Abandoned

This is my favorite of the 3 pictures I've posted over the past few days.  More and more structures like these are succumbing either to the snow, gravity, or demolition crews.  There is high quality wood in some of these old barns that you just doesn't exist "new" anymore.  Everything of that quality and size has been logged. 

C is starting to incorporate old, reclaimed barn wood into his work more and more lately, either with the character of the roughness intact, or planed down to smooth wood again.  It's what a lot of people are looking for these days, and it's "green".  It's hard to see these old structures come down, but at least it's being put to good use and preventing, hopefully, at least a few other trees from being logged. 

Comments

[Shannon]

I hate to see the history disappear, but it's good to know that someone's using the wood. People around here don't understand that the trees that are logged don't really grow back. Once the old growth is gone, it's gone.

[Emily Wigley]

I too am so glad that people reuse wood, especially for projects that count. Little trinkets made of barnwood are nice, but actually reusing it structurally or for cabinets or siding really makes the most sense. My hubby has a portable sawmill, and trees aren't dropped (logged) for his milling so much as they are windfalls/wind damaged or "must" come down because of placement too close to buildings. In this day and age of fourth growth being logged, using anything that doesn't require a logging truck, clearcutting, etc. is fantastic. I'm glad you document the buildings - they are as lovely in their almost-taken-down state as they were as trees!

[Chris]

I've started thinking of this series of photos as the Desolation series, because it seems to really capture the empty openness of parts of the West.

[jacqueline]

i love this series of photos. growing up in australia, and with farming family, i have grown used to seeing delapitated structures and farm equipment. however the landscape here is so very different so they context of your photos is just amazing to me.

[Leslie]

I've really enjoyed this series. The landscape is so different from here in New England. Your photos are excellent and have a great feel for the landscape.

[Bettie]

Beautifully sad.

My cousin's house was built - on the inside - from old houses and barn wood. It was an act of love and beautiful preservation!

[mary]

I have really enjoyed this series of photos as well. They remind me so much of the road trips we've taken from Seattle traveling east to visit my folks in Minnesota. I always look forward to the long drive through Montana - I love that part of the west where you can see the bare bones of the earth and the sky stretching away forever.

[jean]

Absolute beauty. I cannot pass a structure in that condition without becoming obsessed with the builders and what their lives were like. They worked so hard building and working in and about the place. There is a tale in those boards. Is there anybody who knows it?

[rose]

I always make stories about the people who lived and worked there, too. I'm glad the wood is being reused. The mountains look like a painting!

[scribblesnbits]

I love how the barn is lacy. It's a shame to lose these old buildings, but re-using the wood is wonderful!

[anja]

The landscape is so beautiful it hurts. Those mountains. And the weatherbeaten wood. I wonder what happened to the people who lived there?

[rebecca]

absolutely stunning photos. i can almost smell them. it takes me awhile to look at them because i start day dreaming. lovely.