Oops! It appears that you have disabled your Javascript. In order for you to see this page as it is meant to appear, we ask that you please re-enable your Javascript!

Category: Abstract

Graffiti Walk

tbatton

I’ll be the first to tell you that graffiti is a form of vandalism. There is no excuse for painting messages or artwork on property that doesn’t belong to you, unless you have permission. However, I do admire the talent. We all have seen the commissioned murals around the city. Their artistry is amazing! I’m in awe of the talent that it takes to create such artwork. I’m also in awe of the illegal artwork that you find on boxcars and various urban landscapes. I’ve even seen graffiti on barns in rural settings.  I got a text message with a

Continue readingGraffiti Walk

Fleeting Snow in Black & White

tbatton

“Omaha!” That’s me calling an audible a la Peyton Manning when I saw the snow Friday morning on my way to work. I took a vacation day and captured some snow covered landscapes. I knew this could quite possibly be the only snowfall I see in my neck of the woods in 2020. Now that I’ve said that, it will come a blizzard in April. That’s Tennessee weather for you. Anyway, I knew this snowfall would last only hours, so I had to act fast. I drove out to some of my favorite sites along the Natchez Trace Parkway and

Continue readingFleeting Snow in Black & White

Shutter Therapy in Motor Alley

tbatton

Every now and then I get the urge to go out and shoot something. During these times, I don’t have anything particular in mind. I just need to feed the craving of creating something through the viewfinder. Depending on the time of day or night, I will seek out interesting light or subjects. Some of my subjects are things I’ve shot in the past, like the images in this post. The Motor Alley building got a make over recently, so it became my target for my late night shutter therapy. This session would have been quicker, but it was extremely

Continue readingShutter Therapy in Motor Alley

Cowan’s 55th Annual Christmas Parade

tbatton

I believe the last time I attended the Cowan Christmas Parade, I was marching in it playing my trombone as a member of the Franklin County High School Marching Band. That means the young men and women marching in the 55th Cowan Christmas Parade were not even a thought in this world at the time. I know I just dated myself, but I had to give the readers some perspective.  If my memory serves me right, my very first participation in the Cowan Christmas Parade was as a member of the South Trojan Middle School Marching Band. Since leaving Cowan,

Continue readingCowan’s 55th Annual Christmas Parade

Black Friday on the Black Top

tbatton

I was thankful to have another wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. We’ve had another blessed year. I’m also thankful for some free time to indulge in my favorite past time, street photography. I’ve never been one to participate in the Black Friday frenzy, but we definitely take advantage of the sales. This is usually through online purchases. In fact, on my way to my favorite street photography theater, Nashville, I stopped at an electronics store to pick up a new lens I ordered online the night before. I was dreading the crowd, but I managed to get in and out

Continue readingBlack Friday on the Black Top

Night of Lights!

tbatton

Another year is about to come to a close as I find myself at the 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event on the square in Columbia, Tennessee. It seems like yesterday that I was preparing to shoot the first 40 foot tree lighting festivities. Where has the time gone? Now that the city of Columbia has lit the tree, the Christmas season has officially started! Those who follow me know I like telling stories with my images. I believe the best way to do that is to create a body of work. In a body of work, there are 4

Continue readingNight of Lights!

Hot Air Halloween 2

tbatton

Last year Spring Hill, Tennessee held their first Hot Air Balloon Festival, and it was also the first balloon festival I’ve ever attended. I left that event hoping that it would become another Maury County tradition. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to see the announcement for the second annual Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival.  Things were looking bleak regarding the weather as the festival date was approaching. When the organizers realized that mother nature was going to ‘rain on the parade,’ they postpone the event for the following day. That was a good move as the rain

Continue readingHot Air Halloween 2

Random Musings in Centerville

tbatton

I visited one of my favorite train trestles the other day. I did not have any particular shot in mind. It was one of those days where I just wanted to be out exploring with my camera. Every time I come here, I always take a shot of the train trestle from the bridge that crosses the Duck River. It can be a bit dangerous getting this shot as the shoulder of the bridge is narrow. Most drivers are courteous enough to move over a little when they see me, but some don’t even slow down let alone move over.

Continue readingRandom Musings in Centerville

A Nice Place to be Buried

tbatton

Historical accounts tell the story of General Patrick Cleburne riding by St. John’s Episcopal Church days before the Battle of Franklin in 1864 and saying to one of his aides, “This is such a beautiful church that it would almost be worth dying so one could be buried here.” I would have to agree, but I’m going to try to stay above ground as long as possible. This is such a peaceful place. I’ve visited this church many times over the years. I love coming here with my wife, the amateur historian. She is a walking and talking encyclopedia of

Continue readingA Nice Place to be Buried

Columbia First Fridays – October 4th, 2019

tbatton

Coincidentally, the last time I shot a First Fridays event was exactly 2 years ago in October. I shot the 2017 event on Kodak Portra 800 color film during the day and shot my DSLR at night. You can read about that day and see those pictures here. With some free time and perfect weather, I decided to take a stroll downtown to check out the festivities of the 2019 October First Fridays event in Columbia. This event has grown by leaps and bounds. More food, more music, more people and that good ole southern hospitality makes this event a

Continue readingColumbia First Fridays – October 4th, 2019

25mm Walkabout

tbatton

Have you ever heard of the KISS principle? Keep It Simple Stupid! As an engineer on my day job, I put this principle to use daily. I’ve found this principle works great for photography as well. In my estimation, keeping things simple in photography means one camera, one lens and no tripod. To take it one step further, the one lens is a prime lens. Less kit equates to more freedom. You are free from quibbling about gear. What lens? What camera? Do I need by tripod? You are free to trek further with less bulk and weight. Minimal gear

Continue reading25mm Walkabout

Whoosah!

tbatton

I’ve mentioned on many occasions how photography is a form of therapy for me. Picking up the camera and peering through the viewfinder is a great way to unwind. The key to this therapy is slowing down and observing. We pass by uninteresting things every day, but there is an element of beauty in the mundane. It wasn’t until I picked up the camera, that I learned to “see.” After a rough day at the office, I needed some unwinding. I typically shoot outdoors much later into the evening for better lighting, but sometimes  you just have to shoot when

Continue readingWhoosah!

%d bloggers like this: