I just love, love, love today’s image. When you follow the maxim “Follow what you know” in the arts (writing, photography, etc.), then you’re sure to get some desired results. I love trains, trees, stars, and just about anything that starts with ‘e’ (heh!) to just give a quick list. And, I also gravitate more toward shooting landscapes vs. people. I’ve been trying to be more well-rounded and trying some people shots and some soft “street photography.” But, yesterday, I was looking at some established photographers and remembered one contemporary photographer I had studied briefly in an art class. So I looked her up and discovered that one of her main bodies of work was landscapes – some very powerful images of landscapes. So I’m not going to sweat it if I don’t get a lot of people shots and such.

I decided to get out and shoot some landscapes and find some areas that resonate beyond just a “pretty scene” since I want a cohesive photo essay. So I asked Smaug, “Do you want to go for a ride?” And since I taught him the word, ride, on the Saturday Ride Around, he looked up and went “MEOW, meee-oww.” (He did, really. He’s a smart kitty.) A few months ago on the way to Nashville, I noticed a lot of spots on the Natchez Trace that I would like to photograph. I decided today I’d go back and try to find those spots and get some landscape shots.

I was actually looking for a certain bridge that crosses the Trace, but I ran out of time, and right before I turned around to start back for home, I noticed these trees over on one side of the road. Shooting started off a little disastrously when a bee started chasing me (I hate bugs, especially stinging bugs), and I thought I was going to end up with some blurry shots of the pavement while I ran back up the road, away from the car, and back toward home (leaving my sister and the cat sitting there). Anyway, once the bee went away, I grappled with the harsh sunlight – I’m definitely going to have to buy a ND filter if I keep sleeping in and getting out in direct sunlight to shoot.

I like to imagine not only did pioneer Southerners and armies of the Civil War use the Trace but also pioneering gnomes and leprechauns. Note the boarded up inn in Ella Isabella’s trunk. And how do I know her name? Well, most of the time when you introduce yourself to another sentient being, they will reply back with their name and a salutatory greeting, if they’re polite. If they don’t, then you probably shouldn’t be talking to them anyway.

When I started back to the car, Smaug became very alert and stared behind me as if to say, “Hahaha! I see a better composition that you didn’t photograph.”