Four weeks ago I shared an Image, the first iPhone image, actually, of a macro composition of cracked paint and rust on an old farm implement at the Tom Brown farm in the Beech Glen Township of Madison County, North Carolina. This morning I thought I would be a bit more realistic and share a wide-angle view from the same wonderful old farm. It, truly, is one of our favorite workshop locations. Barns are on my mind because all weekend Bonnie and I have had the pleasure of attending the 42nd Annual Appalachian Studies Conference at UNC-Asheville. It has been a wonderful experience being with so many folks who seriously study and share the natural and cultural history – past and present – of these mountains we call home. We look forward to our fall barn workshops with new eyes. What is it that allows, or encourages, you to find connection in your world?
A focal length of 27mm, toward the upper end of wideangle-land, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted so as to include the abandonded implement and both of the barns with the road to connect them. An aperture of f/20 provided depth-of-field and an ISO of 200 allowed me to set a shutter speed of 0.6 second to achieve a medium exposure, and along with a bit of patience to freeze the very slight breeze wafting through the trees.
I think of Tom Brown and his farm this morning with a renewed sense of connection and respect for the farmers of these wonderful old mountains
This is my new favorite barn image! It reminds me of where Mom grew up in Illinois. There are no hills on Grandad’s farm, but the house and barn bring back memories. The c-shape road is very welcoming. It looks like morning light. You must have arrived in time to hear the roosters crow. Thanks for capturing a little bit of history one barn at a time and sharing.
Don, nice idea returning to a subject and backing out from a close-up abstraction to the broader setting. Love the composition here. The bend of the implement’s seatpost, the fallen tree on the close barn, the crazy-quilt of plane of that barn sort of propelling the eye to upper R, the road (naturally), and its green swaths. All conspiring to focus us on the space beyond with its intact structure and small clearing. Delightful. I would wish for a tad bit more interest (color or texture?) in the far barn’s roof, but since it’s catching all the light, that might not be possible. Anyway, that’s a quibble. It’s a strong image, a balanced image, and within that balance it contains a lot of energy and movement. Sort of what we might wish for in life, eh? Lots of energy and movement (or growth) while remaining balanced. Thanks for a nice reflection and image. And, I need to make it to one of those ASC events one year! Have a good week. Ray
Amazing composition.the clarity and details are do precise from foreground to the further distant barn.i enjoy your ability to capture the true essence of whatever scene you are photographing.
Love the composition. It does tell a story.
I was excited to see your subject this week. I have been wanting to do a local barn study, but still need more experience to get it right. Looking at your photo and others on line I see that yours and others that work (working meaning elicit an Ahhh from me) are not just about he barn the the barn in it’s native habitat and often with interest outside of it, like the rusted equipment reinforcing the sense of time passing, an interesting sky, or strong landscape. Looks like your barn workshop would be just what I need.
Love the barns! Every time I attend a barn workshop with you, the barns seem to speak to me as I enter them. Love the composition of 3 items (plow/ban/barn). Especially like how the road takes us up to the final barn. Thanks for sharing.
Don, I love this photo. Perhaps you can’t see me, but I’m right there on the road with you. Thanks for inviting me.
Good evening Everyone. Thank you all very much for joining me for this conversation. What a treat it is to have you with me. It is interesting that some of you are regular contributors and some of you are very infrequent with your comments.
I truly hesitate to even attempt to draw any conclusions based on the composition of this group about what folks are attracted to in an image and what may motivate them to offer a comment. I’ll have to leave it to minds much keener than mine to suggest meaning. I would point out that the previous three offerings were all macro/long telephoto images with lots of warm tonalities, whereas the instant image is a wide-angle composition with a plethora of cool and earth tones. Who can say?
Anyway, hey Nancy T. I really enjoyed talking with you this week. We do need to figure out a way to spend some time with you in 2019, so we’ll keep thinking about it. You know, I think that barns may actually represent an archetype for us, so that the particular nuances of shape and construction are not so important as the simple fact that it’s recognizable as a barn.. When it is, it evokes all of our recollections of our own experiences. I agree, the road was an integral part of this composition, and I was glad I took the time to work with how best to introduce it; and you are spot on: it was fairly early morning when we arrived. I’m afraid that Tom Brown’s roosters were sent to other farms many years ago, but the memory lingers with the barns.
Hey Ray. It’s always good to have your thoughtful comments. One of the real joys of being with these wonderful old structures is having the time and the desire to allow as much of all of it to speak to you/me as possible, and in that regard to be open and present to all the we may hear: the rusting implement, the wide view of the landscape, an intimate scene from somewhere up the road near the far barn. Your words not only describe for us the interplay of elements within this scene, but they suggest other scenes here that we might seek out and explore as creative locations in their own right. You’ve suggested a nice idea with regard to the far barn. It is, of course, an early tin component, circa 1910, dulled by many years of exposure; and in this instance the angle of the early light did not offer much help with illuminating texture or color. What I wouldn’t do for a wonderful split oak shingle roof here. I’d love to meet up with you at an ASC gathering; it would be a lot of fun.
Hey Charles. As always, your kind and thoughtful words are much appreciated. One of the secrets, as I see it, is to be present to the story being told before you, whatever that might be; and to then seek to reveal the story through your use of the elements that are present. Hope that idea is helpful.
Howdy Dave. We’re looking forward to seeing you and Carol this coming week. Glad this Image resonated with you.
Hey Linda. I really appreciate your thoughtful comments, and I’m very glad to be able to offer you some ideas on how to approach your own adventure with barns. I know from years of visiting with Judy and Bill that the Pioneer Valley has a rich farming tradition and that it is full of wonderful New England barns. Bonnie and I would love for you to come to the Southern Appalachians to share our access to these barns with you. I think you would have a lot of fun.
Hey Kev. Bonnie and I have really enjoyed sharing our love of these great structures with you and Elizabeth. When they begin talking to you, you know you have been accepted; and that acceptance leads to connection. And from connection come a world of creative imagery. Be well, my friend.
Hi Michelle. It is great to hear from you. I hope all is well in the Sunshine State. You are always more than welcome to come along on any of our adventures; and even if I don’e see you, I’ll know you are there. Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks, again, Everyone, for such a wonderful and thoughtful collection of comments. To be drawn to and responsive to the world of warm tones is a pleasure to be sure; but to also be present to an ancillary world where the lines and shapes and forms and patterns and textures of that world speak just as forcefully is to see connection with a broad field of the visual world. Such a connection is the realm of art.