Barns

Old Barn Near Brethren

My aunt and uncle and his family own this barn on Conrad Road. Ron Soberalski keeps his two large draft horses on their property. On this foggy morning, Ron’s horses were the perfect added ingredients that this scene needed.

The asparagus harvests are long past at Bob and Lori Green's farm on Monroe Road near Hart, Michigan. However, as an artist, I am much more attracted to the asparagus fields when they become overgrown, colorful bushes. F4 at 1/200, ISO 200, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

I pulled the truck off the road this morning on the way to go skiing at Crystal Mountain to photograph this majestic old barn and Christmas trees on US-31 between Scottville and Manistee. I love the layers in this picture. It has a distinct foreground, middle ground, and background.

M22 is always a beautiful drive no matter what time of year. On this gorgeous fall day, Rachel, Dustin, and I were on a shooting adventure. We couldn't resist stopping to photograph this iconic barn surrounded by brilliant fall color and stunning October clouds. Nikon D800. F22 at 1/40, ISO 100. 14-24mm lens at 14mm. On a tripod without a flash. October 27, 2016 at 1:20pm.

M22 is always a beautiful drive no matter what time of year. On this gorgeous fall day, Rachel, Dustin, and I were on a shooting adventure. We couldn't resist stopping to photograph this iconic barn surrounded by brilliant fall color and stunning October clouds.

Barn on South Custer Road

 

Barn Between Traverse City and Sleeping Bear

First thing this morning I am back to catch the early morning light hitting hay bales in Lavern Sobieralski's field at the corner of Victory Drive and Conrad Road. Just as I had pre-visualized, the hay bales stand out in the morning light along with Roger and Marcia Hansen's barns at the adjacent Cherry Hill Farm. F22.0 at 1/25, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 105 mm

En route from Fremont to Walkerville, Brad and I discover this old house that is slowly but surely returning to the earth. As aged and deteriorated as the structure is, it somehow retains a certain grace and dignity that appeals to both Brad and me.

It would appear that a huff and a puff might blow down this old barn southeast of Walkerville, Michigan. And yet I wonder how many years the wooden structure has leaned eastward without collapsing.

My son Brad and I teach that 90 percent of a good outdoor photograph is about the light and or atmosphere. Three videographers were with me on a late January early evening that could best be described as gray on the emotional scale. They probably wondered why I was stopping along this country road with it getting so dark. However, I instantly saw, looking at Cherry Hill Farm, that the soft snowfall was creating a painterly, Christmas-card atmosphere that I could previsualize much brighter. A longer exposure would do just that but I needed the snowflakes to remain relatively distinct. Adding to my challenge, I wanted as much of the scene sharp as possible. The solution was to raise my ISO (digital sensor sensitivity speed) to a fast 3200, which allowed me to shoot at a relatively fast shutter speed (1/100th second) and still maintain a medium depth of field (f9). All I had to do now was slap down the tripod, mount the camera and trip the shutter. I have studied and photographed our Conrad Road neighbors’ farm for years. This image is one of my wintertime favorites

A large farm near the border of Mason and Oceana Counties looks like the skyline view of Chicago over Lake Michigan. I can’t stop my truck quick enough to make this image.

I like to call it the "Marne Barn" because I am always on the lookout for it when I pass by it on I-96 west of Marne. The Mart Egan & Sons barn is one of the prettiest, best kept barns in Michigan. On this snowy day I felt compelled to get off the freeway at Marne and find my way there to photograph it.

 

I love it when a picture comes together. I have passed this beautifully cared for old barn many times while traveling M22 on Old Mission Peninsula. Today, at the peak of blossom time, it stands out like never before.

My great grandma, Martha Delite Shoup Benson, grew up in this house on Hansen Road in eastern Mason County. The house is still in pretty good shape, but the barn has seen better days. I wish I could travel back in time and have my great-grandma and her siblings give me a tour of the homestead in all of its glory.

Wednesday December

Country Strong