I felt this image has genuine realism and emotion within. Their breath viewable in the cold morning air as they feed on hay. The only reason for omission was of many portraits of the cows can be included, without repetition?
Currently titled, "Little Britain" for recognition purposes only at this stage.
I have made the decision not to include pre-set portraits. Richard is a professional and the impression of jolly old farmer is a repeated image which is pointless for such a complicated subject matters, covering emotive opinions and often with limited knowledge. The relationship between the subjects as to be real.
Images taken in front of the feeding fence. This style of image carries a narrative narrative of bars, confinement and restricted movement. The impression of the image is stronger than the reality, as the bars are just a way of safely dividing the cattle so they can all access their feed without injuring each other.
This style of "country farmhouse" shot, to me, though accurate needed to be as part of the larger image of the farm as a whole. Otherwise I am shooting postcard views and making the whole industrial feel of the farm appear scenic and beautiful. I feel including this style of shot would be enforcing my opinion onto the narrative of the shoot.
This image was very nearly included. It is a natural, unrehearsed shot. However it lacks scale. The machine onto which Richard is climbing is a combine harvester and there is not enough clues within the frame to display the vastness of this piece of farming machinery. However I like the humanity of the image. The dirty hands and clothing, backed by a field of unharvested cereal crop and still the image is lit up by his smile.
The image and style of the above is real and unstaged. However to myself, viewing the image, it feels staged and unauthentic. Therefore in order not to appear as to portraying farmers of some kind of animal rights champions, I decided to omit this style of image.
Another image I considered carefully before omitting from the final project. Due to repetition and the image I chose being believe more graphically explicit, with the use of almost violent looking farm machines, sorting the grass for feed.
I did include some farm vehicles with crops, however I felt the images I included felt as though they gave the viewer of the final selected images a greater involvement and insight into the life of the farmer. The final shots were taken from the vehicle or incredibly close to the working end of a farm machine. This kind of involvement was not particularly prudent, but as with all farming equipment was as safe to shoot as we could make possible.
This is an interesting conundrum and was omitted as I believed did not give accurate narrative to either schools of opinion, that the cows are well treated or not. This is due to the fact cows are herd animals and they are actually making their way unaided to the fields to graze. However due to the natural regimentation of the herd they could also appear to be forcibly lead anywhere the viewers imagination may suggest. Dependent totally of pre conceived view points and understanding. I feel images are required to carry a clear and accurate narrative. Not too open to suggestion or opinion.
A good shot showing father and son working together. Richard displaying his mechanical and engineering skills as he repairs a coupling of a trailer and tractor. However I feel it would not be obvious to the viewer. Though the family unity does make this subject a contender.
Another possible selection, showing Julie (farmer's wife) assisting in cattle cleaning. It has industrial content in the background and the animals also. I omitted this purely on the grounds of too many images in the final selection
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This is an image taken from a separate shoot of Richard as the predictable country gent, showing off a slightly predictable animal management method. This is just too staged for this project .
A very small part of the farm is a pocket money project for the youngest son. Keeping chickens to produce a small number of fresh eggs for sale. This image was omitted as I feel as no link to the general running of the farm, i.e producing grass and cereal t feed and bed cattle, in order to raise and take to market.
I felt this image has genuine realism and emotion within. Their breath viewable in the cold morning air as they feed on hay. The only reason for omission was of many portraits of the cows can be included, without repetition?
Here are some other images very nearly considered but omitted with difficulty, for no other reason than repeated subjected or in my opinion looked staged(though they were not) or just one too many images?
These are the choices which have to be made when many 100's images have been taken and the choice is restricted by volume and unity within the set. This can often in my opinion require the omission of some of my favourite images.
This image is called "Last Journey"
It is a shot of one of the 3 cows on the last journey to the slaughter house of the year.I did not include it in the final selection due just because of numbers regarding the final part of the story of theses beautiful animals.
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