Spring has sprung…
Warm air (filled with pollen, of course) has filled me up and caused me to grab a familiar old friend and get out again.
Last weekend we went north in search of a place to inspire new work. And we found it. Along route 16 heading towards Conway, NH, we passed this wonderful old New England barn.
We pulled over and I hopped out. There was a for sale sign on the property so I didn’t feel badly about tromping on somebody’s place unwanted. Still, I wanted to remain respectful and just capture the image and leave this place as I found it.
This barn was gorgeous. Weathered, somewhat beaten but still standing tall and proud. Most of the windows were broken out and a side board here and there had fallen off it’s antique nails. At the mid day sun, streaks of light glimmered through to illuminate the treasure inside.
Snapping a few shots as I ventured inside (a back door was open, I swear I was not breaking in) I realized this barn held someone’s life memories. Old bottles, horse harnesses, feeding troughs, tools… you name it, it was there as it had been left probably years ago. Old books were stacked in a corner. I found newspapers from the 1920’s on one tables in the back corner. (no kidding). One headline read “Man-O-War wins 2nd race”. I was standing inside a living time capsule.
I was there to capture images, not barn raid. Everything was left as it was found.
I spent a few minutes just taking in what was in front of me. Years of hard work; years of untold history; years of family memories were right in front of me.
Armed with a fish eye lens, I decided to take a different look at this barn and capture it for it’s lines, and strength rather than it’s content.
This little stop on the side of the road opened my eyes again. I’m looking forward to warm spring nights where I can again experiment with night light and star trails.
I’ve found my inspiration again.