Disaster makes no provisions for ranches or farms that have been in a family for several generations. No matter the blood, sweat and tears those generations have put in to keep the outfit together. When nature’s devastation hits it may wipe that operation out completely – but not if the Giving Back Foundation can help it.

The Giving Back Foundation would like to thank Verl Luppes for his generous donation and continued effort to help farmers and ranchers across the country. Please go to his website and check out the "High Country Barns" project as he continues to donate proceeds from the sale of these photographs.

Photographer Focuses on Barns

Courtesy of the Mountain Mail article by Audrey Gilpin

With help from a local friend, Jaime Hoffman, Luppes met ranchers and asked permission to enter property to take photographs during different seasons and times of day.

I’m glad I had Hoffman’s help. Some ranchers said, “We might shoot you if we didn’t know you were coming,” Luppes laughed.

Luppes said ranchers appreciate his interest in the barns - many of which are two shakes from falling to the ground - as a way of preserving them.

Some barns photographed, Luppes said, are functional while others have doors hanging by hinges.

Despite the condition of the 18 barns featured in this collection, the settings of snow-covered mountains and brilliant blue skies play a role in each photograph, hence the title of his collection.

Passion, Luppes said, is the root of his photography. Self-taught and a photographer for only about five years, Luppes said, “I love (photography). It’s taken me places I would have never gone.”

Luppes also photographs weddings and sporting events such as the Western Stock Show, FIBArk and the Rocky Mountain Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

Photographing barns is a continuous project, Luppes said. Barns in Westcliffe, Gunnison and other states are future options.

Luppes will hold an invitation-only gallery showing today to show appreciation to the ranchers who allowed him to photograph on their property.

A coffee table book of the barns is in the works, and ranchers will have the opportunity to describe and reminisce about their barns for the book. A “High Country Barns” calendar and framed photographs are also available.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Luppes’ photographs will go to the non profit, Montana-based Giving Back Foundation that supports ranchers and farmers nationwide.

In 2006, the foundation gave proceeds to ranchers in southeast Colorado, and recently the foundation gave to farmers in North Dakota.

Luppes’ photograph “Mt Princeton,” which was awarded Grand Champion at this year’s Chaffee County Fair will be auctioned today. All proceeds will go to the foundation.