Camera Data

Camera Model: Canon 10D

Lens: Canon EF 200 mm f/2.8L

Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec

Aperture: f/18

ISO Speed Rating: 100

“Pull over, stop the car!”

I’d like to know how many old barns and out-buildings I’ve looked at over the years from a “photographer’s” point of view. I imagine the number would be surprising. In fact, I’ve given semi-serious thought to spending a week or so in the Willamette Valley for the specific purpose of photographing old barns. I might even find a few ancient Oak trees to photograph. I’m sure this will be something I will continue to think about until I’m finally able to cross it off my list.

Unfortunately, and not too surprising, I’ve found that so many of the structures I’ve surveyed, while flying by in the car at a high rate of speed, are cluttered with junk cars, rusted out refrigerators, or a fading green John Deer tractor. You can imagine my surprise when I spotted this structure along Oregon’s HWY 101 just South of Seaside. And luckily there was a cherry stand and antique furniture store nearby to occupy my lovely wife while I fumbled around with the exposure.

For me, a photograph like this one makes me think more about what’s not in the image than the image itself. I wonder when it was built, who built it, where did the materials come from, did they drink beer at the end of the day, was there an old fashion barn raising, was there a barn dance, any births given or conceived, any deaths, any barn owls?

One thing is certain. Who ever built it lived in a different era than the one we live in today.