Holmes County: Old Farm Buildings Part 1

My recent trip to Ohio included visiting back roads in Holmes County. The textures of rust and faded paint were everywhere at the abandoned or nearly abandoned farms I discovered. I especially enjoyed photographing the windows and doors of old houses. I always wonder if the original residents had a happy life there so many years ago.

The turkey vulture photo was a bit disappointing. The location is a wide valley that was formerly a wetland. Turkey vultures perched all over the driftwood, but we startled them when we traveled the unpaved road and all but two flew away.

I will post Part 2 photos from Holmes County soon!

Vintage Charm in Ashland County

Designs on antique window frames, peeling paint, and rusted metal are the vintage elements I love to discover and photograph.  Our recent trip to my home state of Ohio included visits to back roads and small towns where I was fortunate to find some favorite photography subjects. I especially enjoyed discovering the beautifully detailed vintage house. It is currently under renovation and will eventually be a focal point on a quiet street near downtown Ashland.

We were fortunate to have good weather and a little more time than usual during our stay in Ohio. I was able to visit other rural areas in the north central part of the state and will be posting those photos soon.

Old Made Older

A theme from my recent visit to Ohio was old buildings. Some photos did not fit neatly into my previous posts, so I decided to have some fun with them and process in Color Efex 4. The worn quality of the structures became more pronounced by adding several filters. It was fun and I hope you enjoy seeing some very old buildings!

Ohio Farms: Antique Barns and Landscapes

The plentiful antique barns in north central Ohio are fun to photograph. Some are restored and others abandoned, but I find all of them interesting. Most of the barns were painted white in years past. Red paint is now more common and I think the color adds to the charm.

I took these photos in the area where I grew up. Even as a young child, I appreciated the landscape views of valleys, hills, and grain fields. You might have guessed – I miss this rural area where the pace of life is slower and the beauty of nature abounds.

All photos: Canon 60D.

As a child, I caught glimpses of this lovely barn from the school bus and car. ISO 400, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

Heifers relaxing on an Amish farm west of Ashland. They seemed to enjoy watching us. ISO 640, 50mm, f/13, 1/125.

Typical of many farms in northern Ohio, this property is well maintained and picture perfect. ISO 500, 100mm, f/18, 1/400.

A ramshackle barn and donkey create a scene that is pure country. ISO 640, 100mm, f/18, 1/40.

An abandoned barn and cinder block milk house. Someone still cares as shown by the neatly mown grass. ISO 250, 50mm, f/11, 1/100.

Muddy Fork was a fun place to explore and play when I was a child. I remember catching a few fish and finding fossils. ISO 640, 32mm, f/18, 1/60.

A road bridging Muddy Fork in the same valley shown in the next three photos. ISO 640, 50mm, f/18, 1/320.

Holsteins grazing on the hillside. They greeted me with moos, which I really appreciated! ISO 400, 100mm, f/18, 1/100.

Looking west over the Muddy Fork valley. See the road at the top of the frame? That was my vantage point for making the next photo. ISO 400, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

Looking east over the valley. So familiar to me. ISO 100, 50mm, f/7.1, 1/400.

An isolated barn overgrown with nature’s autumn decor. ISO 640, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

A small cemetery tucked between forest and fields. So peaceful to walk through the well maintained grounds. ISO 400, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

Weathered headstones dating from the 1700′s. ISO 100, 100mm, f/4.0, 1/250.

An 1877 headstone found in a church yard cemetery. ISO 500, 100mm, f/18, 1/125.

An isolated barn photographed from an ancient cemetery across the field. ISO 100, 100mm, f/4.5, 1/400.

Killbuck Marsh near Shreve. A railroad track runs along the edge of the marsh. ISO 250, 50mm, f/11, 1/320.

A different view of Killbuck Marsh. Later in October, autumn color makes the marsh a more beautiful place. ISO 250, 50mm, f/11, 1/320.