somewhere in Tennessee...

Pulled off the road into a field to take this one. It was somewhere outside of McMinnville, Tennessee...

Brent Cunningham...

So sometimes I immediately know I want to take a photo, but I know it's not the right time. I passed Brent several times while walking around Nashville, but to be honest the lighting was just terrible. It was overcast and he had on a hat. I could just see the photo turning out with a dark shadow where his eyes were suppose to be. Knowing that, he just had something about him that made me want to stop and talk for a bit and ask for a photo. He was a street performer playing the guitar, so I knew that this photo was going to cost me. Even more of a reason to make sure that I got the shot. After stopping to talk with him, I realized that the photo became less important. What a soft-spoken neat guy to be able to talk with. I didn't realize until after I got home, but he has been playing the streets of Nashville for some time. Here is a video from 2008. When I finished talking and asked to take a photo, the sun started peeking through the clouds and he tilted his head back to let the sun in under his hat. I took the photo, said my goodbyes and went on my way. Got about two blocks down and realized that I was so caught up in the conversation and taking the photo that I forgot to even ask him his name. I turned around and went back. He saw me coming and just smiled. I guess he knew what I was about to ask. When I asked his name, he said "after you took the photo, I was wondering why you didn't ask what my name was". After all this, I am so glad I got to meet Brent. This is now one of my all-time favorite street photos...

Phil...

Met Phil today while I was in downtown Nashville for a couple of hours. Amazing how things work. I was a little bummed that the Johnny Cash museum didn't open until after I was leaving downtown, so I just ended up walking around. If the museum would have been open, I would have never met Phil. He stopped me because he saw me with a Leica around my neck and a Polaroid camera in my hand. He thought that I was "some kind of professional photographer". I laughed and explained to him that I was just a random guy that liked to walk the streets in cities that I visit looking for things to photograph. After talking for a bit, I asked him if he wanted a photo. I took two instant photos and gave him one. I sure hope his turned out as good as mine...