Can't wait for the snow to blanket my part of the midwest so we can get out shootin' more barns.

In the meantime, this one will have to do:  a snow scene that appears in my book, "Wisconsin Barns." We captured this barn near Spring Lake, Wisc.

To be truthful, the hay rolls scattered in the white fields caught my attention first; there happened to be a cool barn sitting against a hill full of trees in the background, so it worked out. 

Looking forward to more; and soon!

Traveling to Macomb, Ill., the other day, we came across this scene near LaSalle, a naked tree against the fall sky with a lone farm building against the horizon. A common scene in these flatlands, the scene is a reminder how empty and lonely the country can appear. For more of my work, visit www.mfisherstudios.com. Just click on Ernest J. Schweit photography. Or 'like' us on facebook; search for Ernest J. Schweit photography.

Sometimes an old barn will grab my attention for the way it sits in its surroundings. Such was the case with this beauty we found out near a golf course in Belvidere, Ill.

Sitting among the grasses and brush, this old beauty seemed to be about to be swallowed up by its surroundings, like so many other barns we've seen.

Hang in there!

Western Illinois winter

Desolation is the word that sprung to mind when I saw this old red barn along Route 150  during a recent trip through Western Illinois. The spindly, barren trees, grey skies and snow sprinkled field made this old barn look lonelier than it would have looked surrounded by lush trees, crops in the field and a bright blue sky. Yet many old barns I've come across have a lonely look to them, as if they've seen better days and now they're cast aside.

Hay rolls in winter

Finding new and interesting settings to photograph a barn can be challenging, especially when winter is whipping across the farmland of western Illinois. We discovered these rolls of hay in a field along Illinois Route 150. Conveniently, a farmhouse and a barn were nearby, so we put 'em together and viola! Something a little different. I might take a different perspective if I had it to do over again, but hey, like I said, it was c-c-cold outside and I feel fortunate to have captured this image before my fingers froze!