Commuting with Open Eyes (and Ready Camera)

 Tractor in Barn.

For most of the 33 years Louise and I lived on our little farm in Northwest Georgia's McLemore Cove, one or both of us worked in Chattanooga. It was 25 miles to my downtown studio, and about 30 miles for Louise when she worked at the mental health facility. Most people would consider that a long commute, but I always enjoyed it. Louise, maybe not quite as much, but she loved living where we lived.

I made the trip six days a week, most weeks, for thirteen years. After closing my studio in 2000, I still had clients in Chattanooga, so I made the trip frequently, but not everyday.

It was enjoyable for me because there were interesting things to see and photograph in all seasons of the year. As I drove north, Lookout Mountain was on my left. As I drove south toward home, I could watch the sun set in the west over the mountain. I made many of my favorite photos on this commute.

These three photographs were made along Georgia Highway 193 in Walker County. The barn with a tractor peeking out (probably a classic Ford 8N) was in the little community of High Point, about halfway to Chattanooga. The Demented (Crazy) Spider was in that stretch of highway also. Clearing Storm over Lookout Mountain was made just south of Flintstone. It is one of my top five all-time favorite photos:

Crazy Spider,

Clearing storm over Lookout Mountain.

All these photographs were made on Fujichrome 100 film. For the Tractor in Barn and Clearing Storm I used a Canon EOS A2, as best I remember. I do remember that I used the great Canon EF 80-200 f2.8L lens (often called "the Magic Drainpipe") for Clearing Storm. My best guess is that I photographed the Crazy Spider with an Olympus OM2n, but I don't remember the lens. 

Visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Photography and text copyright 2025 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography    travel photography     barns     Canon EOS A2 camera     Canon 80-2000 f2.8L lens      Fujichrome 100D film    film photography     "Magic Drainpipe"    north Georgia     Walker County, Georgia     Olympus OM2n camera     Ford 8N tractor