So, picture this: I'm driving down the outskirts of town, minding my own business, when I spot an abandoned country gas station. My first thought? "Oh man, that place is perfect for some epic shots!" So I began my journey to find the owner and get permission to shoot on the property. I snapped a phone pic and posted to a local Facebook group asking for an owner contact. The response was incredible. There were so many comments about the store and it's history and how much it was loved and how nice the owner was.
The gas station had long been out of use, with rusted pumps and faded signs marking the spot where cars once lined up for fuel. But despite the decay and neglect, there was a certain beauty to the space that I knew would make for some stunning images.
I called up my go to model, Delaney, and we set out on an adventure to see what we could create. When we arrived at the country store, we were immediately struck by its rustic charm. The weathered words painted on the building spoke of a simpler time. I got my camera set up and we got to work, posing in different spots around the store.
We had a blast playing with the vintage props, the rusty gas pumps and pretending to be a hitchhiker from the 70's. As I snapped away, I couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like in the store's heyday. We pictured locals coming in to buy groceries and catch up on the latest gossip, all while enjoying the friendly atmosphere of the store. We laughed and joked around, trying to capture the essence of the old store in our photos. We even got a few curious looks from passersby, who were probably wondering what on earth we were doing taking pictures in the middle of nowhere.
But that's the thing about exploring new places - you never know what kind of adventures you'll find. We may not have uncovered any hidden treasures, but we did find a big slice of nostalgia that made for some seriously cool photos.
As I packed up my gear and headed back to the car, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to capture the spirit of an old country store in our photos. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you stumble upon by chance.
