Do you see the beauty of 6 a.m. at a truckstop? This Nashville photographer does, and captures it for the public to see.

For Nashville Arts magazine, Stacey Irvin, an award-winning world and humanitarian photographer based in Nashville, chose a truckstop for an open assignment documenting the Music City in the early morning hours.

Her words introducing the piece, which you'll find at www.nashvillearts.com under "photography:"

"Nashville plays host to a diverse array of transient populations on a daily basis. Most of us share the road with truck drivers on the highways around town, but rarely do we have the chance to meet them and learn their stories. This early morning assignment inspired me to explore a place just minutes from my doorstep but miles from my daily experience: Travel Center of America on North 1st Street."

Through Irvin's words and photos, we get to meet Pippy the waitress, Anthony the third-shift cook, drivers at the restaurant counter, cheerful employees in the convenience store, Quintrell the mechanic, and driver Kit from Pennsylvania and her three chihuahuas: Turbo, Sassy, and Wizard.

Best of all, she wraps up the piece by noting, "This early morning introduction has inspired me to pursue the truck stop as a longer-term project." On her website she has even more photos from the shoot; look under "projects."

Other "Nashville 6 a.m." installments have focused on a variety of topics from various photographers. One from Robert McCurley features several trucks in early-morning deliveries.