Autumn makes me guilty when I am not out shooting. I see the photos that other people take and that exacerbates the situation. I'm also usually easily disappointed in the foliage that I see. I read the foliage reports and various foliage maps but I usually come away feeling like what I'm seeing must not be what everyone else is seeing.

I woke up early this morning and went out with the goal of taking one photo that I was happy with. I headed up the northway, being sure to avoid exit 23 and 24 (Warrensburg's "World's largest garage sale"). I had no location in mind but I got off exit 25 and headed towards Brant Lake. It was before sunrise when I past the lake. I saw another photographer set up at the Brant Lake boat launch and figured that I would give him some space. I kept driving and came upon this barn with the foliage on the hillside behind. I probably would have taken a photo of the barn alone but when I saw the color in the trees behind it, I knew I had to stop. It was quite cloudy when I snapped this photo and the sun had not yet broken thru.

Taken with my trusty D7000 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.

Another One of the Old Barn

This barn has been photographed more than any barn in the Adirondacks, for that I'm sure. The barn even has a Facebook page in an effort to save it. Sadly many barns just like this that aren't on such a well traveled road don't get the attention that this one does. Even with all of the attention, I often wonder when the last time I will see this barn will be. The barn sits on Route 73 in Keene, NY in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. If you've traveled to Lake Placid, you've likely seen it.

Fall Day on a Galway Farm

Fall Day on a Galway Farm, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

If I had to be limited to photographing one thing and one thing only, I'd be hard pressed not to choose farms. I'm instantly drawn to the old barns that dot the landscape in rural areas such as Galway, NY. Often accompanying these old barns are sprawling fields, old farm tools and animals.

Farms and old barns are disappearing from our landscape. Developers snap up old farms to turn them into characterless houses and housing developments. Barns, many with hand hewn beams cut from trees that were old before early settlers came here, are decaying and lost forever.

Sunsets and sweeping panoramas of fall color make for gorgeous images but usually lack the story component that an old working farm can provide.

Taken in Galway, NY with my Nikon d7000 and 80-400mm VR lens.

Sunset on the Farm

Sunset on the Farm, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

Every photographer has a favorite subject to shoot. While I don't know if I could ever pick just one, farms have to be near the top of that list for me.

Each barn tells a different story. With the state of farms today and the rate these treasures are lost you have to wonder if this barn will soon become another cookie cutter home.

This photos was shot near Palatine, NY in Montgomery County.

130th Vermont Autumn

130th Vermont Autumn
Originally uploaded by UpstateNYPhototaker

I have been into photography as a serious hobby for almost 2 years and this barn offers one of if not THE nicest photo ops I have come across. I saw a shot of this barn in a magazine and wasn't that impressed with the treatment it received. I could tell it was just a grab shot and the photographer either wasn't that adept at photography or just didn't care to take a great shot.

I researched this barn and found other photos of it and found out roughly where it was. When I finally came upon it I immediately smiled and knew it was a great spot. With the mountains behind it, the beautiful early fall light and the hint of fall color this barn is a fascinating piece of Americana. I cannot wait to shoot it in the winter!

I am curious to know when that roof was put on this barn. My guess is that when the barn was built the date wouldn't have been significant as it was just a barn. I could of course, be wrong.