Literally “working” on my project

Over the summer I’ve continued shooting for my series on Twist of Fate Farm, in Dunbarton, New Hampshire. This is the farm that my father, Ray, and his partner Jen own, which is small, all-natural, and of course struggling. There’s more background information on my website if you’re interested. What’s new for me that I want to discuss is that something has changed recently and I’m curious to see how it will affect the project – which is that I’m now working on the farm as well as documenting it.

This mostly came out of my own need for paid work. I’ve learned that it’s difficult to concentrate on making great photos while also constantly worrying about rent and bills, and often having to prioritize non-photography-related jobs over shooting or promoting myself. Fortunately I have a variety of skills and have been managing somehow, but just barely. When my father offered me some work each week on the farm I gladly accepted. Keeping a distance has never been desirable to me with any documentary project, and I saw it as not only a way to spend more time being at and learning about the farm that I’m shooting, but a way to pay the bills at the same time. It’s a win-win, right?

Then I realized the first morning I worked that photos were happening right in front of me, and instead of holding my camera, I was holding a shovel. This was frustrating, and I soon learned that having my camera nearby helps a little bit, but I generally have to separate working for the farm and working for myself in order to get anything done. It started bothering me that I had to do this because each moment I spend there without camera in hand, I know I’m missing things.

It took me some time before I finally came to peace with this division of my attention. I realized that every day I’m home in Boston, I’m also missing things on the farm. Every day that I work for others as an assistant, doing administrative work, or any of the other various jobs I’ve been doing this summer, I’m also missing things on the farm. In fact right now as I type this, I’m missing things! But those working days are necessary in order to secure the shooting, editing and printing days that the project needs.

So my resolution is that when I’m working at Twist of Fate Farm, at least I’m working where I am immersed in the place that I am documenting, spending time with my subjects and constantly learning more and more about the farm and what it takes to run it. That definitely doesn’t hurt. I actually think it’s teaching me more about what the lives of my subjects are like, and to explore areas and facets of the farm that I hadn’t paid much attention to before. Plus it hasn’t been difficult to find extra time to shoot there as well.

I’m interested though, to hear what others think. I know there are a great many photographers out there who have focused on subjects very close to them, whether it’s family, a workplace, a home, etc. I’m wondering if any folks think that time spent with subjects not shooting has been a problem (or a benefit), and if working for a place one is documenting – like I’m doing – has any positive/negative (or just different) affects on a project.

Honestly, I think that if it was up to me and I could do it however I wanted to, I’d live there in order to make the pictures I want.

If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough. -Robert Capa

Seeing is not enough; you have to feel what you photograph. -Andre Kertesz

Photos © Steph Plourde-Simard