s the tension in these current political events that keeps me on edge. I’m not a fan of confrontation and I do not like being in intense settings for very long. This is not a complaint. I love bringing these political events to my viewers through my photos. Those frozen moments will help those coming behind me understand the history that define us as a people and a nation. I guess you could say it was a relief to relax and take in a normal setting of people going about their regular everyday lives. I shot these remaining 7 frames over the 2 mile trek back to my car.
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
The gentleman below approached me and started talking about his day. He had just left work at The Crab Shack as indicated by his shirt. He showed me his time clock receipt and complained that he was not getting enough hours. He then proceeded to tell me that he used to be in the music industry. He said the infamous Suge Knight stole some of his song ideas. I’m not sure if I believe his story, but anything is possible. It is definitely possible that the character of a Suge Knight is capable of doing such a thing. What happened to me next was a first. He starting talking about his street hustle. What he had to offer wasn’t a red rose or some Music City souvenir, it was a love ballad. There I was on one of the busiest streets of Nashville getting serenaded by another man. I have to admit, he sounded pretty good. I was impressed. If I had some cash, I would have gave him a few dollars. After he finished, I wished him luck and I continued to my car.
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
Nashville would not be Nashville without the street performer and his guitar. These guys are all over downtown, but you will mainly find them on Broadway and 2nd Avenue. I’ve shot quite a few of these performers over the years, so I generally pass them up unless they are offering me something different. The performer I captured this time was in the process of tuning his guitar.
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
One of the main attractions of downtown is the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. It provides a nice view of the city and the Cumberland River. Depending on the day and the time of day, it could be packed with people or it could be completely empty with the occasional jogger or cyclist passing by. I often come across the homeless sleeping in the overlook areas on the bridge in the early morning hours. Every now and then, there are events that take place on the bridge. It’s also a very popular place for engagement and wedding pictures. As I crossed the bridge this time, it was not packed, but there was a steady flow of people coming and going. Some were taking selfies against the skyline while others were enjoying some relaxation while taking in the view. If you want to see a picture of the bridge, take a look at my Foggy Start blog post. One of my favorite Nashville skyline pictures with the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge in the foreground is the last picture in the post. It was shot on Ilford HP5 Plus 400.
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee – Olympus OM1 / 50mm f1.8 / Kodak TRI-X 400 / The FINDlab
While I am waiting on my Spirit of America Rally and the Nashville Trump Rally pictures to be processed, I may extend this reprieve from politics with a post of some digital images I’ve been waiting to publish. Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed this break from the tension of politics as much as I have. While it is important to keep a watchful eye on those who govern, I believe it is just as important to tend to the things that make us happy. This may or may not include politics. Thanks for reading!
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2 Responses
Nice photos.
Thank you!!