Just Before The Rain:
During a recent trip to Columbia, Maryland, to visit family, I decided to venture to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with the hope of capturing a breathtaking sunset for a specific composition I had in mind. Fortunately, a storm was in the forecast, and I envisioned seizing the opportunity to capture a vivid sky in its aftermath. However, the storm turned out to be more intense than my predictions, and the anticipated sunset never materialized.
As I headed toward a split-rail fence intended for the composition, I noticed a dramatic sky unfolding over the Codori Farm. I quickly captured a series of handheld images and barely made it back to the car before the heavens opened up. That marked the end of my photographic endeavors for the day, as Gettysburg was engulfed in low clouds, fork lightning, and thunder for the next two days. If I were superstitious, I might say that karma decided to repay me for past transgressions. Living in North Carolina, this marked my ninth trip to Gettysburg this year, and I'm still in pursuit of that elusive sunset.
The Codori Farm is south of Gettysburg on the east side of Emmitsburg Road. It was the scene of heavy fighting on July 2, 1863, and was at the center of Pickett's Charge on July 3. General Pickett remained near the farm buildings during the attack. The current farmhouse was there at the time of the battle, although a two-story brick addition was added to its rear in 1877. The existing barn (shown here) is a replacement for the original structure torn down in 1882.