Barns I

This pair of small barns is familiar to many Clevelanders, especially those who drive by the intersection of River Road and South Woodland in southeastern Cuyahoga County. Viewed in the light of late winter morning, geometric shadows accentuate the angles giving the scene what seems to me a Hopper-like solitude. I had hoped to capture an original view of these barns, one that didn’t “announce” the location but would be immediately recognizable when disclosed.

Vertical lines anchor the image compositionally, and the oblique angle of light allowed me to make a stronger statement in black and white than color. Distancing the second barn and keeping the first in shadow created stronger separation and the illusion of solitude. The sense of depth in the image derives from the broad tonal range that transitions through the grayscale.

Year: 2013
Location: Chagrin Valley
Collector’s Edition of 10
Dimensions:
15" x 10"
24" x 16"