Photography

groundloop

(11,521 posts) Wed Jul 24, 2013, 08:31 AM Jul 2013

July Contest - Storm at the Family Farm - story and a few more photos

First off thanks to Solly Mack for running a great contest, I have to say that I'm a bit nervous about the work that will be involved in running the August contest. There were many fantastic photos in the contest this month. I really liked "Rural Free Delivery" (as did quite a few other DUers), and all the entries were great.

In the July contest thread it was mentioned that "Storm at the Family Farm" likely had multiple layers of meaning, and indeed it does. That farm has been in my family since at least the 1880's, nobody's ever bothered to look up exactly how far back it goes. (It's located near Montrose, Michigan by the way.) I used to spend as much time there as I could when I was young, and lived there (and helped farm) for several years after my engineering job ceased to exist and I chose to go back to college for another degree (thank God for family who are willing to help out).

The current "storm" happening there probably goes on at family farms all over the country. My uncle farms it now, but he doesn't feel like he can keep going much longer and nobody in the younger generations wants to farm, so it will likely get sold in the not too distant future. My aunt who lives by herself in the farmhouse was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, and is living out her last months in a hospice, so that gorgeous farmhouse is sitting empty now. When I drove up to visit last month I took my camera gear with me knowing it may well be the last time I get to see the place.

I was really hoping to get a lot of photos with a pretty blue sky and white puffy clouds, but the weather wasn't cooperating that week and most of the photos had a very mean looking sky. I guess in hindsight that fit the situation perfectly. This photo was taken with a Canon XSi, Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens, and I used a polarizing filter to help bring out the sky. Some of the other photos were taken with a Canon T4i and Canon 70-200 f4 lens.

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7 replies

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Highlight:

July Contest - Storm at the Family Farm - story and a few more photos (Original Post) groundloop Jul 2013 OP

Those pictures remind me of growing up in Iowa liberal N proud Jul 2013 #1

Thanks for the story and the photos NV Whino Jul 2013 #2

I love the stories handmade34 Jul 2013 #3

Thank you for sharing the story behind the photo. Solly Mack Jul 2013 #4

Lots of nostalgia for me in your story. Mz Pip Jul 2013 #5

Thanks... ramapo Jul 2013 #6

A gift to us, the additional photographs and perspective, Mira Jul 2013 #7

liberal N proud

(60,340 posts)

1. Those pictures remind me of growing up in Iowa

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 09:00 AM

Jul 2013

Thanks for sharing

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

2. Thanks for the story and the photos

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 10:00 AM

Jul 2013

True Americana is quickly disappearing, and it's sad.

handmade34

(22,757 posts)

3. I love the stories

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 12:56 PM

Jul 2013

that go with the photographs... I grew up in Michigan and know the farms well... My dreams and fantasies have always been to be able to farm a place like that... alas, I was born into poverty with no farm inheritance (I do what I can now with my few acres in Vermont)

so sad that no one in your family wants to farm it... small sustainable farms sprouting up have got to be our future

this is a place I bought in Michigan a few years back to homestead but life happened and now a nice young woman is buying it and very nicely carrying out my dream

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Solly Mack

(90,780 posts)

4. Thank you for sharing the story behind the photo.

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 01:55 PM

Jul 2013

I love the stories behind the images.

Sad that the farm might pass out of your family.

Thank you for the kind words. You'll do fine with the August contest.

Mz Pip

(27,453 posts)

5. Lots of nostalgia for me in your story.

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 06:30 PM

Jul 2013

I spent my childhood on two family farms in very rural Nebraska. They are long gone, absorbed by agribusiness. Glad to see that some still exist even if for not much longer.

Beautiful photos.

ramapo

(4,589 posts)

6. Thanks...

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 10:39 PM

Jul 2013

Giving the background history/status of the farm really adds another layer to your great photo. And it is always helpful, I think, to know what went into capturing a shot. I think the row of corn is my favorite of the additional ones you posted.

Mira

(22,380 posts)

7. A gift to us, the additional photographs and perspective,

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 10:50 PM

Jul 2013

and the story behind it told with bitter sweetness. Thanks! I like the photograph of the corn the best, and also the last one - the barn shot looking up. I'm also drawn to the photo of the entire barn fading behind the grasses in focus.
I wish someone could take over, breathe life into it, and continue the traditions.

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