Back to the Basics

Several of the last posts have been diversions from our primary theme, and while such diversions are good for the soul from time to time, it's time to get back to the basics.... and you can't get much more basic than this scene.

Missy and I were wrapping up our morning shoot near Mt Vernon, Iowa, and after leaving the main highway and almost getting stuck in the sand of a 'Class C' county road... which means it's not much more than a goat path and is not maintained at all... we popped out on a better gravel road and continued on to see what was about. This immediately caught my eye. I had to hit the brakes and back up. (I do that a lot.)

It's both complex and simple at the same time. Complex in the many varied aspects... The classic red barn. The silos. The road leading you back into the photo. The orderliness of the farm itself. Yet, none of it competes with other aspects to monopolize your attention. Rather, they compliment each other and help pull it together to make a simple-yet-effective complete photograph.

Returning to the barn

We finally returned to the brick barn we visited earlier. Shown here is a recent photo. The owner granted us permission to look around and take photos, so we obviously took advantage of the opportunity. It was great to get some different perspectives.

This old piece... along with a similar house (which we did not get any shots of)... has a certain charm that separates itself from most other barns. A certain character. It and the surrounding grounds are well maintained, despite their age. The owners take pride in their place, and it shows.

The craftsmanship is also obvious in the original construction... painstaking brickwork, unique and consistent doors, and so on. This is the kind of thing that most people just pass by anymore. They're worth a stop to take a look.

Get out and go somewhere!

Being part of a good local photo club has it's advantages. First off, it's fun. Second, it's educational. And last but not least, it provides great opportunities to get out and experience new places that you might not have thought of otherwise.

Our most recent club photo shoot was one of these opportunities. We have a monthly themed contests, and an upcoming contest theme is "architecture", so what better thing to do as a club but organize an afternoon photo shoot in a picturesque nearby town?

Mt. Vernon, Iowa, is one of those places that appears to have stepped out of the past. Old, quaint, full of character. Plus, home to Cornell College. Both the town and the college offer unique opportunities to explore and capture some nice images. It was fun to watch the town being overrun with people carrying cameras and tripods.

The attached photo shows Kings Chapel at Cornell College.