The Fruit of Their Labor

Ok, here’s the full story. I have been giving my card out at the Hallet Oak Gallery here in Hallettsville. People see my horse photos and I am able to start a conversation. Eventually I mention that I am looking for subjects to photograph and I need horses, longhorn cattle, interesting farmers, etc. I say it’s free and if an image comes out, they get a complementary print. There aren’t any models up here and I’m just trying to make friends and some contacts.

I had set up a date for yesterday, with someone who had 20 horses in Moulton. She has had several operations and almost died a few months ago. As I was approaching Moulton, she called and said she didn’t feel well, so we rescheduled. You need to realize I had a pickup full of cameras and had been cooped up for a week because of the cold, wet weather. I had scouted out various subjects on the way up. So I started stopping and photographing for 4 hours (in a beautiful fog!). I used my iPhone, 2 DSLRs, 2 120 film cameras, and a 4x5 sheet film camera.

I almost twisted my neck when I saw these dark bales in the fog. I had taken this scene with the RB67, DSLR, and iPhone. By the time I had the 4x5 set up, the fog was almost gone. I thought it was a wasted shot. I took it anyway as a record shot with a 57 year old lens. Am I happy I did! If there was a chicken in front of the barn on the horizon, you would be able to see it. You can see the barbs on the barbed wire fence. This is why I love 4x5 film and don't give up on it. This one I had to print and it looks great at 12” x 15” on matte paper and ink.

Intrepid 4x5, Fujinar 150mm f/6.3 lens, FP4+, Xtol 1:2. On FM 340 near Moulton, Texas, USA.

From Black and White Film Photography