This is my mind map of the best way to departmentalize different sections of the life of a farmer and a working farm.
The aim of my final project is to produce a set of images which has enough difference to ensure viewing interest, but are interlinked enough to represent the various inter woven parts of a cattle farm
Photographing a farm is a minimum 12 month project, probably longer as I need to familiarise myself with the various jobs undertaken at different times of the year.
I am very positive about this project and the positive reaction I received from my tutor. However it is important I make this project a "warts and all" detailed representation of working in an industry which ultimately breeds animals purely to be killed for meat at some time in their lives. I see both sides of the animal cruelty v meat eating argument. I eat very little meat and I love animals. My challenge is to bear witness to how well or poorly the animals are treated during their lifetime and if it is possible to end a life with any part of empathy or humanity?
Spending so much time on a beef farm will give me the answers I require, but I have to present the collection of images without added context or personal bias, in a balanced and accurate way for the viewer to understand the way this farm operates. Then form hopefully an opinion based on what I present before them as an accurate and true representation of life on a farm.
The important fact is this exercise is a representation of just one farm and not an argument for or against the breeding of animals for meat.
There will times animals will become distressed due to government and legal procedures that have to be administered by law. I believe I have to present these images accurately, but which also presents an accurate representation of a situation, without my opinion in order to change narrative.
This will be both rewarding and challenging.
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