This is my second month of my year-long personal project. The initial inspiration for this project is below but as I can now say, a month into this… I’m loving this project! It’s already proven so many positive things to me and that was only one part of my goal! Can’t wait for the change of seasons but the warm summer air has made keeping up with these pretty easy!
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Original Post:
I started thinking about this recently, when I asked myself the question: what do I love about this area that I now call home? In other words, I was trying to find new ways to be positive and look for the good in my new location. I have been living here for almost two years but sometimes I still miss “home”. Even though I chose to move here for the right reasons, and I’m not that far away from where I came, I still struggle with these thoughts off and on. So, instead of dwelling in the past, I decided to appreciate the present. To find the good and appreciate what I have, here and now and to build a connection to this new place.
One of the coolest, and most unique things about Calvert County (and Southern Maryland) are all the barns that stem from it’s rural history. I love the country roads and all the farms or pieces of what are left over, from old farms. I had a lot of that on the Eastern Shore, as well, but there were never this many barns and they’re different. Since a lot of the ones found here are tobacco barns, there are just SO many more, because they needed them to dry the tobacco. I’m also tying this project in with my background in geography and environmental/land use planning interests. I see the urban sprawl and trees and fields being chopped down, daily, so this landscape is changing rapidly. By taking these photos, I want to be a part of documenting how looks now, I have a feeling it will change quite a bit in my lifetime.
So, with all these things in mind, on July 1st, 2015, I decided to start this year-long endeavor! Here are my rules/goals:
- photograph a different barn each day from July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016.
- if I am out of town or something prevents me from shooting, I will shoot multiple barns for each day that I am gone, as close to the dates missed as possible.
- any type of camera goes – iPhone, point and shoot, DSLR etc
- barns must be located within Calvert County, MD limits
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32/365: 8.1.15/11:14 am/Owings/Mt. Harmony Rd Rd/iPhone
Barn Doors
On my way east, I pulled up to this one but it wasn’t the most interesting setup.The close up of these doors ended up being my favorite part.
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33/365: 8.2.15/4:42 pm/Huntingtown/Wilson Rd/iPhone
Barn and Van
I shot this one in July but per my own barn project rules, I make up for days that I cannot shoot with other ones. Lucky for me, I already had several backup barn photos.
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34/365: 8.3.15/7:27 pm/Huntingtown/Wilson Rd/Canon 5D Mark II/70-200mm 2.8L
Barn Across the Cornfield
There are so many barns on Wilson Rd. This one is from the night in July, when I shot three completely different looking scenes, all within walking distance.
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35/365: 8.4.15/5:24 pm/Huntingtown/Plum Point Rd/Canon 5D/70-200mm 2.8L
Can You See the Barn?
This one is hiding under all the green in someone’s backyard! I bet it’s super cool, and a bit scary, on the inside.
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36/365: 8.5.15/6:54 pm/Sunderland/iPhone
Abandoned House and Barn
This one was next to an abandoned house, at the corner of Hardesty Rd and Goah Way. Yes, there is a small lane that is creatively named “Go – Away”, which seemed like the perfect place for me to jump out and run across a field to take photos…right?
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37/365: 8.6.15/7:53pm/Barstow/Hallowing Point Rd/Canon 5D/70-200mm 2.8L
Red Barn at the Cemetery
This was the first one I spotted after doing an errand in Prince Frederick. 🙂 But I haven’t seen too many red barns, lately, so I was happy to shoot it, along with a few graves.
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38/365: 8.7.15/2:40 pm/Chesapeake Beach/Christianna Parran Rd/iPhone
Old Barn on a Lane
There are not too many barns with a Chesapeake Beach address, so I was happy to find a couple on this road pretty close to my house.
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39/365: 8.8.15/2:53 pm/Huntingtown/Kings Landing Park/iPhone
Working Barn
Another photo from the end of July, while I’m away. I’ve passed this one a bunch of times while at the park with the dogs but it has a new purpose, as part of this project. This one is still put to use, housing all the park supplies and equipment.
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40/365: 8.9.15/5:24 pm/Huntingtown/Wilson Rd/Canon 5D/70-200mm 2.8L
Two Barns and a Storm
The is the last of my vacation backup photos. It looks like these two are all that remains of this farm, the rest of this land is a big subdivision. whomp, whomp.
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41/365: 8.10.15/7:12pm/Prince Frederick/Stoakley Rd/Canon 5D Mark II/70-200mm 2.8L
Bird House and Red Barns
I stopped because this farm had a few cool red barns and I was content with shooting them for today’s setup. As I was walking away, I saw this cute bird house nailed to a telephone pole and had to include it.
I think this turned out better than my initial shots and it reminded me to slow down and pay attention, there is always more than meets the eye, if you take the time to look.
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42/365: 8.11.15/6:44pm/Dunkirk/
Barn in Corn
Today was busy and I was happy to make my way back home and get a shot of a barn, in between stormy skies. It always relaxes me to shoot them, it’s usually so peaceful on these country roads.
I’ve seen this one a few times before and I’ve always thought it looked pretty, sitting up on a hill with the sun hitting it just right.
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43/365: 8.12.15/4:45pm/Dunkirk/
Barns and Clouds
I had to be quick because I was on my way to work but a couple of quick turns off the highway and I still ended up hitting a new spot. I can’t believe how country it gets so close to the highway and traffic, it makes me happy. smile emoticon This one was on a windy and narrow road that led me to a bunch of new barns. All I really wanted to show today were those big puffy clouds, it was a gorgeous day and I was still early to work, which was a plus! 🙂
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44/365: 8.13.15/4:57pm/
Red Barn with Pink Flowers
I’ve photographed this barn and a few others on this road before, along one of my normal running routes but this is my favorite one. I love the flowers and vines growing up over it and it’s character.
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45/365: 8.14.15/4:30pm/Dunkirk/
Concert Barn
This was the best one we found, on our way to see some music in DC. 🙂 If it was not so overgrown, I bet it’d be pretty cool to see what’s inside.
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46/365: 8.15.15/6:50pm/
Power Lines Barn
I’ve seen this one off in the distance a million times and this is the best time of day to see it, in the early evening. I love the way the power lines and fields contrast the new vs. old and simple vs. complex. I think it’s beautiful in it’s own weird way.
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47/365: 8.16.15/7:12pm/Owings/
No Trespassing Barn
This property really doesn’t want you to trespass. There is an abandoned house along with this red barn, sitting vacant really close to development, with a lot of signs telling us to leave. So, we just did a quick drive-by barn shooting out of the window from the driveway.
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48/365: 8.17.15/7:13pm/
Neeld Estate Barn
I found more info about this property online, which is right up the street from my house on Plum Point. This is just one of the barns found on the historic Neeld Estate, which is part of a very large, old plantation dating from about the year 1650, that overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. The original manor house and many of the other buildings are still preserved and functioning and many say there are stories of it being haunted. How cool, I run by this spot all the time, now I’ll have to check for ghosts and other history 🙂
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49/365: 8.18.15/4:50pm/
Rainy Old Barn
This was a new find! I needed to get a quick shot, rain or shine, this afternoon. This one is so cool, looking very vintage sitting close to this windy, country road.
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50/365: 8.19.15/6:33pm/Owings/
Epic Clouds Barn
Today is my 50th day of barn shooting! So many more that I see, every day, just waiting for their turn! Tonight, I was watching the clouds throughout dinner in CB, they were so bright reflecting the sun, it almost hurt to look at them. I knew I wanted to include them somehow, it didn’t take long to see this one on the hill. The clouds make this way more interesting, like the barn should be on fire… Happy 50th Barn Day to Me! 🙂
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51/365: 8.20.15/2:22pm/Dunkirk/
AG Preservation Barn
This is one of several barns on this piece of Calvert Co’s Agriculture Preservation District, which is also next to someone’s front yard. I was shooting when he got home but he waved, so I guess he didn’t mind. 🙂
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52/365: 8.21.15/5:15pm/Dunkirk/
Quick Stop Barn
There is an old barn across this field but it’s hard to see in this wide shot. The clouds were cool, so I was happy to include them.
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53/365: 8.22.15/11:23 am/Owings/Skinners Turn Rd/iPhone
New Barns
I found this one on Google Maps because I had to be fast, since I was on my way to work. I was pleasantly surprised to find two here, along with this vineyard. Such a pretty scene, I’m saving the other barn for my “good” camera. I always get excited when I find new barns, I’m a dork.
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54/365:8.23.15/12:41pm/
Front Yard Barn
This is in someone’s front yard, just a normal suburban home and driveway sitting right next to it. I’m jealous.
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55/365:8.24.15/7:53pm/St. Leonard/Jefferson Patterson Park/Canon 5D Mark III/85mm 1.2L II
Sunsets are Good for the Soul Barn
That line was my overall thought process, all evening, watching the sunset along the Patuxent River. I was wrapping up an engagement session at Jefferson Patterson Park, and as I was driving out, I saw this one with the sun setting behind it. I didn’t want to wait for another and risk losing the light, so I jumped on this one. Love the colors.
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56/365: 8.25.15/1:33 pm/Owings/Lower Marlboro Rd/iPhone
Mini Barn
Today, I finally answered my 56 day old question: so, what exactly constitutes a barn? I decided that no matter what size, if it has the shape or features of a barn, it’s a barn. And now, since I’ve gotten that all figured out, this one was allowed into the collection. it was too cute to ignore!
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57/365: 8.26.15/7:51 pm/Dunkirk/Ferry Landing Rd/Canon 5D/70-200mm 2.8L
Sunny Haze Barn
This is a new one and a good find! I’ve been on this road a couple of times but not this far down. It was a pleasant surprise to see it there, basking in the sunshine. There are a lot of ways to edit a fake sunshine glow onto a pic but that wasn’t necessary here. And I may or may not have stepped in poison ivy but it was worth it.
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58/365: 8.27.15/1:51 pm/Dunkirk/Ferry Landing Rd/Canon 5D Mark III/24-70mm 2.8L
Sun is Shining Down Barn
This is right across the street from last night’s barn, I knew there were a bunch on this road and I was in a hurry! The best part are the sun rays, shining right down on it. The title is also the name of a favorite song of mine.
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59/365: 8.28.15/8:18 pm/Huntingtown/Plum Point Rd/Canon 5D Mark III/35mm 1.4L
Procrastination Barn
Sometimes, it pays to procrastinate… like tonight, when I temporarily forgot about taking a barn photo until dusk. Luckily, the moon was very cool and lit up this scene enough for a shot. I had to hold my camera by hand, having a tripod with me could definitely have made this one rock a bit more 🙂
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60/365: 8.29.15/12:18 pm/Huntingtown/Sheckells Ln/Canon 5D Mark III/85mm 1.2L II
Quickie Barn
I knew there was a quick one tucked back on this short lane on Rt 4. It’s definitely a typical tobacco barn, on someone’s property but I liked how well maintained it is. The people who have it in their yard must really care for it…as usual, I’m jealous 😉
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61/365: 8.30.15/7:30 pm/Prince Frederick/Clay Hammond Rd/iPhone
Dark and Gloomy Barn
The weather and sky was just blah all afternoon and evening, so I was not that pressed on finding an amazing barn. This one was off a new road, on my way to the grocery store and it ended up being pretty cool. I usually have to bring my telephoto lens, because a lot of them are far away but this one was right along the road, which is always a plus! The iPhone actually worked out better and I thought the black and white fit the mood. This is also the first photo I’ve fully edited and emailed myself, on my new iMac, so it’ll always be sentimental to me 😉
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