Frosty Morning 2

[Bruce Gordon]

On my early morning drive yesterday, I missed a Bald Eagle as I was driving, but I did see this:

I know where that eagle hangs out now (the white stuff on the barn roof), so ‘I’ll be back!’

[John Thompson]

Bruce it is amazing to me looking at properties like this.  They once had value.  They were important once only to be left to abandonment.  Yes I think you have spotted the eagles hangout!

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks John. I agree; they once had value but not so much now. Yet, they are always surrounded by ‘No Trespassing’ signs… Odd, I think.

I saw the eagle flying about 200 yards before I saw this place, and is the only bird I think capable of leaving behind that volume of droppings. lol Imagine the picture had I been able to capture the bird roosting?

I will lay in wait….

[John Thompson]

I believe the No Trespassing signs are a legal ploy.  If anyone enters and gets hurt the owner of the land will not be libel.  I think…..

Good luck on capturing the bird.  I had the good fortune of being able to watch a male and female hunting and providing for the little ones in the nest.  The nest was high in a pine but watching them soar and ride wind currents is just amazing.  Very majestic birds.

[beth]

some people do use that sign as a ploy.  but we’ve had some nasty castle doctrine cases in my state where the homeowner had a no trespassing sign, someone trespassed and by trespassing gave the homeowner a reasonable justification for the use of deadly force.  be very careful when entering someone else’s property, you don’t need to have a gun on you to get shot by the owner.

[Bruce Gordon]

I think it best to knock on the door and ask. They may say no, but they will respect the fact you asked and not be angry. They may say yes, and one may also have a new friend. Or….they may chop you up and put you in the freezer….

[Robert Apple]

That is a neat old barn Bruce, reminds me of my younger days when we still used structures like this.

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Robert. I was just driving along, and there it was. That is the real color, blew my mind! I didn’t push it at all in post; only dodged the silo and a bit of the field in the background to reduce the brightness.

I think part of the fun, for me, is driving around and finding stuff like this. Beautiful, and yet most people drive by and never notice. I think we are the lucky few…

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Robert!

[Tom M]

Love that barn,Bruce. Hope you can come up with the eagle there sometime. That’s definitely a lot of poop…

 

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Tom; I can’t think of any bird other than an eagle that could leave that much residue! lol

[beth]

holy crap, that eagle left a load of poo on the barn.  great find, hope you get a shot of the bird someday.

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Beth! I hope to catch him soon! That is a frightening amount, no? I think it’s been accumulating for years, or one huge bird! Lol

[Graham Hart]

Great find Bruce. Your American barns always fascinate me. They have a strong design element, which doesn’t always seem to serve any practical purpose other than adding a creative twist. This barn is such a wonderful example of that. I’m not a farmer so the design may well serve some purpose I’m unaware of, either way, I’m grateful for the opportunity to see them. Perhaps the elaborate roof helps snow to run off?

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Graham!

The only thing I know for sure, is that hay was stored on the second floor, above the animals. The ornate cornices on each end would contain a block and tackle to hoist the bales up and in the door, which you can see in the pic. The ornate top may have something to do with circulating and removing the heat from the barn, generated by the tin roof. Much of the ornate design was for bragging rights, as well. Lol

The steep pitch would definitely help keep snow from accumulating on the roof!

[Kent DuFault]

Wonderful spot. Well worth returning to… maybe many times!

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Kent!

You speak to a great point about going back. I definitely plan to go back many times! Closer to sunrise, snow, sunrise and snow, and on and on! I may even try and see if the owner will let me on the property to look at different perspectives.

I watched a series on Great Courses by some of the National Geographic photographers. One of the things that struck me was that all of them, each and every one, talked about how they went back to a location over and over until they got that one photo they were looking for. One guy went back to the same place 12 times, and another waited in one spot for 3 days till the lighting was what he wanted. Most of us can’t have that dedication and keep our real jobs, but it has taught me to keep places in mind for different weather, lighting and cloud conditions and then drive by and see if those conditions yield the image I had in mind.

That, I love exploring as well!

Bruce

[Tobie]

Nice scene Bruce!

You know about this majestic bird’s resting place now and that’s a huge advantage towards getting fantastic shots! Have a chat to the owner – if you get permission to access it from a closer distance – and different perspectives – it’s a huge advantage!

I’ve been watching a paradise flycatcher pair sitting on eggs for a couple of weeks now. Saw them feeding for the first time on Saturday but the chicks were too small to raise their heads higher than the rim of its open-top nest. I’m going back in a couple of hours to see if I can see more. These chicks have the amazing survival strategy of taking their first flight after as little as 11 days!

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Tobie! I did take this with my new D750…

I plan on stopping and introducing myself to the owner, and hopefully that will go well. This shot was taken from the road with my 24-120 @ 120mm, so I think I could get a decent image from the same spot with my 150-600. I find myself a bit excited, actually.

Please share your Flycather photos! I can’t wait to see them. I really enjoy your work, and find it inspires me to up my game!

[Author]

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