Farm Project

02/2020 // Wilmington, Illinois

Artist Statement

Farming has been part of my family for several generations.  My grandparents, parents, siblings, and nephews all were or are active farmers.  My family grows soybeans and corn. 

The fields are plowed, and the seed is planted in the spring.  Corn is knee high around the fourth of July and fully grown by mid-September.  

There are no guarantees in farming. The growth of the crops is dependent on the amount and timing of rain. Too much rain will flood out the fields possibly damaging the crop. Too little rain will prohibit the crop from germinating.  The growing season is between the end of April and September.  If farmers are not able to plant the crops on time it can limit their growth.  Likewise, if the crops can’t be harvested on time, it is possible the soybean pods or corn cobs can fall off the stalk or the stalks themselves fall making it difficult to harvest or loss of a portion of the crop. 

These photographs were taken on location at my nephews’ farm.  Most images were taken using a wide-angle lens to show the expansive view of the field from the ground.  The work provides an understanding of the farm operation from preparing the ground and planting in the Spring to the harvest in the Fall using still photography.