Three out of four isn’t bad, right?
We all have our favorite places and this is one of mine. I pass this old barn almost every day and its elegant, simple utilitarian architecture calls to me. Recently, I photographed the barn in the early Spring and realized that I now have images of it in three of the four seasons. Summer is absent because the barn is almost totally obscured by the trees, vegetation and crops growing around it.
All of these photographs were made from the roadside because I have not been able to get permission to approach the barn. It is an active farm and the very nice family that owns it has graciously denied my requests to walk across their field get closer.
Old Barn In Fall by Richard Lewis 2013
Blue Hour by Richard Lewis 2014
Late Fall in Burlington by Richard Lewis 2015
Winter Textures by Richard Lewis 2013
An Old Barn In Spring by Richard Lewis 2016
In spite of only being able to photograph it from the side of the road, this old ramshackle barn offers several very nice compositions thanks to a 70-200mm telephoto lens. Even if I can’t get any closer for now, being able to show the barn in almost every season from similar vantage points creates a nice set of images. I hope you agree.
Enjoy
I think taking pictures of the barn from some distance is probably better in this case. It shows how well the barn integrates with its surroundings and with the changing weather throughout the year. The resulting photos are superb.
Thanks so much for your comment and your thoughts on this particular project. I greatly appreciate it.
I think you should do it in summer anyway
You know Derrick, I think I will give it a shot this year. Stay tuned. Summer is a few months away.
I am well familiar with this wee barn and you have certainly done it justice. I couldn’t help smiling at how you brought it to life in various ways. I particularly like the low angle, given that you probably had to cling to the edge of the road! A really lovely set.
Thank you Season. I always appreciate your comments. As you know, this wee barn is on the side of a big road and there is usually a lot of traffic going by. It kind of makes it a challenge to capture the serene nature of this place.
WONDERFUL post! I love having favorite places I can go back to. As a collection these become even stronger as they tell a more complete story. Keep it going… maybe get closer in the summer? That is a picturesque barn and your photos bring out its character and beauty. I’ve stood in that field once or twice myself!
Thank you Denise. I’ve been starting to figure where this barn will peak through the overgrowth in the summer. Getting closer will be contingent on getting permission to cross the farmer’s field. So far I’ve been politely turned down. My 400mm lens may be the solution to this challenge. Stay tuned. Summer is not too far away.
WOW,you are one talented man. I have tried to photograph this barn many times but was never happy with the outcome. You nailed it.
Thanks. I do appreciate your compliment. Keep trying, you will get it.
Maybe you should ask the owners of the barn if they would like to purchase one or all of these images. ( : They are lovely. I will be looking forward to the summertime theme.
I’ve actually given them a couple of prints. You would think that this would sweeten the deal right? I haven’t given up yet.
Love the set, all of them. And I agree that shooting from a distance to include the trees and context is just fine. Is this on 541 just south of the turnpike? Or am I remembering a striking scene of a lone tree in the middle of a field. Anyway, this brings to mind the adage, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission”. Also, next year try for one in the earliest spring, when the trees are just budding out.
Thanks Terry. You are correct about the location. There was a beautiful old tree in the middle of one of the fields but it was knocked down several years during one of the hurricanes. I sometimes try the “ask forgiveness” approach, but between No Trespassing signs and the fact that this is an active farm, it probably would have done more harm than good. I will keep shooting this scene and asking permission too. This place is just to nice.
Something about old structures, especially old barns, that draw us photographers. Maybe the mystery of its history, the aging contrast of textures, or the uniqueness of the structure. It’s a shame these are becoming increasingly difficult to find and access. But when we can, what a joy to photograph.
Thanks for your comment Craig. I am very attracted to these old barns. There is something so special about their simple, utilitarian architecture that is so charming. I wonder how long this old barn will be around. The area is being developed and this is one of the few active farms left.
This is a nice series. As with most photographers in this area I’ve often admired this barn but you had the initiative to do something about out. I especially like Fall but I’m also taken with Winter Textures. Driving snow? Rain?
Thanks Ralph. It’s not too hard for me to photograph this barn as I drive by it a lot. The Winter Textures was a snow storm that had just started.