Barn on Rt. 6
in Andover CT
Rt. 6 is a busy, high speed road and the only way to get this shot, (without trespassing), is to stand on the edge of Rt. 6 while vehicles rush past you just feet away around 50 mph.
TIP: If I’m shooting on the road, any road, I wear a brightly colored reflective safety vest. I also purchased, for merely $8.00, an orange collapsible safety cone which I put on the roadway about 30 ‘ before my vehicle to alert oncoming cars. Keep your four way flashers going as well. In this particular shot I parked the car up the street, off the road way, and walked down to the shot. The vest gives you visibility but it also lets folks know, especially in residential area’s, that you’re not trying to hide what you’re doing.
Some area’s I shoot are very desolate out in the middle of no where. I’ve shot many an abandoned building in rough area’s of cities. You never know what kind of a yahoo or yahoo(s) may drive upon you and try to rob you or worse. So always have your cell phone at the ready when you’re away from the safety of your vehicle.
I’ve been shooting barns for a long time and almost always am standing on the edge of a road. I’m emphatic about not trespassing. Which is why you need a long lens with you at all times so you can get those scenes that are set far from the road.
Please, NEVER, NEVER turn your back to traffic. Don’t assume people see you or that they even have the same amount of concern for your safety that you do. Watch the cars and always have an exit plan if it looks like a vehicle is coming at you. In this case I would have jumped over the guardrail and slid, (of fallen), down the hill. It’s better than getting struck.
Once you know you’re in the clear then click off your shots but constantly check for traffic and stop/watch when you see another vehicle on it’s way. It’s cute to say you’d die for your art but in reality it’s not such a good idea is it.
Keep shooting and find your bliss!
Photographed with a Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-55mm @ 18 mm (35 mm equiv. = 27 mm)
1/100th, f13, ISO 400
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