November Dawn

[tbob]

Winter is setting in and this may be last shot of this old barn I will get till late spring. It is about 2 km down a unmaintained farm access road that is worn about two feet below the surrounding prairie. Once the snow comes it will be impassible and if the truck gets stuck it is a 6 km hike to the nearest farm. Possibly fatal if it is below minus 20C and the wind is even slightly blowing. Once the snow goes I need to wait for the road to dry out. 2 km of muddy clay is no picnic.

[batmura]

Absolutely stunning. I love this photo.

[Mike Buckley]

Gorgeous. Love the evocative composition!

What is being farmed? (I initially typed to ask what the crop is, but asking a photographer that might be misleading. )

[tbob]

Wheat in this instance. The primary crops are wheat, canola, barley and peas, in that order. I had to wait for the crop to come off to get access to the field. I can shoot from this angle any time of the year as is from the access road, but the best view of the barn is from the southwest. I need to stand in the field for that.

[dje]

Very nice Trevor. I think the composition works very well. The colours and the sky are great.

Dave

[Donald]

That is a beauty. The composition is, I think, magnificent. The barn is in exactly the right place. The lines of the cut take us back into the image, but not over-poweringly so. And putting the horizon down low and giving us that big sky, just emphasises the scale of the landscape.

Yep, hit the bullseye with that one.

[Manfred M]

Great shot Trevor; you've captured that lonely, late fall look really well. The low, warm light clouds, the stubble from the last crop and the barn all come together nicely.

I'm sure you could get some great winter shots of the same location, if you could only get there (and back).

[tbob]

Very nice Trevor. I think the composition works very well. The colours and the sky are great.

Dave

I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but this is a learning site so maybe someone can get some benefit. So here goes.

This is a prime example of setting up and waiting. I had been out at this spot for about 90 minutes in the subzero (minus 4C) morning with wind waiting for the sunrise and then the for the sun to clear the horizon. I have several other good shots from various angles but there where long periods of standing and waiting for the good light. I was watching the clouds and there was a thin sliver of open sky to the east . The clouds to the west were really interesting and I though this would be worth the wait if I catch the barn and those clouds. So I set up, took a few set up and exposure shots to be ready, and and waited for about ten minutes for the brief moment when the sun would peek through. I knew there was a strong probability it would all go wrong if the lower deck of clouds shifted over the opening. However I was rewarded by a brief less than ten second opportunity. I am happy with the result but, and not to sound smug, it was a planned shot and I am glad I waited. My fingers and ears will eventually forgive me

[tbob]

That is a beauty. The composition is, I think, magnificent. The barn is in exactly the right place. The lines of the cut take us back into the image, but not over-poweringly so. And putting the horizon down low and giving us that big sky, just emphasises the scale of the landscape.

Yep, hit the bullseye with that one.

Thanks Donald. At the time was muttering under my breath that this was idiocy, because I was deeply chilled by this time, but it worked out.

[tbob]

I'm sure you could get some great winter shots of the same location, if you could only get there (and back).

One of my friends has loaned me a rickety, old, circa 1970 snowmobile to use this winter to get photos so I will try it out. If it breaks down I am winter savvy enough to be prepared. And thank heaven for cell phones. May preclude the need to dig snow caves for shelter. Six kilometers of open prairie with knee deep snow and a wind at minus 20 is still something I will not tackle. Better to wait in the truck for several days then try that.

[Manfred M]

Too much to do around the house this weekend, so I couldn't get out (even though the camera was sitting on the kitchen table), but I am starting to think about a few places I want to go out to shoot as the beginningwinter starts to settle in over the next few weeks.

Fortunately, I'm not planning anything quite as remote as you are...

[Nancy Moran G]

This is beautiful!! Ditto what all else has been said.
Nancy

[jprzybyla]

Well done Trevor, beautiful image.

[Wavelength]

Superb and more...but i feel i had seen this from you even before, as a second post in your own thread
But no problem; it is worthy of any number of revisits, if i said right
Regards

[Kaye Leggett]

Trevor - this shot goes to show just how valuable planning is. Its a beauty

Before I read all the posts, I too had thought, wonder what it looks like with snow.......... take no notice of us all !!!

[Donald]

At the time was muttering under my breath that this was idiocy, because I was deeply chilled by this time, but it worked out.

But that's the fun of it!! I think those of us who get a real buzz out of putting ourselves into those sorts of situations, must be a bit odd!

My hands are my biggest chill problem. I have a pair of very thin Merino wool gloves that allow me to operate all the buttons without the need to remove them. For all the waiting around, just as you described in Post #8, I have a pair of ski gloves that go over the other pair. When I see the shot I want starting appear, they get thrown off and I spring into action ... or as much springing as I ever do!

[AndrewMcD]

The best images are those that make me want to continue to look at them long after the initial impression; this is one of them. Thanks for sharing the planning and experience that went in to making this. My goal in photography is to learn to "make pictures on purpose". I have had but a few instances to date of achieving that goal but the few times I have planned out a shot and had it work as I imagined have been immensely gratifying.
Andrew

[pnodrog]

Trevor I thought if I saw another photograph of this barn I would cover my screen with twink. No need to as it is a great shot and superb lighting. Very well done. The different textures in the field really add to it.

[flashback]

But that's the fun of it!! I think those of us who get a real buzz out of putting ourselves into those sorts of situations, must be a bit odd!

My hands are my biggest chill problem. I have a pair of very thin Merino wool gloves that allow me to operate all the buttons without the need to remove them. For all the waiting around, just as you described in Post #8, I have a pair of ski gloves that go over the other pair. When I see the shot I want starting appear, they get thrown off and I spring into action ... or as much springing as I ever do!

Donald (and anyone else for that matter);
A pair of disposable latex gloves, worn either under a pair of thin gloves or on their own will keep most people's hands warm in the winter. Light and dexterous, they allow you to use all functions of the camera without in anyway being clumsy.

[tbob]

Trevor I thought if I saw another photograph of this barn I would cover my screen with twink.

To my shock, you and Nandakumar seem somewhat reluctant to view more images of this barn. How about I keep the posted images down to 1 percent of the shots I have of this barn? That would be, by my rough calculation, about 20 images.