Let It Go
by Lois Bryan
Title
Let It Go
Artist
Lois Bryan
Medium
Photograph - Photography / Digital Art
Description
"Let It Go" is another in my informal "Vanishing America" series ... a lovely old barn and silo discovered on a trip home from snapping eagles at Conowingo Dam in Conowingo, Maryland ... captured in late November of 2014 with the Nikon D7000 and the 18-200mm VR Nikkor / Nikon lens.
I was originally going to title this one "Hard Work." As retirement looms on the horizon for my husband and myself, my thoughts seem to go all over the place ... to the life we've worked so hard to build for ourselves and our children, the plans we've made for our futures, and all the "what ifs" that have plagued men and women of a certain age down through the ages. We're considering down-sizing ... and the thoughts of leaving our home and all the work and love and care we've put into making it a place of beauty and comfort are bitter-sweet.
When I see something like this old barn ... obviously a place that saw a lot of hard, hard work in its time, now rusting and crumbling to the ground, all those "what ifs" seem to gather like storm clouds around my head. All that hard work the farmers did here, day after day, year after year, and what did it amount to? Sickness or simple old age or something else struck ... and this structure which used to bustle with activity ... and hopes ... is falling into dust.
And then I thought of another title for this little image. The song "Let It Go," which is so popular right now, might be a better representative, both in name and in meaning.
Most of us are hard-working individuals. Most of us get up every morning and give life our best shot. We have good intentions, try to do the right thing by ourselves, our families and our fellow inhabitants of this good earth. Sometimes things go the way we plan, but sometimes that old "Man plans and God laughs" thing happens. All we can really do, is do our best, keep our chins up, smile with our lips, our eyes and our hearts ... and "Let It Go."
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January 26th, 2015
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Comments (36)
Judy Vincent
Beautiful capture and presentation! Congratulations! This will be the “Abandoned and Forgotten Buildings in the US” photo of the day on the USA Photographers group home page for 5/27/23!
Lois Bryan replied:
Oh Judy!!! Thank you!!! A wonderful honor … I appreciate it!!! I will tweet the group!!
David Choate
What a wonderful image and back story, Lois. And we will never let go of our memories of good times past. Do you ever wonder what this scene looks today, 7 years later?
Sharon K Shubert
Beautiful rural scene. It's like many found in rural Texas when we take a drive. Near and dear to my heart. :)
Sandi OReilly
Excellent capture, Lois, and find, sad to see, but beautifully presented and great artwork, F/L
Lois Bryan
My thanks to the hosts of Old Buildings and Ruins and Photography and Textures Make Fine Art for the features in your fabulous groups!!
Lois Bryan
Thank you to the hosts of "Old Buildings and Ruins" and "Best Image Promotion" for the features ... they are truly appreciated!
Lois Bryan
Many sincere thanks to the hosts of the following groups for the much-appreciated features: Topaz ... Appreciating Images From All Mediums ... Seen But Not Noticed ... Digital Realism ... Glimpses of Autumn ... The World We See ... Landscape and Landmark Photography ... Memories and Nostalgia ... Images That Excite You ... Barns Big And Small ... Premium FAA Artists ... Barn Lovers Group ... and Art From The Past.
Angela Davies
Evocative and emotional. Can't help feeling a twinge of regret seeing this expressive work of a vanishing way of life in America. LF
Lois Bryan replied:
Thank you, Angie. I feel the same way about our wonderful old barns ... i think of it as vanishing America ... these things just seem to call to me ...
Joan Bertucci
Well young lady, you never, ever disappoint with your images! Love the rich textures and birds and the title made me start singing one of my favorite songs (my great-granddaughter sings it for me all the time)! :-) L/F
Lois Bryan replied:
Thanks so much, Joan .. you've got me smiling ear to ear!!! So happy you enjoyed this one!!