Past Flint Hills - Farm Photos by Brian D. Smith
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Imagekind Gallery PastFlintHills
Copyright (C) 2008
Black-and-White images of homestead sites found throughout the Flint Hills region of Kansas.
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This image was taken in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. I found this
old barn among a field of hay just north of the town of Green, and was drawn to the symmetry of the two small windows. I set my tripod low to the ground to emphasize the feathery grasses as compared to the weathered wood of the barn. The image was taken using a Canon EOS 1D Mark II with a 24-105 / 4.0 IS L lens. The black-and-white conversion was completed in Photoshop to enhance the textural quality of the image, and develop a full tonal range.
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An image of a plaster-built home site east of Russell, KS taken after a spring snowfall on Easter weekend. I spotted this abandoned homestead site from I-70 while travelling to Denver and stopped for about a half hour to shoot a series of images. While the lighting was
high contrast, the fact that the front of this structure were in shade helped bring out the details of the broken front porch. In addition, the trees which frame the house and the open expanse of freshly fallen snow help provide a sense of location to the scene.
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This image is of the Schweer residence near Olsburg, KS. A beautiful sunset illuminated the grass and tree in front of the structure, framing the late 1800's farmhouse which is still in use today. These Flint Rock homes are all over this region of Kansas, though most of them are in ruin.
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A more intimate view of the plaster construction homestead found near Russell, KS. The various elements of this porch provide a great
view of the ruination of this building. I enjoyed the reflections in the lower windows which contrast nicely with the vacant darkness of the upstairs windows.
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A classic flint-rock homestead house located in Randolph, KS. This image was taken after a snowstorm in February, when the God's rays broke through the clouds to illuminate the front of the structure.
This, combined with the striking texture of the rock and the blank stares of the vacant windows drew me into making a photograph despite the sub-zero temperatures.
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A flint-rock structure outside of Westmoreland, KS. This image was taken during a blizzard in the winter of 2007, before the snow had accumulated. These beautiful homestead sites dot the plains throughout the Flint Hills - many are still lived in! This particular structure was the most charismatic of all of the structures I photographed in this portfolio. The flowing grasses and framing trees help depict the miniscule scale of this one room homestead.
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An intimate view of the one-room homestead near Westmoreland, KS. This image is all about the flint rock from which these buildings are made. I also wanted to show the ruined interior and rubble near the entrance.
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The sagging arc of this weathered stock corral gate was what drew me into this image. The great texture of the wood, along with the overgrown trees and fallen tree help create a flow for the eyes throughout this photograph. This image harkens back to the cattle country history of this region of Kansas.
Homestead Site #1; Olsburg, KS
A bunker-type flint rock structure near Olsburg, KS. This homestead site was right in the heart of tornado country.
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Barn #1; Olsburg, KS
An old barn inside the city limits of Olsburg, KS.
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This cattle pen and loading ramp were near Olsburg, KS. The image was taken on an overcast, rainy day resulting in excellent detail in the aged wooden structure.
Homestead Site #2; Russell, KS
Haybales and an abandoned homestead outside of Russell, KS. This image was taken after a spring snowstorm, on Easter weekend.
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I found this abandoned workshop north of Green, KS. The strong winds on this evening turned the tall grasses into waves of green and yellow. The cloud formations in the background help provide the depth from foreground to background, while the sunset light enhances the textures within the frame.
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This image of an old hay barn near Olsburg, Kansas as taken at sunset using a Canon EOS 1D Mark II with a 24-105 / 4.0 IS L lens. The unique flint rock base along with the weathered wood and tin rooftop give this barn unique character which was enhanced by the dramatic side-lighting. I converted the original color image to black-and-white using Photoshop, adding a slight warm tone to the highlights and cool tones to the shadows for separation.
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I was asked to photograph this barn by its owner who was moving away. I liked the way the lighter dirt patches in the foreground, and the fenceline created a triangular form culminating at the base of the barn. I hope this image brings forth the rustic character of this structure which has stood here since the late 1800's.
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Abandoned Schoolhouse. Olsburg, KS
Barn With Panel Fence. Olsburg, KS
Tool Bins. Abandoned Machine Shop. Green, KS
Grain Silo and Barn. Green, KS
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Barns and Windmill North of Green, KS
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