cows, numbers, farm
MOO

"The beaten path only gets you where most people go. Be original and explore new roads."

Nanette Mathews

This week our guest host, Beth of Wandering Dawgs, has invited us to leave the beaten path and wander some back country roads. Over the years my husband and I have often set off to do just that. I'm happy to have an opportunity to share some of our exploits, starting with the beautiful bovines above. We came across them and the farmstead below in our adventures along the country roads near the home of our family in upstate New York.

farm, tractor, silo
Down on the Farm

"A farmer is a magician who produces money from the mud."

Amit Kalantri

In beautiful Montana , a good friend invited me to join her in photographing the glorious yellow canola fields. The colors of the red barn, blue sky and yellow canola flowers were a photographer's dream!

canola field, red barn
Canola Fields, Montana

"Is there any sight more exquisite than a field of canary yellow rapeseed on a day of blinding sunlight?"

Stewart Stafford

Speaking of red barns, the image below is one of my all-time favorite scenes. Captured during a getaway in New England some years back, it's an example of the importance of timing. We originally saw the barns at mid-day and I captured several images of the scene. That evening I was disappointed when I reviewed my results. We were fortunate to be able to return late the following afternoon and the images I'd envisioned were there for the taking in the waning light.

red, barns
Red Barns, New England

"Painted oxide red, silhouetted against colored skies of a setting sun, the barns were a dramatic, strong architectural presence."

Hemalata Dandekar

I'll close with a few images captured along the winding, crazy curving "off the beaten path" road which leads to my brother's home in the Colorado mountains. I made these images one chilly morning as the sun was just beginning to rise. Fortunately the time change traveling west means sunrise is a bit more manageable for an Easterner like yours truly.

sunrise, woods
Sunrise, Colorado

"There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them."

Jo Walton

aspens, impression, panning
Impression of Aspens in the Snow

"I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree."

Joyce Kilmer

red barn, american flag
Patriotic

"Freedom is a privilege, not a right. And as such, I have no right to ask anything of it, but I have the privilege of giving everything to it."

Craig D. Lounsbrough

deer, woods
Local Residents

"How can a deer tell when a leaf falls silent in the forest? She hears it breathing differently"

Richard Bach

I hope you've enjoyed my stroll down memory lane (aka the back country roads) as much as I did - I look forward to seeing your responses to the challenge. Be sure to link them to Beth's original post here, and to use the Lens-Artists Tag. We thank Beth and all of our guest hosts this month, and look forward to next week when our final guest host, Ana of Anvica's Gallery leads us with her Postcards challenge. Most importantly, we thank all of you for your participation in our challenges and for your continued creativity and commitment. Until next week, please stay safe and be kind.

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