Lisa Jones, a photographer, has a penchant for capturing images in gloomy and overcast weather. She finds that this kind of atmosphere adds a unique charm to her nostalgic subject matter – old and abandoned homesteads.
A few weeks ago, on a dark and stormy day, Jones and her fiancé set out in her SUV from their home in Calgary towards the southeast, hoping to capture a “triple play” of sights: a storm, an abandoned homestead, and a field of golden canola flowers all in one picture.
“After driving for hours on country roads, we stumbled upon a vibrant yellow canola field next to an old empty homestead. We were ecstatic,” Jones, a former social worker, told The Epoch Times.
The rumbling thunder and ominous dark clouds added a haunting atmosphere to the scene they were capturing.
For years, Jones has been scouring the southern Alberta countryside for desolate homesteads like these that exude a nostalgic appeal. Some of these homesteads have a history spanning over a century, each carrying a story within its walls.
“These structures offer us a glimpse into the past and ignite my curiosity about the people who once lived here and their stories,” she said. “Standing inside and outside a dilapidated homestead, I can’t help but feel a connection to the people who once called this place home.”
She mentioned that the tales of their decline are common in the prairie region.
“With the decline of industries like coal mining and grain operations, the remnants of some old buildings still stand, showcasing the past of this area,” Jones said, adding that now the prairie provinces are dotted with many abandoned homesteads.
“I feel a drive to continue exploring this region, to see what else I can discover,” she said. “While these buildings may have been left behind, I feel that through my lens, they come alive again.”
Jones’ career as a photographer began seven years ago – not with old homesteads, but with owls and other wildlife. She often spotted owls in the windows of old granaries or perched on the sagging roofs of farmhouses, drawn to the stories behind these structures. Thus began her specialization in seeking them out, not just for photography but to satisfy her curiosity.
One of the best places to find abandoned homesteads in Alberta is the Vulcan area south of Calgary. Last fall, on a sunny and windy day, Jones and her fiancé ventured to the ghost town of Rowley, where they stumbled upon a relative of someone who owned an abandoned windmill built in 1915.
“We mentioned our interest in photographing it,” Jones said. After a phone call, they were granted free access to the property. The windmill was covered with bushes and trees, and a precarious little tower protruded from the treetops. On the property, they also found two nostalgic treasures buried in the grass – two rusty old cars, adding fuel to Jones’ photography imagination.
“I could smell a musty, earthy odor typically associated with dampness and decay,” she said. “I had to be extremely careful when photographing these cars as there were some potential dangers present.” Jones gingerly made her way through scattered twisted metal, car parts, and broken glass, capturing the homestead from inside the rust-colored cars.
Armed with her camera, Jones then ventured into the windmill to capture more photos. She learned that the windmill was never used for its original purpose, not even completed, and instead functioned as a blacksmith shop on the farm. She speculated that the homestead likely collapsed and disappeared many years ago, taking with it the stories of the people who once lived there.
“The life back then was so different from now, and I can’t help but wonder how tough their days were and how hard they had to work to make ends meet,” Jones said. “I’m drawn to the mysteries of these old places. Who lived here? What were their stories? Why did they leave?”
The cramped interior made Jones feel claustrophobic. She noticed the mill’s machinery, supported by four heavy wooden beams, hooks on the walls, and scattered metal parts on the floor. But as the wind howled outside, making the entire structure creak, Jones felt unsettled. The gloomy atmosphere left her restless.
“The wind blowing through an abandoned structure always makes it feel even more desolate than it actually is,” she said.
This summer, Jones had planned to explore abandoned homesteads in Saskatchewan, a longstanding wish of hers, but the trip was put on hold. She might instead pursue another major passion: capturing wildlife such as owls, raptors, and bears.
Here are more photos from Lisa Jones.
The original article, “Alberta Photographer Explores Abandoned Homesteads, Captures Their Nostalgic Beauty—and Their Stories” was published on the English Epoch Times website.