In Adorama’s Series Picture America, we get to spend time with creators from all over the country. They tell us the stories of their city, which, in the end, are stories of us all. Here we will feature the work of Tony Shepherd a Nashville Photographer who captures the small details that only a local might notice.
Check out Tony Shepherd’s episode and leave a comment about your experience in their city. But before you do that, scroll on down this page and dig deep into the feast that is the work of Tony Shepherd. As creators, we know that our work speaks for itself, but I asked Tony to share a few thoughts on each of the images presented in the gallery below.
Look at the image, read the words of Tony Shepherd, then look deeper into the image. What can we truly see when we take the time to look?
About the image above, Tony says, “This is the center line of a Nashville street, but I framed it low to give it an endless feeling—like the city is always pulling you forward.”
SLR Lounge shares its thoughts on Picture America here.
Selected Works by Tony Shepard
“One of the first photos I took after moving to Nashville. It reminds me that tension isn’t always bad—it often anchors us.”
“The curves felt like a conversation. Nashville has a rhythm to it, even when no one is around.”
“I saw this cup and thought—someone paused here. Even the smallest, most forgettable things carry a trace of story.”
“Not every image needs a face to suggest presence. This scooter felt like a stand-in for the hustle that surrounds it.”
“I angled up on purpose—sometimes the only way to make sense of your path is to look up.”
“Shot through a diner window after a downpour. The rain made the city blurry, but the emotion stayed sharp.”
“There’s a tension in Nashville between heritage and progress. This moment felt like it belonged to both.”
“Shot from a bridge on a foggy morning—this image feels like Nashville holding its breath before the city wakes up.”
“This is my dog, but it’s also a portrait of stillness. Some days, this is exactly how the city feels—soft, quiet, unbothered.”
“Old paint, pitted chrome, and grit. The kind of texture you can only earn over time.”
“Lower Broadway in the early morning—a place that’s loud by night but strangely reverent when the streets are empty.”
“The branches pulled me in, but it’s the blurred tower in the back that reminds me—Nashville’s always growing upward, even when we don’t notice.”
“This crushed can isn’t just trash—it’s a reminder that everything, even the discarded, has a shape worth seeing.”
And the Story Continues
Learn more about Tony Shepard and Nashville through Picture America and Tony’s Instagram @pixbyshep
All images Copyright Tony Shepard
