Amish Images by Don Shenk (10 Photos & Video)
Don Shenk is an award-winning photographer and Lancaster County resident (not to be confused with frequently-seen-here photo contributor Don Burke).
Don has been photographing Amish scenes for decades, and has kindly shared some Amish-theme photos which I’d like to pass on to you. He also adds some comments to several of these below (along with titles). I’ve numbered these 1-10, though only the ones Don has described have titles here.
Additionally, I’ve compiled 20-some images into a brief video which you’ll find at the bottom of this post, around the theme of “Seasons of Lancaster County”. The following commentary is all from Don.
1. “A Boy and his Cow”
This image was captured in PA’s “Big Valley” in central PA. I like the simplicity of the Amish boy following a lone cow toward the barn.
2.
3. “Three Boys and a Horse”
This was captured at one of Lancaster Counties well known “Mud Sales” during the horse auction.
4.
5. “West Nickel Mines Amish School”
This image is full of emotions and memories to me. It was taken around 1990, before the tragic shooting took place there. The message of forgiveness lingers on.
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8. “Just Passing By”
A simple winter day scene of a buggy going by a bare tree in Lancaster County.
9. “Pressing On”
This is one of my top 10 favorites, captured in 2009 shortly after I went digital. I was on a “Photo shoot” with my camera ready to go on my passenger seat. This magical scene appeared before my eyes when it came at me out of a snowy drifting almost blizzard like condition on a country road. I was able to grab the camera and get four shots of which two were usable.
I titled it “Pressing On” based on the scripture passage in Philippians 3:14 that states, “I press on…” An interesting sidelight, when my book was published, I requested this image be used on the cover. The publisher stated that winter images on the cover do not have curb appeal through the year so they suggested it be used on the hard cover and another image be used on the dust cover. Another interesting fact, my favorite season to capture Amish/Scenic images is winter when there is snow.
10. “Lousy Day on the Highway”
A couple travels in an open buggy on a busy highway on a chilly, wet snow day in Lancaster County. I am sure they are thankful for the umbrella!
A big thanks to Don for sharing his work with us. Here’s the video I’ve compiled featuring two dozen of Don’s images. Runtime 3:20.
And if you enjoyed these images, you might want to check out Don’s Amish photo books here and here.
Photos
Are you given permission to photograph these Amish? I thought they did not allow photos of themselves
Well, from one Don Amish-photographer to another, you have some very impressive work there. And if I’m totally honest, I’ll have to admit to no small amount of photo-envy on my part as I looked through your shots. (ha) And while I don’t think I have anything to quite compare to your buggy plowing through the snow picture you shared, I will certainly agree that Amish-in-the-snow has long been and remains a favorite theme for me.
Thanks for sharing some inspiring work.
Beautiful
Such beautiful photos. I agree, Pressing On is particularly special. It is, indeed, cover-worthy. Rain and snow scenes always seem to tug at my heart the most. I will be ordering your book, looking forward to recieving it.
Question
Which of your books contain Pressing On?
Thanks!
I passed this on to Don Loretta – hopefully we’ll have an answer for you!
Amish Images by Don Shenk
Dear Erik,
Thank you for carrying these superb images of Amish life by Don Shenk. They are inspired and make the heart glad. By extension, I convey my thanks to Don Shenk for sharing these images with the followers of Amish America. Beautiful work. This is the kind of posting which brings me back to Amish America regularly. Lastly, I see that Don Shenk is very respectful of what photographs are suitable. I appreciate this care very much. Sincerely, Larry Clarence Lewis, Canada.
Gladly Larry. Happy to hear that!
Great postcard photos
I have been going to Holmes County Ohio for 25 years and I do believe I am seeing the same postcards by Doyle Yoder that I have seen every year since I began vacationing there. Nothing against Doyle’s lovely photography, but time for new postcards and new photos.
Don Shenk Photos
Don Shenk, Congratulations! I am an Amish lover. I love everything about them. I like that your photos are up close and not taken from a distance. Your work is impeccable and I thank you for sharing them with us all.
Sincerely, Linda Hoad