Real Country Music

This is totally not the photo I was going to post today, but I was working on this shot last night for the fun of it, and just got so into it that I wanted to get it out there!  I guess it’s my sign addiction rearing it’s ugly head again.  This isn’t a magnificent photo in any sense of the word, but something about it just got to me - so here it is.  I took this while wandering around Broadway Avenue in downtown Nashville, TN.  If there were ever a street dedicated to REAL COUNTRY MUSIC, then Broadway would be it.  It must be heaven for some people.  I’m a rocker myself, but when I get the camera in hand, it’s hard not appreciate all this!

This is a single exposure that I ran through HDR Efex Pro and made it pop a little, then into Color Efex Pro for a Tonal Contrast Filter, and some final adjustments in Aperture around saturation and some selective sharpening.  Good fun messing with shots like this!

Have a great weekend and thanks for all the visits and comments this week, I sincerely appreciate them!

On the Shelby Street Bridge

The Shelby Street Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville, TN.  It's a cool bridge, and I'm a big fan of bridges.  I was out there during sunset, and you get a marvelous view of the skyline from up there.  In fact, I have posted one previously but have plenty more to process from that trip.  In this shot, I was looking back directly at the sun, and just wanted a shot of the bridge itself, which is hard to do when you are standing on it.  Next time maybe I can get a full shot of the bridge from down below.  

Hatch Show Print

There are some great signs along Broadway in downtown Nashville, TN.  I am a fan of signs, as I said in my post yesterday, and thought I would follow up that post with another one.  Why not right?  This is the sign that hangs outside of the store by the same name - Hatch Show Print.  Hatch Show Print is a Nashville institution and one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America.  They are well known and easily recognized for their concert posters that they have done for years - way back to Johnny Cash and before him.  It's a great little shop and so after getting several shots from outside, I went inside for a closer look.  The people there are as nice as can be, and let me walk around and take whatever pictures I wanted - which was quite a few!  If you are ever in Nashville, be sure and stop by - oh, and bring your camera!

Betty Boots

Nashville is a nice little town, and the main drag down along the river is Broadway, home to many country music establishments and western wear stores.  I'm not into either one, but I am a big fan of bright neon signs so I cruised along the drag for a bit and snapped away happily.  Although I was not in a western shirt or boots, I was mostly ignored except by the panhandlers, so it was all good!  This place caught my eye and after some time in the "lab" I thought I would share it, hope you enjoy it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Nashville skyline

Nashville is a nice town, and it has a lot of similarities to Austin in my opinion.  Both are music cities, have great skylines, sit next to a river and have a "comfy feel" to them.  I was in Nashville last week for 1 night and was able to get out with my trusty Nikon for a little while after hours.  I knew I wanted to get this shot, as I took a similar one about 2 years ago but never posted it.  I walked around their downtown for a bit, taking lots of "street shots" and capturing some of those amazing signs they have outside all their country music places.  Then as sunset got near I made my way up onto the Shelby Pedestrian Bridge which gives you this wonderful view of the town.  I took a lot of shots from up here, at various angles and light conditions.  In other words, I have several more shots of the Nashville skyline to show you one day!  Thanks for stopping by!