Old Barn – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

And Then She Quietly Whispered Goodbye part 2

Back and White Photography, Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Yesterday’s Dreams 32321cp” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

This is part two of a series of the old barn on Muddlety Creek. For part 1 please visit the link below.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2021/04/28/and-then-she-quietly-whispered-goodbye-part-1/

Looking over the rubble of the old barn brings to mind how temporary this world is. I’ve had this line of thought concerning this barn for years. When I was younger the wood was still straight, the seams were unbroken and there was still a little natural color in the grain. By the time I took up the lens I could tell that one day I’d be looking at it on the ground. As humans we build some things that seem to defy the flow of time but most of what we make will slowly fade away. Wherever we make something we impart our lives into it. Whenever I do portraits I like to include a shot of just the hands. Our ideas and thoughts may direct our actions but it’s our hands that do the work that changes the world. It was hands that sustained the hunter/gatherer in early history. It was hands that tilled the soil. The grand megalithic structures were all built by hands. And it was hands that built the old barn.

Untitled Image of the old barn on Muddlety Creek first published on October 20th, 2020.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/09/02/forging-yesterday/

Because our lives are finite and tied to the moment we live in the only thing that we own is that very moment. When someone makes something for you or chooses to spend time with you they are truly sharing their most valuable resource of time. Some people look at an object like that old barn and see only rusted tin, rotten wood and the abandoned residue of civilization. But there’s so much more. The hands that yielded up the time invested life into the experience. I was blessed to encounter an older gentleman who actually had worked in that barn for the owners. He didn’t really talk about the misery of hot humid July and August days when the hay would get into your shirt and make you itch. Or the indignantly of mucking out a stall. What he remembered was the relationship he had with the owners. He was a hired hand and he mentioned that they paid well. He also spoke of what good and kind employers they were. But what really stuck with him was the feeling of value they placed on him and the community around them. His exact description didn’t really stick with me but the look of love on his face was unforgettable.

Untitled Image of the old barn first published on November 22nd 2018.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/11/22/where-past-meets-future/

Perhaps it’s this investment of lifetime that explains why we cling to the a past that we can never hold. Old buildings and such provide a temporary store for the intrinsic value of time and energy that brings forth something tangible. The tangible object is anchor point in the flow of time and in some ways provides a way for us to navigate through all the possible outcomes in order to reach the next goal.

Untitled Image of the old barn in winter first published on December 7th 2018.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/12/07/winter-refuge/

The family barn is more than just a place where we store supplies and do work. The one room schoolhouse that my family used as a barn was equipped with a basketball hoop. Although learning how to dribble a ball on the warped floor added a whole new dimension to any game played. If the winter day was mild enough a game of “barnball” could be played. Aside from the almost random direction a ball might bounce when attempting to dribble there was the double bank shot. That’s when you bank the ball from the ceiling and the wall to make a basket. There’s also a corner pass where the ball is passed to one’s self by bouncing it from the corner before doing a lay-up.

Image Titled “Echoes Of A Lifetime” first published on November 27th 2019.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2019/10/13/echoes-of-a-lifetime/

At this point I think I’ll conclude the recap of the old barn. I’ll miss visiting it but as long as I have the photos I’ll hear the echo of her quiet farewell for the rest of my life. And while the proximity of this site to the marsh makes me doubt that anyone would build a new barn in this same spot I do think that the days of the family farm will return and just maybe I’ll find a new barn to catch my fancy.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.

We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️

And Then She Quietly Whispered Goodbye part 1

black and white photography, Color Photography, Landscapes

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Yesterday’s Dreams 32321a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The North Wind blows a little colder across the marsh as rusted tin flutters slightly. Almost immediately after my last post of the old barn at Muddlety Creek the once majestic structure finally succumbed to the effects of decades of neglect leaving behind only the echoes of yesterday’s dreams.

Image Titled “Cultivate Life” first published January 7th 2018.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/01/07/cultivate-life/

The old barn has been a local landmark my entire life. It was also among the first photos I published when I decided to go professional with my photography. Since then it’s been my muse on many occasions. To me that old barn represented an entire culture. I can easily imagine an old sixties or seventies model truck backed up to opening of the barn while young men moved bales of hay and sacks of feed in or out of the barn. A family farm is also a family business. In my area that meant that you either trade in cattle, feed or both. The slaughterhouse was always local in those days and so was the butcher. The meat was raised, processed and sold locally. The barn was the very backbone of the economy. Even those who worked in the mining industry was dependent on the local farmers and ranchers. And there was often some overlap. A miner would work the mines while his family raised a few head of cattle. Some for himself and a few for the market. Mine closings and layoffs have always been a part of life in Appalachia. A small farm on the side is a way to hedge your bets in the down times.

Image Titled “Yesterday’s Echoes” and was first published on February 6th 2018.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/02/06/old-barn-on-muddlety-creek/

Although I never personally worked in this barn every time I stopped by it the memories of my grandfather’s barn would come flooding back. When I was young I couldn’t tolerate the hay due to severe allergies. But as I grew out of that I spent quite a bit of time in barns. Even just passing an old barn on the highway allows me to relive the smell of grain and hay in the humid August sun. I can still see the rusted ox shoes and a single tree yoke in the corner behind a wooden barrel of grain. A metallic syringe type tool that was designed to help a cow swallow a pill. The barn was also an animal hospital. Today I work with computers and high technology. It’s frustrating when you have a major update trying to load and your whole system refuses to cooperate. But compared to trying to give an 800 pound animal a pill when it’s determined that you’re not going to get its mouth open it’s a breeze. My computer has never broken a single bone in my body. ( Neither did the cows but there was a few narrow escapes. )

Untitled Image of the old barn on Muddlety Creek first published November 10th 2018.
https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/2018/08/01/very-old-things-and-the-secrets-they-hold/

Places where voices gather in love and friendship seem to hold those voices for a long time in my imagination. When I go to a place that feels familiar I can almost hear the indistinct conversations of people as they work. It’s more so with manual labor than office work. When you’re working with your hands a certain amount of banter is almost obligatory. It also involves a fair amount of teasing in most cases. Occupation of the mind distracts you from how tired you are or the new blisters you earn. In a good team the conversation can even carry a rhythm that helps the work flow. I’m using the term conversation loosely. It’s not really unusual for it to simply be an imitation of a quarterback yelling “hike” as a fifty pound bag of grain is hurled across the room.

Image of the inside of the old barn was taken with a long lens from outside of the structure. At this point it was far too dangerous to actually step inside

That’s it for tonight friends. We’ll have a part 2 tomorrow night. In the meantime, Good night and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Memory Lingers

black and white photography, Landscapes

Cold March winds swirl above in the unsettled skies. Behind me the roar of the big trucks on the highway fade into the distance leaving only the echoes of passers-by. Life on the highway is only a faint moment to the observer. Several yards below that high pressure ribbon of swift destination and imposing concrete lays the old road with its bright yellow lines and rolling hills. Two lanes are the destination today.

Of course I’ve come to pay a visit to the old barn. She is an echo unto herself standing as the bridge between centuries. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can hear the chatter of those who worked the fields as they store the wealth of the landscape inside the lapped wood and tin roof. The work was hot and laborious but the bonds were strong between the helpers. All who gathered there became family. Joined not by blood but by sweat and a common goal achieved. Nations are fed by families. Families are those who join hearts as well as hands.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

The Thorns

black and white photography, encouragement, Thoughts and Musing

As I approached the old barn to photograph the rusted hinge and weathered gray wood I’m given one of those “gifts” from nature that I don’t much like to receive. A thorn in the flesh. But it’s okay. I’ve fought this battle many times in my life. I know almost all of the tricks to overcome the trial. I first acknowledge the pain. One the first lessons of adulthood is that uncomfortable doesn’t kill. Don’t recoil from the pain. Accept it. If you try to pull away the Thorns will only rip your skin and cause more pain. The cane that bears the thorns is long dead and brittle. It’s a simple thing to reach down and break off the parts that are not embedded in my skin and clothes. Carefully reach down and lift the remaining branch opposite of the direction it went in. There will be more pain but not as much as going in. I took the photos and headed back to the road. But as did so that thorny branch sought it’s revenge by tangling itself in my pants and trying to make me fall.

It’s an unfortunate fact that some of life’s situations are in themselves thorn patches. We’re drawn in by the idea of a reward such as the perfect rustic image or perhaps it’s hope of gaining approval from others. Whatever it is it’s the idea of the rewards that distracts us from the surrounding hazards and before we know it we’re caught. Most of the time we panic and struggle but the struggle only leads to a greater entanglement. We have to stop and break off the excess material. We have to remove the catches that have attached themselves and do so knowing that it’s going to be uncomfortable. And as we leave tangling thorns we have to be careful not become tangled again.

God, guide my steps but do so knowing that I’m human and as such I’ll most likely make a wrong step. And when I make the wrong step give me the grace to get free. And as I leave those circumstances behind pick me up if I fall.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Another Lesson From The Old Barn

black and white photography, Landscapes

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled Old Barn On Muddlety Creek 120120BW” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Weathered wood creeks and rusted tin rattles in the icy assault of Old Man Winter’s rage. The once majestically constructed barn strains to keep her shape but she’s weary from the decades of buffering the climate. I fear that she just doesn’t have many seasons left. It’s a bittersweet moment as I stand in the road and listen to wind whisper that it’s only a matter of time before she gives in. The timbers will turn to powder and the tin will be scattered in ravages of time. And what will become of the small histories of lives that were touched by the old landmark? I know that the true nature of time is not tangible to mankind in our current life. And yet at the same time I know that whatever was once held never truly fades into oblivion. It lives on in some frozen cosmic moment in various states of being. It’s also true that what once was can be remade by hands that are willing. It’s really just a matter of investing the will and the sweat along with that essence of life invested. Blisters and calluses are the currency of the will. As a race mankind is capable of making real almost anything imagined. The Good Lord said so at the tower of Babel. I read through the Bible and there is a lot of emphasis on the words “If the people are willing and have a mind to work.” You see, the old barn didn’t just spring into existence. Someone had to look at the fallow ground and see a farm that was successful enough to justify the barn. They either cut and hauled the timber or took what they had and purchased it. They cut it to the needed dimensions and formed from their will through the sweat, blisters and calluses until it was there. It fades away now not because it was used up but because it was not maintained. For whatever reason, the will disappeared. But what if someone else found the will? The old beams would need to be cleared and new ones put in their place but it can be done.

My final thought for tonight is that we face a lot of challenges in the near future. And in some cases we will have to clear away the debris and start fresh. We’ll have to invest our sweat,blisters and calluses but if the people are willing and have a mind to work then what once was can be again. We are human. We change worlds because that’s what we are born to do.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.