When I taught photography, I would tell my students that the best time to shoot was when the weather turned cold and nasty; rain, snow, fog, whatever; nature at its worst can add a moody element to your work.
I remembered that on the way to an assignment for a commercial client in Richmond, Ill.
Driving down a backroad on a typically winter gray day, I spotted an old red barn  surrounded by bare trees in a field covered with a dusting of snow. Not exactly picture postcard material, but that's fine.
The elements combined to create a moody image that I couldn't resist.
I added the vignette and dialed back the color in post production to add a bit more mood.
More images like this are in the American barns gallery of my online portfolio. 
http://www.ernestjschweitphotography.com/Barms
More of my barn images will be shown at the Grayslake Fine Arts Show, from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, March 11 at the Grayslake Heritage Center. For more info, visit