Country Roads

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

As I am in the throes of hibernation I have taken some time to reflect on the past few days, weeks, months, and even years. I have gained some insight, have a new perspective, and really drilled down on what is truly important to me.

Unlike a huge majority of people, I hibernate in the summer and ‘come out of my cave’ in the fall, winter, and early spring. I hate the heat (well my body does), I can’t stand ticks, midges or mosquitos. I also feel the topography for how I shoot pictures is lacking this time of year. Finally, with my mate Mark out west, I have no real desire to pick up my camera much less get out in the heat.

I am using YouTube, 500Px, Instagram, and podcasts to fill my time, educate me on photography, and keep me inspired during this hibernation. One thing I have done is again review my personal catalog of pictures which is intern drumming up memories and those experiences I had when capturing those photographs. One such image (above) caused me to pause and reflect a bit longer. Here is what I remember and love about this picture.

First the technical aspect of the picture. It was taken December 21, 2019, at 10:18 am. Was taken with my newly acquired Fujifilm XPro-3 and my manual Yashica 50mm lens. Camera settings Classic Negative Film Simulation, F/2, 1/4000sec, ISO 8000 at 50mm. Location 38°16’14.0″N 86°32’25.1″W.

Mark and I had just hiked Hemlock Cliffs trail, on a cool winter morning and we were heading back down a gravel road (County Road 13) when I asked Mark to stop and pull over. The green cedar tree and orange/brown tall grass on one side and orange leaves on the other side of the road caught my eye. Combined with the gravel road and the mystery of the hill, I felt I needed to capture this. I did. More importantly, this photograph brings me peace. At the time Mark and I were alone in the area. There were a few trucks pulled off the side of this road with hunters nearby, but we didn’t see or hear them. When I lined up my shot all I heard was the low hum of Mark’s Jeep and a slight breeze blowing through the trees.

As a young child, I remember days going to family farms (relatives), or to the lake and driving down similar country roads. Many times in the back of pickup trucks (yes I survived). I also drank from water hoses but that is another story. I guess this moment took me back to those country roads. The smells, the sounds, the feeling, the spirit of the woods. I added some grain to the picture to match the memories in my mind (not as clear as things once were), and the muted colors were also reminiscing of many of those fading memories. But for a fleeting moment, I was back in my childhood and I was semi-able to capture a photographic memory of that time, for me, and now you.

This photo, like the gravel country road, is a similar image many can see on countless back roads throughout America and other parts of the world. For me, it was a moment taken in 1/4000 of a second, but the day hike, the memory it conjured up, the company of a dear friend, the escape my mind had for a few hours (and revisited now) and the feeling I had will stay with me as long as my memory holds up and I have this photograph. It is not one I have printed, but reflecting back, it will be ordered soon.

I will leave you with a John Denver song lyric that aptly sums up what this photograph and moment truly means to me “Country roads, take me home. To the place, I belong.” Now you have that song stuck in your head, huh?

Until next time,

Tim