PHOTOGRAPHING OLD BARNS

For me, it's not just about photographing old barns, the physical object. Anyone can do that with their mobile devices. Without the additional factors of light, lighting, and weather, the objects themselves, old barns, have character. Physically, I like the way some lean a bit, have gaps between the boards, and have lost their coats of paint. They also beg questions: When was it built? Did the rancher or farmer build it himself, with a little help from his friends? Does it represent second, third, or fourth generation ownership? What was their lifestyle like? 

You add weather conditions or time of day to all the above, and I capture something more than a "barn." I pick up soothing feelings, a sense of peace, and even mystery. A note of artistic caution, here: an attempt to get the "correct exposure" will take away all that, and you end up with a picture of  a barn. 

Composition is crucial. I will look for anything to add to the barn, if it's there, to keep it from looking stagnant. Doing so gives me more eye flow, that is, something more to see and appreciate. Including other elements improves the composition and adds interest as well. 

With that, let me share some images from my collection. 

Everything about this barn got my attention. I loved all the stuff they had added to the facade throughout the years. I loved that old small tractor in the foreground surrounded by tall grasses. I also noticed the flag. There was a good breeze that day, so I carefully waited for the breeze to change the direction of the flag to the way it is seen in this image. I also wanted to see part of the side of the barn to add some depth, some dimension. 

This old guy had been abandoned for so long, nature had taken over and practically reclaimed it. The addition of all those haystacks added to the story. At first glance, I was concerned about the shadows in the foreground but then decided they too added to the image. The tall pole shadow introduced a nice leading line to the composition. The clouds didn't hurt either--lucky me! 

I found this cool barn in Kansas, on my way to Colorado. There wasn't much color in the scene, so I converted it to a black and white image. It gave it more impact. This barn was surrounded by other interesting elements, which added to the composition. 

 

Here is another old barn where nature was reclaiming its territory. Don't mess with mother nature.

This old barn, built in 1935, is different in that it wasn't out in the country. It was right where it had been constructed originally. The city, Boulder, Colorado, had grown around it.  

This is a very famous barn among photographers. If you ever go there, early in the morning, you will be surrounded by 15-20 photographers. This barn is one of three barns still standing along "Mormon Row," to the east of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Early morning light is a must for this great barn. You can see the Grand Tetons in the background. 

This barn had it all. In addition to the American flag, look for the huge cross leaning against the barn on the right side. Without those two elements, it would have been just a picture of a barn.

For this last example, not only was it early morning, but it was a calming foggy morning. When I am trying to convey a mood or feelings, I do not aim for clarity, detail, sharpness, or a "correct" exposure. There is no such thing as the correct exposure. There is only the right exposure, and we as photographers decide what that right exposure is. 

I encourage you to go out for a drive, or drives, out on those country or gravel roads. Vary your timing--early morning, late afternoon, or even at night. Maybe you will luck out and see heavy fog.

You could even go out after sunset and find an old barn to do some "light painting" on, like this image. For this creation, during a three-minute exposure, I "painted" in up and down motions, painting from left to right, then spending a few seconds around where a light on the barn used to be. You will need a tripod, set your camera to the BULB setting, and use a remote shutter release or cable release.

Have fun!