After returning from my 1-2-1 tuition with Tom at Worm’s Head yesterday, I saw these Hay bales on the horizon as I headed into Scurlage. I haven’t seen many of these around Gower before as Gower is mainly livestock and dairy farming. The conditions were still a bit bright, but with the blue sky it was an opportunity to try a few images. Due to the location of the sun and the layout of the bales, the best position for competition was fairly limited so I tried to introduce some variation using different lenses. I think I prefer the image above at the moment, but the image below was a wider view with a 12mm lens. Where I think it fails slightly is in how the bales split the horizon. Ideally any object crossing the horizon should either be well above or below the horizon. In the image they are a bit middling, perhaps I needed to get lower even though it was taken with the camera 1 foot above the ground.
And finally an image of me in action.
You didn’t think I would show a straight image did you? There is a point to this image. In the low light it is very easy to get part of your shadow or that of your equipment in the image with very wide angle lenses so luckily with digital you can check on the spot. So as the sun starts to drop lower in the sky, take care.
Nice pictures, but I would have preferred it if you asked before wandering onto my fields.
I’m fed up with finding gates open, litter etc when I do my rounds.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled. . . .
The Farmer
I’m sorry that my entering the field to take the photographs has upset you. I apologise for this and not obtaining your permission. I did attempt to find someone who could give me permission or could tell me where to get it but I was unable to find anyone. It is sometimes quite difficult to ascertain who owns which piece of land when more than one farm is in the area. This is not meant as an excuse, but just an observation.
I can understand your fustration with open gates, rubbish etc. but please do not assume that all people are like this. I think this fustration is shown in your final comment and the unwritten suggestion in it.
This is the first time in 20 years of photographing Gower that I have not obtained permission, and I have recieved the public rebuke it warrants. I could have easily deleted the comment, but I have retained it as a reminder for me and others.
I have attempted to email you directly regarding your comment, but the email address you left does not seem to be working.
To others reading this:
Over the years I have recieved mixed reactions when trying to obtain permission to enter farmland. Most of the photographs I take are from Public rights of way. Even when on these I have been verbally abused and threatened by farmers (please note that this was NOT on Gower). When I have asked for permission I have also recieved mixed responses. Some have been negative, some positive and some ask me why am I asking for permission when I’m just taking a photograph and why didn’t I just hop into the field and take a picture. From the tone of the Gentlemans comments above, he obviously has had a negative experience with members of the public crossing his land.
The moral of this is always obtain permission.