Holmes County: Old Farm Buildings Part 2

Holmes County, Ohio Part 2 includes an abandoned farm that was most recently owned by an Amish farmer. The first 6 photos are from that farm. Portions of siding are missing from the barn – probably an act of vandalism.

The last two photos show the house and part of the farmland near Shreve where my grandparents lived until 1958. When I look at the house, I can imagine my beloved Grandmother walking to the garden behind the house to cut rhubarb or pick beans. The outside of the house and yard has changed little since those days, except for new construction on the right side of the house. Obviously a fresh coat of paint would make the house look better. The last photo is a small part of the view from the yard. The view has not changed. I think that is remarkable and wonderful!

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!

Small Town Charm

Our recent visit to Ashland, Ohio included a walk through lovely city streets and the campus of Ashland University. The charm of this town (and many others in the area) is best enjoyed in person. But I hope these photos and my brief captions communicates some of the natural beauty of this midwestern town.

Click on the first photo to open the photo carousel. All photos, Canon 60D.

The white picket fence frames this brick house and makes a cozy scene I could not resist!

Many old houses have been lovingly restored. The architecture of this house is similar to the farm houses I remember from the 60s.

The streets are narrow and not heavily travelled.

Sidewalks are mostly canopied with trees. And autumn colors were just beginning.

Another example of the clean and simple vintage architecture of the midwest.

And those huge old trees. So comforting to realize they have shaded and cleaned the air for generations of residents.

Our visit included a stay at this inn. The innkeeper, Kathy, was a gracious host and provided full course breakfasts.

Early morning table settings like this were a welcome sight! Kathy spared no detail to make breakfast beautiful and delicious.

Our walk included a visit to the campus of Ashland University.

The landscape at the campus is the type that invites you to relax and walk slowly.

The plants and trees are expertly placed and maintained, but still retain a natural look.

A small section of the campus lawn where picnic tables make a homey setting.

As we ended our walk, I spotted this pretty autumn flower; one of many that brightens up the walkways on the campus.

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.

Antique Windows

We made a spur-of-the-moment trip last week. I wanted to help my parents with some tasks around the house and shoot photos in the rural areas of north central Ohio. The landscape there is full of interesting things to photograph:  farms scattered in gently rolling hills, Amish culture, antique homes and barns, wildflowers, quaint villages, ancient cemeteries, and wetlands. I now have many photos to enjoy and categorize, so look for Ohio-theme blog posts in the weeks to come. We enjoyed every minute of our visit and hope to return soon!

While traveling around the countryside, I was drawn to the windows of old buildings. I decided to start a series of window photos and was able to get nine examples. I especially liked seeing the landscape reflected in windows, or curtains that hinted of a simple decor from decades ago.

All photos: Canon 60D.

Click on the horizontal photos to enlarge.

ISO 800, 100mm, f/18, 1/20.

This abandoned house in Savannah, Ohio had a mystery door next to one of the windows!

ISO 640, 50mm, f/13, 1/800.

Small window on a barn built in 1880. The window and texture of the painted wood were the features I found most interesting.

ISO 640, 25mm, f/18, 1/100.

This window is from an abandoned farmhouse in a wide valley. I like seeing the reflection of grain fields and sky.

ISO 500, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

I found this house in a small Ohio town. The lovely designs under the soffit and over the windows are still pretty after many years in the elements.

ISO 640, 100mm, f/18, 1/40.

This handcrafted window is one of many in a restored brick church near Ashland, Ohio. Hints of the perfect autumn day reflect in the glass. (A future post will include more photos of this building, which is now a residence.)

ISO 800, 100mm, f/18, 1/80.

I found this old storage shed in a small town. The windows displayed a plethora of items and pride in the state of Ohio.

ISO 320, 100mm, f/18, 1/250.

This little diamond window is on the west side of an ancient church. Light from the setting sun illuminated the strong focal point.

ISO 800, 100mm, f/18 1/640.

The wall of windows on the front of this post office face a busy road. Taking the photo from the side was my only option, but this angle provided interest as well.

 500, 100mm, f/18, 1/15.

This fancy window hints of a once elegant brick house.

Ohio Scenery

Two months ago, I visited my parents in northern Ohio. I was able to squeeze in a couple visits to secluded country roads; hoping to find photography subjects. These photos were handheld and taken somewhat under duress. I had to work fast to avoid being covered in dust when vehicles approached on unpaved roads!