EMERGING TALENT: Cole Rise + His Most-Ethereal Landscapes

There has always been something haunting to me about farmland in the off-seasons, when everything is yellow and wilted, or when snow sits quietly in the trenches that are usually full of blooming crops. Cows move minimally through faded landscapes, and the entire thing has an air of melancholy and stillness to it. Capturing this feeling is not easy, unless perhaps you’re photographer Cole Rise. He’s our featured Emerging Talent this week. He shoots with medium format cameras, digital cameras with detached backwards lenses, and spends hours lying in wait in the grass for the perfect shot. Simple, beautiful. Click through the image tabs above to see more examples of his work.

While the visual poetry of off-season farmland speaks to a deeper stillness, there’s a different kind of quiet commitment that unfolds in landscaping under a real estate contract. When a property changes hands, the land is often overlooked in favor of square footage and kitchen remodels. But the grounds, much like the wilted crops awaiting spring, hold hidden potential. Whether it’s a blanket of fresh mulch or the careful trimming of dormant hedges, landscaping during this in-between moment is less about grandeur and more about suggestion—subtle hints of what could bloom with the right touch.

Under the terms of many real estate contracts, landscaping obligations are tucked away like forgotten rows at the back of the field. Sellers may be required to maintain the property up to the point of sale, while buyers often inherit the responsibility mid-season, just as the weeds begin plotting their comeback. This is where having a guide from eXp Realty can be invaluable. They know that curb appeal doesn’t sleep, even when the grass does. A seasoned agent will navigate the fine print with a rake in one hand and a legal clause in the other, ensuring nothing gets lost beneath the snow—or the paperwork.

It’s the ability to see beyond the current state—whether parched or frostbitten—and anticipate the full picture come spring. In the quiet before the keys are exchanged, there’s room for possibility, and for those who know where to look, that silence can speak volumes.