"Slow Recycling": Only about four miles from home I pass this site on some of my weekly "slow" (secondary -tertiary-roads-with-camera) 35-50 mile routes to town for shopping. This...

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Only about four miles from home I pass this site on some of my weekly "slow" (secondary -tertiary-roads-with-camera) 35-50 mile routes to town for shopping. This abandoned shed is in a second-growth, partly harvested woodlot. The associated and likewise abandoned, disintegrating farmhouse is deeper among trees. Been watching its slow return to the original intent of Nature's God for a number of years. First, the security light and pole disappeared, then the power poles from the road and the sagging wires were gone and the ridge pole had snapped under the burden delivered by a terrible, wet, April blizzard. Nothing to my eye conspired to urge documentation until the subsequent winter's first snow when I made a special trip to check it out. "Snow! And a red thing amidst the white!" ... I recalled my father's call to concerted photographic action from the mid 1940s.
And here 'tiz. Three subsequent years have seen a further slow progression toward horizontality but of the many images, this one seems to sum up the inevitability of it all.
C&C please.

Dave in SD

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Definitely more evocative than the usual dilapidated building shot. The broken ridge-pole seems to symbolise giving up the struggle to stay erect.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

You have caught this building in its most interesting state of sagging before ultimate collapse. Even the trees above it seem to be leaning in, partially caught by the pull of gravity. The color scheme, the composition, the highlights on the roof, everything about this photo rings true for me. I like it better than any other "collapsing barn" photo I have ever taken, or seen. The winter theme adds to the feeling that the building is going to collapse very soon. This one should be enlarged and framed!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

R.G. wrote:

Definitely more evocative than the usual dilapidated building shot. The broken ridge-pole seems to symbolise giving up the struggle to stay erect.

Thanks, RG,
You and H.T. perceived my exact intent!

Dave

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Heirloom Tomato wrote:

You have caught this building in its most interest... (show quote)

Thank you, H.T.,
you caught my intents spot on.
Matted and framed? Indeed it is.

Dave

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Uuglypher wrote:

Only about four miles from home I pass this site o... (show quote)

Any processing? Maybe some sharpening?

I don't want to side-track from this specific image... but I would go back with the idea of shooting this for a monochrome conversion. Since it's close to you, I would wait for a brilliant blue sky (an ideally a breeze-less day) and re-shoot with a tripod and the same view. I think you know where I'm going with these suggestions. I feel this could be a stellar image.
;-)

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Any processing? Maybe some sharpening?

I don't want to side-track from this specific image... but I would go back with the idea of shooting this for a monochrome conversion. Since it's close to you, I would wait for a brilliant blue sky (an ideally a breeze-less day) and re-shoot with a tripod and the same view. I think you know where I'm going with these suggestions. I feel this could be a stellar image.
;-)

No side-track problem.
This image has had all the sharpening with which I'm comfortable. or was your meaning that it is excessive?
I do appreciate your comment re b&w. It provides a perenially needed reminder that I need seriously to consider the merits of monochome renditions ...not as just a possible fall-back from a less-than-ideal color effort, but also when I've a color rendition that I really like! Would that my eye had some of the monochrome insight of that collective "monochrome eye" of Russ and Graham! Strange for a guy whose photographic and darkroom orientation from 1947 to 1998 was almost entirely B&W !

Thanks again for looking and for re-igniting the monochrome match under my butt!

Dave in SD

Nightski

Dave. I love the gorgeous white snow. I love that red building right in the middle of all the snow covered brush and trees. The contrast is gorgeous. Love this Pic!!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Uuglypher wrote:

No side-track problem. br This image has had all ... (show quote)

RE sharpening. What I noticed was the "sun shape" in the upper left corner-- but maybe it's the screen resolution on my monitor....

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

RE sharpening. What I noticed was the "sun shape" in the upper left corner-- but maybe it's the screen resolution on my monitor....

I kind of liked that. I thought it added a little interest to the sky.

Gauss Loc: Earth

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Any processing? Maybe some sharpening?

I don't want to side-track from this specific image... but I would go back with the idea of shooting this for a monochrome conversion. Since it's close to you, I would wait for a brilliant blue sky (an ideally a breeze-less day) and re-shoot with a tripod and the same view. I think you know where I'm going with these suggestions. I feel this could be a stellar image.
;-)

I agree with LRF's comments: sharpening and b&w potential. I do think the sky, as is, works in this color rendition; most of the color belongs to the subject.

I think cropping a bit off the bottom improves the image by balancing the brightness of the bottom compared to the sky .

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Gauss wrote:

I agree with LRF's comments: sharpening and b&w potential. I do think the sky, as is, works in this color rendition; most of the color belongs to the subject.

I think cropping a bit off the bottom improves the image by balancing the brightness of the bottom compared to the sky .

I would hate to get see less of the snow field which leads up to the building and surrounding shrubs and trees. That's how it looks in nature, and I think that the bit of white snow field provides a lead-in to the subject, and also balances the very light sky.

Nightski

If I cropped, I'd chop off the top of the trees to about a half inch above the right upper corner of the building. Try it once by scrolling your monitor. It snugs that little building right in and makes it look all cozy. Now I know, I've been yelled at for chopping off the tops of trees before, but I think it would work in this instance.

And B&W??? No way. The color of that structure is perfect..it's classic...it makes the white snow look all that much whiter. No no no...no b&w. IMHO :-D

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Nightski wrote:

If I cropped, I'd chop off the top of the trees to... (show quote)

I agree, Nightski, no b&w. The color makes the subject stand out. Your suggested crop would work for a different version of this, but I love this so much just the way it is. I think we need a new section where we can buy each other's work. I'd buy a nice big copy of this one!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Nightski wrote:

If I cropped, I'd chop off the top of the trees to... (show quote)

You missed a critical piece. I never suggested a monochrome conversion for this image-- it wouldn't work-- for other reasons.... I suggested going back under specific conditions and shooting this for B&W. The OP got what I was "shooting for". I know I get dinged for suggesting a redo....

;-)