Dave Emilio | Rural Photography & Landscapes

“Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
~ Imogen Cunningham

Step away from the city and explore rural landscapes through my lens. This collection features farmland, forests, and quiet countryside moments—captured during road trips, hikes, and backroad wanderings. I focus on light, texture, and the human imprint on nature, creating timeless images of stillness and space.

Rural photography invites a different kind of attention. It’s not always about big, dramatic scenes—instead, it’s often about subtle contrasts and everyday moments. A crooked fence line, a field after harvest, or a single tree against a shifting sky can tell a story all their own. These are the kinds of images I find myself drawn to when I leave behind the noise and pace of urban life.

Some of these photos were taken on long solo drives with no specific destination. Others were found in unexpected places—an old mill at the side of a backroad, a foggy pasture at dawn, or a worn tractor parked quietly in a golden field. There’s a calm and grounded quality in these environments that I try to reflect in each frame.

Whether you’re drawn to open skies, winding roads, or weathered barns, this gallery celebrates the slower pace and rugged beauty of rural life. If you’ve ever paused to admire the way early morning light hits a frost-covered field, or watched birds take flight over a marsh, you’ll understand the kind of moments I try to preserve.

Many of these pieces are available as fine art prints, and I also welcome commissions for location-based shoots or custom rural themes. If you have a place in mind that holds meaning for you, I’d love to collaborate and create something personal that honors the landscape and your connection to it.

Country road with autumn foliage, red barn, and clear sky.
A rustic red barn with a weathered roof stands on a lush green lawn, surrounded by a split rail wooden fence and trees under a cloudy sky.
Barn with a green roof in a rural landscape, surrounded by cows and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.
A red barn with a gray roof surrounded by a black wooden fence and partially flooded fields. The sky is cloudy, and there are trees in the background.
Old red barn with a metal roof and weathered stone walls, surrounded by a grassy field and trees, under a cloudy sky.
Old barn in a rural landscape with red foliage and green grass under a cloudy sky.
Rustic barn on grassy field with a partly cloudy sky and sunset in the background.
A rustic wooden barn on a farm with a grassy foreground and cloudy sky.
Historic one-room schoolhouse with bell tower in rural setting, surrounded by grass and trees, clear blue sky in the background.
Autumn scene with a barn, trees with fall foliage, and a path.
Rustic barn with a blue roof surrounded by autumn trees, featuring vibrant red and orange foliage, and a country road in the foreground.
Rustic barn in a grassy field with trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Old barn and shed in rural landscape with trees and grass, under a partly cloudy sky.
Purple barn house of Closson Chase Vineyards with autumn foliage, blue sky, and vibrant fall leaves.
Night scene of a large red barn with a cow silhouette painted on it, illuminated by light trails from passing vehicles, under a partly cloudy sky.
Red barn and shed in rural autumn landscape with colorful trees.
View of a river flowing under a concrete bridge with trees in the background.
Scenic autumn lake with colorful trees and sunset sky reflection.
Rural road with fall foliage, railroad crossing and stop sign
Black and white image of a dense forest with tall, thin trees and a misty atmosphere.
Black and white photo of a lake with tall trees on the shore and a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo of large sea stacks and rocks partially shrouded in fog on a beach, with water flowing around them.
Old wooden barn with a rusted roof in a grassy field, featuring painted flowers on the side.
Red wooden barn with a ladder against its side, set in a grassy field with trees in the background and a cloudy sky.
Old wooden barn with a metal roof against a blue sky, surrounded by grass and trees.
Barn on a rural road at sunset with colorful clouds and trees.
Old barn with weathered walls and attached silo at sunset
Sunlight filtering through trees along a forest path, creating a misty, golden glow with dense foliage.
Foggy railroad tracks surrounded by dense trees with a wooden crossing in the foreground.
Foggy forest scene with trees and dense vegetation in black and white
Black and white foggy forest scene with trees and dense foliage.
Sunset over a calm lake with rocks and grass on the shore.
Old barn under starry night sky with star trails
Interior of an old wooden barn with open walls, overgrown plants, and sunlight shining through the beams.
Old wooden barn with ivy on side, situated in a field with clear blue sky.
A large, dark wooden barn in a grassy field under a cloudy sky.
Red barn with rusted roof surrounded by grass under a cloudy sky.
Rustic farm landscape, featuring a weathered barn, silo, and open fields under a blue sky.
Sun shining brightly over a landscape with trees and a mountain near a body of water.
Sunlight filtering through a dense forest with tall trees and green foliage, creating a starburst effect.
Sunlight filtering through a dense forest with tall trees and green foliage, highlighting a path on the forest floor. The scene is serene and vibrant, showcasing natural light and shadows.
Tall waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by dense forest, under a cloudy sky.
Waterfall surrounded by dense forest and tall trees at dusk.
Nighttime aerial view of a forest canopy walkway illuminated with string lights, surrounded by tall trees.
Sunset at a beach with a lifeguard station and tower, sky in shades of blue and pink.
Wooden jetty with red railings over a body of water under a cloudy sky during sunset.
Boats docked at a lake during sunset with dramatic clouds and reflections on the water.
Wooden bridge in a forest with autumn foliage, sunlight casting shadows on the walkway.
Partially submerged wheelchair wheel on a beach with waves in the background, black and white.
Sunset over a lake with dark clouds and a vibrant orange sky, reflecting on the water, with large rocks in the foreground.
An old, weathered barn in a grassy field with a cloudy sky.
Abandoned wooden barn with weathered exterior, surrounded by overgrown grass and trees, under a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo of a beach with waves rolling onto the shore, mountains and buildings in the background.
A crowded beach with people sitting on the sand under umbrellas, a lifeguard station, and mountains in the background.
Sunrise over a mountainous landscape with scattered trees and vegetation, casting vibrant sun rays and a clear blue sky above.
Landscape of a desert with a large cactus, sparse vegetation, and a vibrant sunset sky.
Sunset over desert landscape with cactus and mountains, vibrant sky with pink and orange clouds.
Desert landscape with rocky hill, cactus, and mountains in the background under a blue sky.
Fireworks exploding over a lake at dusk with clouds and trees in the background.
Night sky with fireworks over a lake, surrounded by trees and reflected on the water.
Rocky shoreline at sunset with dramatic clouds and calm lake reflecting the colorful sky.
Sunset over a wooded landscape with a lake in the foreground, featuring vibrant orange and red hues in the sky.
Winter landscape with bare trees, snow-covered ground, and a reflective pond under a cloudy sky.
Red metal gate partially covered in snow, lying in a snowy forested area.
Vibrant sunset over a lake with colorful skies and silhouetted trees.
Log cabin in snowy forest
Scenic view of a forested lake with evergreen trees, reflected in the calm water under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
Two Adirondack chairs facing a lake during a sunset, with a tree on the right and the sun setting on the horizon.
Horses and donkeys in snowy barnyard beside building
Snow-covered farm scene with a large barn featuring a red and white facade. The barn is surrounded by open, snow-laden fields under a partly cloudy sky. In the background, there is a line of trees and a few animals grazing.
Old house covered in snow with icicles, sign reading 'Antiques,' barren bushes, and blue sky background.
Snow-covered wooden cabin with a sign reading 'Antiques', surrounded by pine trees in a winter landscape.
A wooden barn in a snowy landscape with evergreen trees in the background, under an overcast sky.
Snow-covered white church surrounded by trees
Snow-covered landscape with an old barn and trees under a cloudy sky.
Abandoned wooden barn covered in snow during winter, surrounded by a snowy landscape with bare trees.
Rustic wooden barn surrounded by a grassy area and tree, under a clear blue sky.
Old wooden barn with rusted metal roof in a grassy field, surrounded by trees, under a blue sky.
A rustic barn surrounded by trees and an open field during sunset.
Red barn with tractor and geese in the foreground, under a cloudy sky.
Rural road next to a large, dark barn with a green roof, surrounded by trees and grass under a cloudy sky.
Rural road with old barn and trees under cloudy sky
Old wooden barn with a rusted metal roof and adjacent silo, surrounded by grass and trees, under a cloudy sky.
Rustic barn with silo in rural landscape under cloudy sky.
Old red and white barn with a rusty roof in a rural setting, surrounded by trees and overgrown grass.
Old wooden barn with stone foundation on a grassy hill, surrounded by trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
Rustic barn with tasting room and shop sign, covered in ivy, under a cloudy sky.