These shots are taken from Sunday-Tuesday. My project idea was to explore the idea of the modern day sheep farmer. I’m still in the early stages of exploring ideas and directions. My original idea was to feature the life span of a lamb and how they are transported from birth to the dinner plate. Featuring the role of the sheep farmer, the trading of stock in the mart and the final destination of the slaughter house. I would hope to photograph each stage but I feel each stage is expansive enough to further develop.
In these images I’m exploring a few issues and the photos are not related. A brief description of each image.
A. Night time yard shot reflecting the change in sleep pattern for my dad when he has to look after pregnant sheep. I need to explore the issue of shooting at night further and handle the problems using medium format that might occur with night-time shooting.
B. Another is from the Mart, unfortunately there was just a cattle mart when I was there and the sheep pens were empty. I really like the space as it allows for a lot of natural light.
C. A portrait of my dad, I want to mix in some portraits into my project because I think they’d work well. How I incorporate this exactly though is still under consideration.
D. If I am to explore the idea of the farm more and what it means to me. I think shots like this would be very important to identity a personal connection.
Although these were all shot on digital, I feel like the project is more suited to medium format. This weekend I’m going to shoot more on the farm and surrounding areas, along with the mart. My general guideline right now is to test out film, re-associate myself with the use of medium format and to shoot the avenues I wish to explore and hope that the direction of the project becomes clearer to me.
