Have You Tried Bluegrass Jam?

I love blackberry jam with peanut butter but, while you can't eat bluegrass jam, it's a load of fun. Before I got into photography I used to play a little bluegrass and even played in a local band. Eventually I decided I'm a better clicker than a picker so I've set my guitar aside to take pictures.

One of the things I liked about bluegrass was jammin' with other bluegrassers. There's a synergy that multiplies the fun when you're jammin' and it's an activity that pushes you and improves your skills.

In this article I'll be using some of my photographs to feature "Jammin on Main'" an annual bluegrass jam session on Main Street in the rural town of Etna in Northern California. You need to see this.

All photographs are mine.

Each year on the evening before the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival the public is invited to gather on Main Street in downtown Etna for a bluegrass jam session. People from far and wide come with their kids, dogs, instruments, and cameras to join in the fun. Not everyone plays an instrument but everyone is free to sing along or just watch and enjoy. As a photographer I find this event a target-rich environment and I love to photograph the people as they are watching or participating. It's a classic slice of Americana in a rustic setting.

Here's some bands that have played at the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival

Following are some of the photos I took of Jammin' on Main in July 2012. If you would like to see all of them, you can go to my website here. If you watch the gallery as a slideshow, you will see the images in full screen mode and hear some great original music written played sung and recorded by Dave Dalton, a very talented friend. To go directly to the slideshow, click here.

Photographs let you take your memories home with you.

This is a delightful lady with a great smile but she's pretty serious about her banjo picking. When she's playing her banjo she can get an intense expression on her face. Here's proof of her great smile from the previous year.

Here's some of my bluegrass related products on Zazzle.

If you jam, tell us what instrument you play and what kind of music you like best.

I have a fine art photography website where you can view my diverse photographic interests. I have a gallery dedicated to vintage vehicles and buildings, galleries for landscapes, waterfalls, birds, wildlife, painterly photography and a variety of other specialized subjects. Mount Shasta and various northern California scenes are prominent in many of my galleries. Most of the galleries have background music if you play them as a slideshow. This allows you to kick back and listen to the music as the images flow by. Whether you are looking for some interesting images or looking to purchase some photographic art, I think you will enjoy your visit to Chuck Nelson Photography.

I have applied many of my photographs and digital art to a wide variety of products such as mugs, mouse pads, T-shirts, cards, etc. If you are looking for a one-stop location for truly unique gifts, be sure to visit my Zazzle website.