Hay Bales at Sunset
by Craig Myers
Land usage near Snohomish, Washington. Taken from an altitude of approximately 2000 feet from a hot air balloon. Canon EOS 5D Mk2; 1/30 @ f/5.6; 105mm; ISO 320; 24-105 f/4L. All feedback is most appreciated.
Emendation: I fear I have fallen somewhat short of posting guideline 1 in my brief post above. I'll admit that my main intention in posting this image was simply to make a neutral depiction of "man’s influence on the natural world" as stated in the gallery mission statement. If there is any influence intended, it is simply to make the viewer think about what a farm means in this day and age and about all the attendant issues that go with farms. I think most people see a farm as something positive--rural life, simple living, hard work, etc. A positive view that culminates in a visit to the county fair. But, obviously, there is more to a farm than meets the eye. The field in the picture is a hay field located half-a-mile from a large river. Is the farmer making the best use of the land. Is the field part of a larger holding that provides a diversity of crops? Is it a single-family operation or a corporate holding. If corporate, are they cashing in on subsidies meant to keep independent farmers afloat. What kind of pest control is involved? What are their environmental impacts? What archaic water laws may be assuring this landowner an allotment that is greater than may ever be needed? And, of course, what is this farm's impact on the natural world that existed before this land was cultivated? Is the impact worth the trade-off that comes with a simple hay field? But mainly, I just wanted to show this farmer's influence on land borrowed from nature, and how nature, in the form of a sunset, can make something beautiful out of a litter of hay rolls.
Comments
6 commentsWhat environmental issues does this raise for you?
Sandy
Thanks for asking. I didn't read far enough into the gallery guidelines. I have emended my original statement.
Craig
As to the environmental questions, I think a photo of a center pivot irrigation system in a corn field might have conveyed those questions more readily than a hay field, which might or might not be irrigated or be treated for pests.