Picture of the Day - September 11, 2009

"Americana III"

Photo courtesy of Winston Rockwell.                     (Click on the photo for a larger view) Today's picture comes to us from Special Contributor Winston Rockwell, and it is the third photograph in the series entitled "Americana". As with the first and second Americana images, this one features a beautiful farm that well-represents both our great nation's rural heritage and its agricultural roots - Americana at its best! Here is Mr. Rockwell's story behind the image: "Coming home from a day of photographing white-water rafters last weekend, I passed this farm in the rural countryside southeast of Seattle. The sun was low in the sky, evening was coming on, and the light was perfect. The crimson barn with its neatly painted fence, and the deep green of the grass made a wonderful counter- point to the mound of clouds piling up in the background. Places like this are vanishing all across America. In many communities, family farms like this have been sold to make way for strip malls and housing developments. What was once a way of life for many families is rapidly becoming almost a rarity in some parts of the country, and land like this is valued more for potential subdivisions and shopping centers than for the history and the lifestyle it represents. I'm always sad to see pastures and orchards and farms for sale, because I know they'll soon be replaced by stores and condos and fast-food restaurants. I know a lot of people who don't much care about farms like this one, but having grown up with barns and animals and orchards and vegetable gardens, I am always saddened to see them disappear. Cities have their place, I suppose, but they have no soul. To me they are little more than overcrowded rat-warrens filled with people who are so worried about catching the next bus or making it to the next meeting on time that they have lost sight of what's important in life. Country folk live different lives, close to the earth, and understand the things that matter; they know the rhythms of life, the cycle of the seasons, the rituals of growth and death and rebirth, the value of home and family and friends - things many city-dwellers have forgotten, if they ever knew to begin with. I just hope that when my grandchildren are old enough to appreciate places like this, there will still be some for them to enjoy... This photograph was taken with a Canon EOS 5D and Tamron SP24-135 lens at 41mm, 1/250 @ f/11."   --Winston "Rocky" Rockwell You'll find many more of Winston Rockwell's magnificent images in his gallery at www.northwestnaturalimagery.com.     Visitor Comments... Name: Rick Rouse Town: Abingdon, VA Great job as always Rocky!     Name: Ed Morrison Town: Dunwoody, GA Rocky, in this picture and narrative you have managed to succinctly capture the true essence of rural America. My hat is off to you for contributing yet another outstanding piece of work to this wonderful site.     Name: Eva Legard Town: Minnetonka, MN I agree - Americana at its best. Mr. Rockwell, your images always inspire me.     Name: Ron Trees Town: Spokane, WA LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this photo Rocky, and as always, your comments are right on the money!! We live way out in the country and I would not trade it for anything. Yes, we do put a lot of miles on our cars and pay more for gas, but we have peace and quiet at night. Maybe a coyote or a Hoot Owl at night, but we can see the beautiful stars and Milky Way at night and enjoy the produce from our own garden. I read an article a couple of weeks ago, where a dairy in our area was sending their cows in to be slaughtered, because milk prices have dropped to the point that they can’t afford to keep them. I am sure that I do not understand all of the ins and outs of this, but when I saw this picture with the dairy cows, I immediately thought of this story. My children are sure growing up in a different world than I did and it is just plain sad. Anyway, I really do like this photo a lot.     Name: Harry Noonkester Town: Warren, OH Superb photo today Mr. Rouse. I'm often rather amazed at the quality of the images featured on this site. Great job! And kudos to Mr. Rockwell for capturing such magnificent images on a regular basis. You sir, truly ARE a master.     Name: Juanita Ruffner Town: Negley, OH Truly, truly beautiful!     Name: Jim Housewright Town: Jackson Hole, WY Another beautiful "country" scene from Gordon Rockwell. Even here in Wyoming we're beginning to see a lot of farms go out of business and the farmland put to other uses. How sad.   Comment on today's picture  |  View previous "Pictures Of The Day"  |  Submit a photo Why I publish the "Picture Of The Day"