I’m a big believer in changing my perspective on things. Perspective takes thought and consideration; I enjoy doing both. I had a black and white monochrome camera, which I traded in to get my mirrorless Leica, but I still switch to black and white occasionally to help with my perspective on the world around me.
I decided it was time to do that with my morning work at the farm today.
There are a million things to think about on a farm; we are surprised almost every day.
Last night, I went out to check on the hens and found one lying beneath the roost in darkness, sound asleep. She was too far in the shadow for me to pick her up safely and move her. I went and got Maria. (Maria is an all-time animal rescuer. A bluebird flew down into the woodstove yesterday, and she heard it and took the ashes out of the stove. The traumatized bird came flying out and eventually landed on a windowsill. Maria picked her up gently and brought her outside. She has the touch.)
It was the sort of thing that happens several times a week on the farm. We have to be vigilant all the time. Bud has given up on digging holes out of the dog fence and escaping. We have some rebuilding to do. The list of things to do is never empty.
She did the same thing for the exposed hen and got her into the roost with the others.)
This morning, I went out with two cameras to pick likely black images. I used the iPhone Pro Max 15 and my Leica SLR, which I traded for. In the above photo, Maria picks up a hen who didn’t get into the coop before it got dark.
When chickens go to sleep, they drop wherever they are if they don’t get into a roost in time. They are almost in a coma, which makes them especially vulnerable to predators. So we looked underneath and all around to ensure one of the hens didn’t get to the roost before falling asleep.
Maria had no trouble picking up the hen and getting her into the roost. I noticed the pen was under the roost when I went out to check, something we do every night before going to bed.
Fanny is eating the last of the grass.
Zip does this when he wants attention. I think he’s trying to charm me.
An August flower opened up its heart to me.
Working dogs at the gate, waiting to work
This photo has several elements that mean a lot to me. Flowers, an old gardenvast, an Ed Gulley work of art, and a statue of St. Joseph stand to watch over the farm daily.
I just love black and white photography. There’s just something so honest about it, without the distraction of color. Nicely done!
yes, I love black and white photography Jon……… (having *learned* 45 yrs ago how to take and develop my own film when darkrooms in your closet at home were a *thing*- and I did just that). I love your black and white photos……and hope to see more of them. A totally different feel altogether….Your pics today took me back to my college days and reminiscing about the classes I took….and the zillions of photos I took……and processed. Pre-digital days……. and looking back……wow……. it WAS fun! I just sold my original Pentax camera (from those days) to a collector………… and he was very happy!
Susan M
This is one of the best photographs you’ve taken of Maria, I think. She is so beautiful in it—and she certainly has the touch with residents of the “critter” world. Great job, Jon.
St. Jozeph looks like he has a big head of hair! You have shot this angle before but it never struck me as in black and white!