Slice of History

When I photographed the old buildings below, I felt like I was photographing a slice of history – the history of the area that I now call home.

Days Gone By

The barn reminds me of what life in the country may have been like in days gone by.  The rustic wood, corrals for horses or cattle, dirt roads providing paths to town, and the wide open expanse of one’s land.  This sense of yesterday is enhanced by the handwritten ledger in the background – perhaps one kept by the rancher, or perhaps kept by a shopkeeper in town.  Life, I feel, in those days was simple, yet complex, easy and hard, all at the same time.

Old Homestead

When I saw this homestead, I couldn’t help but imagine what life was like when this was a new building.  Could this have been one of the first homesteads in this area, before the town it’s now a part of existed?  The area where the town exists was first settled in 1887, and many of the homesteaders were cattle ranchers.  I imagine what it must have been like to look out the windows and see cattle grazing.  In the background, you can see the remains of an old windmill, used to draw up water from underground.  Some handwritten notes were added to hint at the records kept of the operation of the ranch, and also letters to family back east.

On the Plains

When people think of life in the Old West, most of them think of cowboys wandering thru the mountains, on rough terrain, and perhaps through forests in the mountains.  However, some of the west is made up of plains before one reaches the foothills of the mountains.  And, many of those who settled on these plains became cattle ranchers.  There isn’t enough rainfall throughout the year to have managed to grow crops, but cattle were more adaptable to the lack of rain that often makes up the weather here.  This may have been someone’s home, or it may have been a cabin built to house the ranch hands as they worked to move the cattle from season to season.  Whatever its story, you can almost feel the history in its walls.

Enjoy!

Note: These pieces are available in a variety of finishes and formats by visiting http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Backroad Drive in Moriarty

There is a small town not far from where my husband and I live in New Mexico, called Moriarty.  One morning, just as the sun was coming up, I decided to drive down it to check out an old barn and homestead that I saw several days before.  I thought they might make some wonderful images and I was right!

Day Break on the Farm

One of my favorite times to capture images is early in the morning.  The first rays of the day’s sun on the tall grass in front of the barn, as well as along the fields behind, create a feeling of good things in store for the day.  For the family associated with this barn, maybe it’s a leisurely morning – most likely not, but perhaps.  Or, perhaps just a day when all the chores get accomplished in good time without anything going wrong or being overly complicated.  Whatever might make a day a bit brighter. 

New Day Dawning

Sometimes, in the mornings when I’m out photographing the day as it begins, the air is amazingly crisp and clear smelling.  It’s one of my favorite times to be out, doing what I love to do, and not bothering anyone doing it.  The peacefulness of this image captures how I feel when I’m out capturing the early part of the day to share with everyone.

Barnyard

Something caught my eye as I kept looking at this barn, and then I realized it was the barnyard off to the right in my field of vision.  There was a simple grace about it, something that is well worn from use, but well cared for, with a simple elegance that is sometimes elusive, when we strive to achieve that impression.  This barnyard seems to do that effortlessly.

Thru the Fence

As I drove down the country road, I noticed this wonderful framing of a deserted homestead.  I love the feel of the rough fence posts, contrasted by the new freshly hewn log, made to fit and complement the barbed wire fencing.  Late summer grasses add some color to the scene, and ironically, the homestead becomes a supporting character to the fence put up to surround it, and protect its land.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are all available in a variety of sizes and finishes on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.