I was out doing errands recently and spotted an old house in the distance that I had never noticed before. I drove a little closer to investigate and saw that it was abandoned and on private property behind a large historic home. I was about to write down the address when the owner drove up and stopped to get her mail. I just had to jump out, introduce myself and ask if I could photograph the building. She graciously agreed, as long as I promised to stay outside, sign a waiver and share a few photos. I went home and investigated the position of the sun with satellite maps before scheduling a late afternoon shoot. The owner said that she failed to see the artistic merit in the old ‘tenant’ house and that it’s scheduled to be torn down in a few months. Walking around the building several times I tried to find every composition possible and shot the inside, from the outside (reluctantly honoring my promise)! Soon the setting sun lit up the ugly, old house from across the big farm field. The ‘golden hour’ seemed warmer than I have ever seen as it beamed through the broken front windows giving the interior a glow. What fun!




