Up in the Sky: Saving Old Farm Photos, One Roll at a Time

[Kali]

https://www.drovers.com/article/sky-saving-old-farm-photos-one-roll-time?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWXpJeU1UZzBNRGM0TWpaaCIsInQiOiJua1c2eFAySEhJdURpVDZPUnlqM2Q2MXBVYzc2dzdsT3hmaGFXeHFCQlJKUmgrb0kyaUdJWTZKTitZd0xneXR3MmEySllTb0RtamdkRm9NeTNMdHZ3QjZZaytUb1duRGN4dHpET3RVb1JcL1wvU2NUY3huYXJhQmNkNXRINXRnS3IrIn0%3D

“Go out and take pictures of every farm you see.”

Seems like an odd thing to ask an airplane pilot. It’s a lot of farms and a lot of film. More than 60 years after that first pilot took that first picture, a company called Vintage Aerial is trying to match rolls and rolls of aerial farmland photos - 18 million photos worth - to the families who have lived and worked on that land for generations.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. My parents had an aerial photo of our farm and my grandparents farm.

They have been treasured in our family since both farms are now gone. When my Dad sold them after my Mom died, the people who bought them tore the houses, barns and sheds down. I was able to go out and dig up some plants, rose bushes, my grannies peonie bushes, I still have them through moves to 4 states.

[zeusdogmom]

2. Siblings and I have several arial photos of the "home place"

They were on display last week at my Dad's funeral. One brother still lives on the farm. Looks a little different these days.

I have the arial photo of my ex's home place, too. He didn't take it with him when he left so I kept it. I still like his family.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Sorry for your loss

[DURHAM D]

4. Thanks for this.

I have aerial shots of several farms that were/are still in the family. Some are of the same farms taken several years apart. I can tell by the added implement sheds, new barn roofs, etc.

I always wondered how the pilots communicated with the farmers. Now I know.

[Kali]

5. I don't remember the company but there were some taken of the ranch back in the late 80s or early 90

and a salesman showed up at the door. All I could think was man what if the photos showed the wrong car in front of the house that day or something?

[dweller]

6. my older daughter is fascinated with country drives and taking pictures

of older homes and farm buildings, especially abandoned buildings of any sort... she might enjoy the bird's eye view as well

on another note, I used to regularly use google satellite views of my own place during different seasons to see what it looked like... it's almost hidden during the summer due to foliage, but it's just fun to see all the same
✌🏼️

[Kali]

7. Oh yeah I can waste a lot of time on google earth

I am waiting for more high res stuff to get declassified so I can see actual barbed wire fence lines. You can see fenceline contrasts now if one side has been grazed or rested a long time, but can't quite make out fences where there is no contrast. (talking semi arid grassland/range land our here)

[dweller]

8. I'm in NC

so it's pretty verdant in the Piedmont

[DURHAM D]

9. Google post rock fences if you are not familiar.

You can probably see them from outer space.

[Kali]

10. cool! thanks for that

I have seen concrete posts but never stone like that - we have spots where that has been creative use of existing boulders, but nothing like quarrying for posts. Fascinating! https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/post-rock-cutting-kansas-folk-art/16558

[DURHAM D]

11. My great grandfather built a post rock barn.

It was completed in 1902. It is still in use today. It helped that the rock quarry was in his south pasture. The quarry is how he made his living. He made the post rocks and delivered them to the farmers/ranchers.

jftr - My great grandmother worked right along with the men.