The Early Bird Gets The Worm

Sleepy Town – Main Street Franklin, Tennessee – Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm f2.8, Shot at f16, 1/4s on Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by The Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

When I have the time, I like to get up before sunrise and head out to a destination with the hopes of capturing a good shot. Morning hours as well as late evening hours usually harness the best natural light. I like the peacefulness and calm of the early morning. Sometimes it pays off to get up early. I believe I got some keepers this time.

I have taken numerous photos of the Franklin area including the iconic Main Street, but the picture I captured that morning is my personal favorite. It was a cool, misty and partly cloudy morning right at sunrise. I had walked the length of Main Street when I turned around and saw the scene pictured above. Majority of the time I have 3 cameras on me. Two 35mm cameras and a Medium Format camera. Each loaded with different film. I chose the perspective of the Medium Format camera and 80mm lens. It suited the scene I wanted to capture best and it was loaded with black & white film. After setting up my tripod and deciding how I would meter the scene, I had to wait a couple of minutes for some early risers to past through. It always seems just when you are ready to shoot the shot, someone or something happens to delay you momentarily. Anyway when things cleared, I got my shot. The dimly lit street portrayed by the black & white treatment works great together to create a sleepy mood. I really like the dark tones and the details captured. I am going to mount this one on the wall.

My next stop that morning was another iconic Franklin scene, the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. Of all my shots of this bridge I have taken over the years, the shot below is my favorite. Ironically my favorite shot does not show the famous arches which support the bridge. Another plus for being out early is that you have time to setup in the middle of the road without worrying about traffic. On this bridge at that time of the morning, most of the traffic are runners and cyclist anyway. This was actually a handheld shot so I metered the scene safely from the side of the road and then took my position to capture the shot. Once again I chose my Medium Format camera and black and white film. I love how the road vanishes at the end. There is an element of mystery. Hence the title, “The Unknown”. This one is going on the wall, too!

The Unknown – Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge – Franklin, Tennessee – Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm, Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by The Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

Below is a shot showing the arches. I took this one a while back. This shot was also taken on my Medium format camera. I like this shot as well. It is the cliché shot of this bridge, but I believe the film treatment gives it a different vibe, a vibe I like very much.

Rural Arches – Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge – Franklin, Tennessee – Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm, f8, 1/30s, Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by The Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

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