Thursday, April 14, 2005

posted - private property

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The sign reads, "Posted - Private Property. Hunting, fishing, trapping or trespassing for any purpose is strictly forbidden. Violators will be prosecuted." This farm has been abandoned for years. The farmer has retired or moved further west. This is on the edge of an area that is being gobbled up by developers. The farmhouse is long gone and all that remains is the barn and a few outbuildings. Although it is abandoned, it's still someone's property and so it is an unwritten law to respect that. I stand behind the orange rope that's been hastily tied around old fence posts. There's nothing on the sign about taking photographs, but I keep my distance. It's a good practice because these properties can be very dangerous. Old wells might be hidden under vegetation, and no matter how sturdy the old barn looks, they are very unstable. This barn depicts what I refer to as beauty in decay.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too bad you weren't able to get up closer to that barn and take some pictures. Barns are such wonderful structures to photograph aren't they?

Anonymous said...

But the sign generates curiosity no? I wish these abandoned places were opened up to legally allow people to explore. The photographic opportunities are considerable but they are places that -- for the most part -- most of the world will never see.

Suzanne said...

Yes, photographers are naturally curious people, and sometimes the curiousity can be overpowering. For instance, one time I took a right turn down what looked like an interesting country road. YIKES! The snow had finally melted and the road turned out to be three miles of hell - slimy muck and a mix of wet clay and gravel. My car was sliding everywhere. It was white knuckle time. I didn't think I'd ever make to the main road. I do, however, have a relationship with some owners of abandoned property and I have access to photograph those barns and outbuildings. Stay tuned, those are coming. - Suzanne

Craig Thompson said...

Hey Zanne, Thanks. Keep taking those photos, around here things are changing fast, that barn was gone a few weeks later, subdivisions going up everywhere.