17 Striking Winter Photos That Show Amish Country at Its Most Beautiful
Winter brings a quiet shift to Amish Country, as snow blankets farms, fields, and country roads. With slower days and fewer visitors, the season transforms the landscape, highlighting details that might go unnoticed at other times of year.
These 17 striking photos capture moments – both serene and dynamic – in the wintertime lives of the Amish.
Today is the official start of winter, so what better day to share this Amish winter photo collection by the late Don Shenk. I’ve shared Don’s photos before, but never as a full winter set. And as we move deeper into the snowy months, I thought you might enjoy these.
From what I know, they were all (or nearly all) taken in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania area.
Don shared a nice set of his work with me, including the photos you see here, not long before he passed away in 2021.
He was a great photographer who also published some of his work in books.
I don’t have dates on these photos, but based on the feel of some of them and what I know, some may be at least 10 or 20 years old.
With photos of the Amish, it’s not always so easy to tell – unless there are cars or other visible tech and cultural markers in the photos.
The Amish subjects themselves might look “dated” as well, though that is often less easy to distinguish.
For example: this scene could have taken place this year, or 40 years ago for that matter.
A buggy generally makes for good snow protection…
…though that’s not always the case.
Here we see both non-Amish ways of clearing snow…
…and the Amish having a crack at it as well.
This next photo shows a skid loader-type piece of equipment, versatile and common in some Amish communities, while the Amishman above is using a plow attachment on the back of a steel-wheeled tractor. Most Amish do not use tractors in the fields, but some make limited use of them in other ways.
This next fun one is a panorama-style shot, which I’ve taken the liberty of splitting more-or-less in two pieces, for better visibility on your screen:
Did that snowball in mid-flight reach its intended target? There’s no telling…
And one of my favorites for last.
I hope you enjoyed this wintry set by Don Shenk. For more of Don’s images, check out:
Beautiful
Wow, you are not kidding. Those are incredible! A feast for the eyes. Thank you for sharing them!
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Yes, we get an early feast before the holidays are even here!
Nice work...
Some very nice images here. Thanks!
Winter photos by Don Shenk
Love the photos but I also have sorrow for the horses being subjected to extreme cold and or hot elements. In my eyes it’s just….cruel
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No offense, but are you one of those people who portray Plain communities as animal abusers, like the “puppy mill” or animal cruelty advocates who have taken some folks to court over breeding and even claimed, “I won’t be surprised if they don’t get into heaven”? Horses are extremely adaptable to different climates and are generally very well cared for. The majority of Plain communities are constantly looking for ways to improve the health of their animals, including better feed, minerals, and overall care.
High Steppin' It
I have to agree, Daniel. Horses were made to have a job (work). And they love to take off and run. I noticed the buggy horses in the photos “high stepping”, almost prancing. Tired, or distressed horses don’t do that.
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Yes, sir! I have seen abused and malnourished horses…these ones are proud with their heads held high and are high steppin’. Merry Christmas and God Bless! Mach’s Gut!
Nice winter photos
Thanks for the snow pics. I grew up in Big Valley in Mifflin County, in Milroy. We had loads of Nebrasker white topper Amish, along with several other sects up the valley around Belleville. It’s beautiful all year, but it’s hard to find anything prettier than buggies in the snow. I now live far away and never see a buggy here in Connecticut.