"Turning Back The Pages of Time"

Every time I photograph at one of these old homesteads I can't help

but wonder about the lives that were led there. Thanks for the visit

friends.

This is very good.

 

How did you capture the sky like that; split ND filter, red filter, IR capture or what? I'm curious.

 

It's quite a remarkable capture, especially for this service.

 

(not rated, out of genre)

 

John (Crosley)

Please view larger if you have the time, it almost leaps off the page!

John, I'm flattered to see you here and I appreciate the comment, I consider you one of the master's of B&W. No filters or any special effects, this was a color capture that I converted to B&W in Elements 5, I didn't double process the RAW file either, I think I just got "lucky" and got good detail in the sky AND the subject of the old building and wonderful waving grass. I've been really working on my exposure's in camera and this one just "clicked", my editing skills are pretty rudimentary at best but I was pleased with this one.

And well pleased you should be with this one. As stated, it just leaps off the screen. Beautiful sky, great contrast. You got it just right here girl.

I agree with all of the above, Susan! This really is a superb black and white conversion; it is contrasty with good tones, and excellent details. A great composition is what makes it pop though. Great work, kiddo! Cheers! Chris

One of the reasons I suggested folks view larger is the unusual clouds, the top layer is "fanning" one direction and the clouds closer to the ground are flowing another, no tricks here either. I appreciate that you two appreciate my composition.....gracias.

I'm glad you said that you like to imagine the lives at these places. I know the feeling well. When I pass this kind of place I always wonder what the day was like when the last nail was driven or the last slosh of paint went on and the family began to go in and out. The Christmases, the bad weather days and nights, the times the family had life just the way they wanted it. It always surprises me that places come to this. It inspires me as much as it discourages me. Keep up the good work. These will go great in your book... Take care, ~Sky

A lot of these old places that I go to for my photography I know some of the history of the folks that were there originally and the families that currently own the land, but I don't know the stories of this one. I do know why a lot of them seem to be abandoned though, as some of the homesteaders starved out the places were bought up by the few that were making a go of it and most of the spreads went from small half section places to the big ranches they are today and often the old homestead places weren't needed or used as the more successful homesteaders usually already had a more substantial set of buildings so the old houses and barns were left to fall down. Interestingly though, there are a lot of homes in the area that are comprised of several old buildings that were hauled to the site and incorporated into a single building, I've lived in several that were constructed that way, one room might of been an old school, another could of been a small remote postal building, etc., and they all wind up under one roof looking like a house.

A wonderful shot. Bravo!

You can return in your mind's eye and see what actually was happening there. I have to imagine what I think was at these places, but that works pretty good for me. Tough to see some folks go bust though, others, not a problem.

You are a regular historian girl, your knowlegde must be preserved. I have every confidence in a fine book published with your name on it. ~Sky

Really beautiful, Susan. You didn't happen to take that about a week ago, did you.I was on the road for about ten days, and have never seen such spectacular skies, day after day. And all different. Thought that maybe the tropical storm off the East coast had affected the western weather flow. Just did a B&W of a storm I ran into. Thought it would be more dramatic than the colour one I uploaded. You certainly captured an excellent tonal range in this. Perfect mood for this subject material.

Excellent!.

Very nice Susan, both the in camera work and the conversion. I really like the motion in the clouds and the grass against the rock solid sharp structure. It's a good feeling when everything comes together just right, just wished it happened to me more. (:

 

regards,

 

jim

Great mood with the whispy clouds and the wind blowing the grass really strong BW image great mood!

I have walked around this particular structure at least four times looking for the view that would show the world what I was seeing. There is no doubt in my mind that you found the image that I did not see. It is better than great!

Fantastic Susan! The sky and the Field to the right just draws me in. A wonderful B/W image. Congrats. Andrea

Yep, I agree! A perfect sky, wonderful contrast...I love the almost white grasses on the right. I hope you printed this one out big! Which conversion setting did you use...one of the landscape ones?

Really nice shot Susan. The sky and grass area perfectly frame the poor sad ending to the structure. Nice b/w treatment. Very nice!

J

Hi Susan,

 

I'm glad I caught this one, I missed it when it went by in the critique line-up. This has a such a forlone atmosphere; an abandoned remnent of the past, beautifully photographed. I think everything has been said already, great composition, incredible sky, wonderful contrast. What can I add? I love it.

 

 

excellent composition and very fine b/w! compliments, i like it very much,

regards

carmen

I never get a good emotional 'hit' from these photos. Sky did make a partial reference.

We have a neighbor with a farm, not really large by Oregon standards, 450 acres. The couple that purchased the farm 50yrs ago raised their family (3 boys). Her husband died 2 years ago, she's 80 and the boy's don't want anything to do with the place but sell it. Now, how many folks are going to plop down a couple mil and then want to farm? The can't subdivide, zoning won't allow it. What's next for our neighbors 'life on the farm'?

Oh, great photo!

simple, well chosen, memorable

Congratulations on this one Susan. The sky really makes it. Kind regards, Neil

And an "ole" to you Joseph for the nice comment.

 

Someday Sky, I want to write a book about my time spent punchcing cows.

 

Actually Doug this image is from several months ago and I got lucky with the skies. I preferred your B&W rendering of your "storm shot" over the color.

 

thank you Teresa for taking the time to view and comment on my image.

 

We all get lucky sometimes Jim, althugh I have been paying more attention to that in camera histogram for better exposures.

 

Sometimes the wind is an aggravation for me PNF but with this shot it gave a nice "flow" to the image.

 

Shawn, this was from a previous visit of ours to that site and this image has been languishing in a long forgotten folder!

 

Thanks Andrea, all that waving grass was the appeal for me, the rest was "icing on the cake".

 

I think Kim, it was the "vivid landscape" setting and a little more contrast.

 

Someday Janis I'll go back and the old shed will have completely fallen.

 

Thanks Linda for adding your words and thoughts. I converted to B&W in hopes of giving this image that "forlorn" look you mentioned.

 

Thanks Carmen, B&W isn't my usual forte so I appreciate that it has been so well received.

 

I know what you mean Dave about folks "loosing the farm", out here we're seeing a lot of these BIG ranches being bought up by wealthy individuals and or corporations and a young family wanting to get into ranching can't compete with the big bucks.

 

Yup, wj, that's how I like 'em....KISS (Keep It Simple Susan)!

 

Thanks for the visit from "down-under" Neal, those dramatic clouds always help.