Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
December 2025 - Abandoned homestead
Original
About the Image(s)
Abandoned Homestead
This was taken a few years ago in March in Iowa on an overcast late winter day. I used a Nikon camera and 18-200mm lens at 50mm, 1/400th second, and Iso 200. I did do quite a bit of cleanup, getting rid of power lines, and the tree branches on the left side. I went to monochrome because I wanted to show the starkness of the winter landscape. I thought about removing the fence, but think that it makes
the homestead more isolated.
5 comments posted
You captured the starkness quite well. You also created a Vintage Look with the cloudless whilte sky ...... which fits the "old house" scene. The fence belongs there. Placing the house at the top of the small hill was a good compositional idea because it now shows the entire house against a white background. Removing the errant tree limbs at the left was a good idea. Posted: 12/01/2025 02:28:34
I really like this photo. I edited it the way I would have starting with your original. What do you think? Posted: 12/06/2025 20:47:11
It is an entirely different image, and now says more to me "winter", a lot because of the sky. It is not the story of abandonment that I wanted. Posted: 12/08/2025 14:10:11
Tom, great treatment to convey your concept. Good to simplify and remove the branches on the left.
Ed, you made an excellent interpretation of Tom's original.
One could almost assign everyone in a group to take a crack at such an original. But I doubt if I could produce anything like you two have. Posted: 12/10/2025 08:13:59
Ed, you made an excellent interpretation of Tom's original.
One could almost assign everyone in a group to take a crack at such an original. But I doubt if I could produce anything like you two have. Posted: 12/10/2025 08:13:59
I understand your thinking to project abandonment but in terms of picture, I prefer the Wintry one produced by Ed, although I would have removed the tree on the left as you did. You need to have the fence in whichever one you go for. They both shout loneliness. Posted: 12/17/2025 15:20:21