Scenes from a Vanishing New England | Featured Photographer Jim Westphalen
Inspired by Wyeth and Hopper, Vermont photographer Jim Westphalen finds beauty in decay in his landscape series Vanish.
By Heather Marcus|Sep 01 2022|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanBorn and raised on Long Island, New York, photographer Jim Westphalen moved to Vermont in 1996 to be closer to the rural landscape that he loves. That love is reflected in his current body of work, Vanish: Inspired by such painters as A. Hale Johnson, Andrew Wyeth, and Edward Hopper, these photographs are windows on a world that is rapidly disappearing. Today Westphalen lives with his wife, Kendra, in Shelburne, Vermont, where he also runs his studio.
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
What’s your connection to New England?
I fell in love with New England — especially rural New England — while visiting friends in Vermont in the early 1990s. I never imagined making a living here as a commercial photographer, which was my focus at the time, but then I discovered the Burlington area. As they say, “The best thing about Burlington is that it’s so close to Vermont!”
I’ve always felt drawn to the rural landscape, especially what I call the “built” landscape: the fading rural structures that are the character and heritage of New England’s countryside. Sadly, they are disappearing at an alarming rate.
And, having grown up near the water, I also have a deep love of coastal Maine.
How did you get into photography?
I entered the field in 1980 working for a commercial photo lab, learning the “back end” of the art. I next worked for a portrait studio shooting high-end New York weddings. I lasted three years and knew this was not the photography I wanted to do. I’m mostly self-taught — first in commercial photography and then as a fine art photographer.
What equipment do you use?
I use a vintage 4×5 view camera, which I’ve now adapted to digital capture. It’s not the most compact rig to carry out into the field, but there’s no substitute for how I create my imagery.
What inspires you?
For my Vanish work, my primary inspiration comes from some remarkable American painters, both present and past. There’s A. Hale Johnson, with his sensitivity to light and the astounding detail he paints in weathered clapboard, lichen-covered stone foundations, and rusted roofs. And of course there’s Andrew Wyeth — we share an affinity for a somewhat idealized, if not stripped-down, rural landscape.
You can see more of Jim Westphalen’s work at jimwestphalenfineart.com and @jimwestphalen.
Scenes From a Vanishing New England
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Photo Credit : Jim Westphalen
Stunning photography; thank you for capturing and sharing these images. I’m a LI person as well and after 40 years or of traveling New England backroads; cannot believe I still have not made the permanent leap to move there. Thank you! Scott
These are great photos and anyone would be proud to display them. With that said, I was quite disappointed. They were quite generic or stock photo type. At first glance I had to go back and make sure I read the title right. And it was “Vanishing New England”. However most of the photos were of anywhere U.S.A. old buildings and barns- which could have been taken anywhere. It didn’t show little towns like Grafton- where the only way in or out of the town is via a gravel road, or Jamaica where the court house still has 2 rooms marked “defendant” and “Plaintiff”. Or even the first town named after George Washington- called East Washington, did you know there is a house there that still has the original steps when it was a “Carriage House” also known as a weigh station. Even your little town Dover has some pretty neat building- that make a person say ” Now that looks like old New England village or buildings. Then there’s the place in Maine where the harbor master has or had a Coke machine duct taped closed- I took a photo if it, returned years later to make sure he had one in case they ever got a new one. It should still be hanging on the wall. Then there Isle Au Haut lighthouse. All these places scream vanishing New England instead of a bunch really nice calendar old buildings. But photography is suggestive. And the photos do make you wonder about their ghostly history. Like Scott, we have been traveling back roads to N.E. since ’93 and we always drive via the northern route thru Canada and re-enter above Plattsburg, Burlington or down Kingston or Watertown. Please understand I am not disappointed with the photos- they are great. Just think Vanishing New England could represent New England a little better. This could be titled “Vanishing America” For a long time I was an Over The Road truck driver and never had a chance to slow down or get off the interstate and main roads. That’s why I make the statement not to be mean- just these building except maybe 2 look like any place in the midwest or on the plains.
I agree, Jeff. The photos are outstanding but I wouldn’t have known that the photos were strictly related to New England.
I really love the winter scenes and the connection to America’s great painters. To be fair, the title of Jeff’s book is “Vanishing: Disappearing Icons of a Rural America.” No doubt, these photos represent more than just New England. I grew up in the Midwest and every year that I return, I treasure my drives through the rural farm land and along the great river road. Perhaps, the author, Heather, should change the title of the blog to read “Scenes from a Vanishing Rural America.” Either way, I enjoyed the story with many fine photographs taken in New England by a gifted New England photographer!
Lovely and haunting photos of these old buildings. It really makes me wonder what it would’ve been like to live and work on the land at that time. I saw his work while on a gallery tour and to see them six feet long was pretty incredible.
Thank you, Jim, for creating these beautiful images. I used to live in Yarmouth Maine. The barn with the cedar shakes reminds me SO much of the cape cod home in which we lived, surrounded by tall pine trees on one side and wild blueberry bushes on the other. These images invoke so many memories in my soul! Just looking at the pictures I can smell the white pine in the air!
I live in the Midwest now, and yes, while we do have abandoned barns and mills, these beautiful images are New England, and they take me back to the simpler times of my childhood and picking blueberries with my brothers and going clamming with my dad. You can’t do that in the Midwest! Thank you, Mr. Westphalen, for sharing your talent for capturing this Mainer’s soul!
Wow, wow, wow !!!! Jim Westphalen is truly both an artist and master craftsman. His works are stunning, exhilarating, and evocative. They draw me completely in. When gazing at various pieces, I alternately sense the breeze, smell the grass, shiver from the cold, bask in the summer sun, feel the texture of the aged barn wood, the coldness of rusting steel. These wonderful works of art reverently celebrate the magnificence of these aging beauties, while ingeniously transporting me to a time, a place, a season, gone by. Thank you, Mr. Westphalen, for sharing your genius and artistry with us. I first saw this body of work in a gallery in Burlington, VT, and I am a HUGE fan !!!
I LOVE this photographer! ❤️
I live in the Midwest, travel the country extensively and visit New England often. I so appreciate the way in which Jim artfully captures these structures. From classic New England architecture to the simple and practically designed farm buildings. Stunning!
I live in California, but enjoy this publication and these beautiful photographs. It’s so nice to see what the other side of the country looks like. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Jim Westphalen, for capturing and sharing these beautiful images. My husband and I live in New Hampshire, and one of our absolute favorite pastimes is driving around just to soak in the beauty of the New England landscape that we love so much. We especially enjoy seeing the beautiful old barns that we pass along the way. How lovely that you pay tribute to these ‘vanishing’ old structures in this body of work. I was fortunate enough to attend one of your exhibits in Burlington a few years ago, and it was mesmerizing to see your beautiful images in their full sizes. I hope you will have an exhibit in New Hampshire some day soon!
These photos are beautiful. They capture so much about the materiality of the buildings and the sense of place. They are like portraits or character studies. Bravo, Jim!
As an architect, I appreciate Jim’s wonderful, well curated photos. Thank you!
I am in overwhelmed when I look at your photos of these great American icons, slowly falling back into the ground, sadly disappearing from our landscape. I am so thankful you are capturing them for prosperity with your amazing artistic eye, even in their dilapidated state you show us their majestic beauty and remind us forever of a great time that was.
The photos are extraordinary. We have a copy of one, as well as his book and love them. Yankee included many of his barn shots but his work includes old industrial buildings and in many ways those are more intricate and interesting. But they are all fantastic. Thank you Jim for your great work.
The photography were really interesting and Thank You. I enjoy looking at them.
I love love love your photography. I am a painter and mostly paint these kind of images. Old falling down houses and barns are my cup of tea. Very jealous of some of your images as you have placed them exactly as I would have. Maine leads the way for some of the most interesting barns and farmhouse I have seen and I have been everywhere from California to Nova Scotia photographing them for my paintings.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jean. Yes, these beautiful old structures are the very character that makes New England what it is. Keep on painting them and I’ll keep on photographing them!
So beautiful. These photographs totally capture my feelings about New England. It makes me so sad to see it fading away. It’s happening everywhere.
Thanks for your kind words, Susan. Yes, it’s a constant race against time, but I’m motivated by these beautiful old structures!
Wonderful!! Lived on Route 1 Warren as a child..best years of my life!! Awesome feeling Maine will give!! Your work brings out the best!!
Thank you so much Jean!
*Julie 🙂
Great photos! Fond of the same subject matter and if I had more room on my walls I’d consider buying one!
The images are wonderful but the content saddens me. Surprised that no one has questioned why all these barns and buildings are abandoned and falling into decay. This is the crux of the issue – how do we keep farming alive and vibrant for our regional food system and the next generation of farmers that we will want and need to feed ourselves.
Susan, Vermont could become the singular source of qualified organic fruit and vegetables. As the uncontrolled Corporate Farm construct—under the shadow-forces of global elites—destroys independent farming as a way of life, Vermont could find itself at the top of the food chain by moving further to organic farming. This can position Vermont as a rare source of produce for which demand is growing exponentially as people become of aware of the incredible health dangers of Corporate Farm products that are genetically modified, chemically pumped, and nutritiously stripped.
Beautiful photos! I really love the Deer Isle barn!
How do I purchase a print.
Those are incredibly beautiful buildings and could live on as a family orca single persons home with a lot of hard work which would definitely be worth it I would to be able to bring one then back to like
Just love the old building pictures. The building shows strength and durability. Just like us old folks. We also offer comfort and wisdom, and sage advice. We have weathered a lot of storms, yet still, stand. We lean a bit like the old buildings, creek in the breeze, leak a bit, and our paint is fading. We have and still do offer protection, comfort, and wormth. Thanks for the pictures.
Wonderfully stated!
Very nice – love how you put it into words!
Beautiful work. I love the way you use light. I also photograph old structures.
These photos offer beauty as well as a tribute the realism! Thank you!
Like looking at an Andrew Weyeth painting-so evocative of simplistic yet hard working better days….less is indeed more. Stunning. You should have an exhibit at the Whitney.
These photos are hauntingly beautiful. It’s just wonderful that they can be photographed and, in a way, kept for the future. I drive by an old dairy barn almost daily and while the farmer is still living there, and farming, I see the barn disintegrating. Sadly the cost is too great for some to keep up what once was. Happily nearby another family has restored a civil war era barn. Thank you for sharing this wonderful window into New England and a different life.
I,too,have an affinity for old,crumbling structures but in urban settings.B&W mostly and color when it’s applicable. I’d love to find out how you converted your 4×5 into a digital format. Do you have a website where I can view more of your work?
I absolutely love old barns and the stories they could tell. Jim, you captured their personalities and histories in their well deserved resting places. Like the saying: “The hay is in the barn” our magestic and beautiful barns have earned their rest and to be immortalized through your magnificent photos. Thanks for making this New England Barn Groupie so very happy in sharing your talent!
Just wonderful work, a gift given to you so very special, thank you to share the beauty.
Jim, simply said, your work is art. I, too, back in the ’80s would bring my wife up to the “old Vermont” and just luxuriate in the blessings that it offered to someone who grew up in “industrial New Jersey.” I brought my camera along and still today have a documented history of those heart-tugging trips. I remember feeling like crying when the time came to point the truck south and descend back into the gray-green haze of a world polluted beyond imagination. I would tell my wife, we have to move up here. This is where life is in full color. Well, I still love Vermont but fear it is in the crosshairs of those who made their money destroying similar paradises and now find Vermont the next world to exploit and destroy. Your photos should be a rallying cry to anyone who truly understands the beauty that is there, hanging perilously by a tentative gossamer thread. Godspeed, brother.
Hi Carl,
Just seeing your note now – better late than never! Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your sentiments. Kindred spirits, for sure…