"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection" - Conrad Hall
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I've always loved a patched up, mismatched barn. This one has wood going in all directions, it's leaning just a little, and the wood has turned gray with age. I love all of those imperfections. When I moved from Western Montana to Central Montana, I was worried that finding old beauties like this would be harder, but I've found more than I ever expected. This one is right outside of the city limits of Billings, and is actually visible from the interstate. After admiring it for over a year, I did finally stop to take some photos of it. The frontage road runs between the barn and the interstate, and it was a busy, loud, semi-dangerous place to stop for photos, but sometimes you just have to park, get your photos, and cross it off the list once and for all. This image looks quiet and serene, but behind me it was all of the chaos of the modern world. That's how many of my images are, a quiet spot surrounded by chaos. Documenting those old buildings that still represent quieter days is my passion. I'd rather look at a charming old barn than an interstate any day.
We're a couple of days into the Fall season, and the weather isn't taking its time changing. It's definitely noticeable that Summer is no longer here. The green has gone from the trees and grass, and those overcast skies are showing up more often. I do like the Fall though. Usually, in Montana, the temperatures change so drastically in the summer that I'm ready for some cooler, more temperate days. There's a quietness to the Fall that I love. Summer is busy and full of travel, company, and events that it goes by before I know it. Fall is when I start to feel that urge to slow down. I edit my photographs on those cold days, and take my time with the fruits of my summer labor, traveling and taking photographs every other weekend. These old abandoned buildings are by far my favorite thing to find, and my favorite thing to photograph. Surrounded by nothing but space, it's hard to imagine any human being inhabiting them.
Finding an old barn, no matter how small or dilapidated, is pure joy to me. This one is tucked out of the way, almost unnoticeable, under the shadow of the tall red grain elevators in Clyde Park, Montana. I was focused on taking pictures of the grain elevators when I saw the red of this barn through the thick trees. This turned out to be my favorite shot of that day, so you just never know. I love Montana because there are so many of these old buildings to find. I love them in their rough, weathered state, but it's also bittersweet as I know this means they are slowly decaying and will soon be gone. I hope we can save some of the authentic character that makes me so proud of Montana.
The Sacred Heart Catholic Church, near Harlem, Montana. As a lover of pastels, this little country church just gets me. Pink and an aqua blue sky made the very hot day worth it. It was about 103 degrees when this was taken, at the end of a beautiful June day.
It seems that the chances of finding a good shot improve once my tires leave the pavement. This day was extremely warm, at the end of August, just as everyone is starting to harvest their wheat. While the tourists pack into Glacier Park and Yellowstone, both just a few hours from where I live, I have always loved finding myself alone in one of these wide open fields, as a storm rolls in and the wind picks up, swaying the wheat around me. The air is magical and energized by storms. The colors are incredible in the summer and I love to find the combinations that I haven't seen before.
