Farmlife 2003 - 2004

In 2003 and 2004 I photographed vegetables and farm animals. This departure from my work as a people photographer in the city allowed me to mature artistically, emotionally and come to terms with the recent and past deaths in my family. The quiet environment forced me to sit still, wait, study, and then see photographs.

Initially, I photographed on beautiful days and the beautiful aspects of the animals and vegetables in an effort to escape the noise and confusion in my mind. But as I continued my concept of beauty became more complex. I saw the beauty in a wintry day or in a vegetable well past peak, I looked closer at what I originally viewed as a monotone sheep, and I sat at eye level with the chicken. I felt that I had been given a gift, of patience, time, peace and an acceptance of myself and the environment as is, rather than covering my world with the beauty of perfection. A photograph of a perfect day can be beautiful, but seeing reality has more beauty and grace even on at cold, wet and wintry day.