Tradition & Modernity

In turning in my photography final, I learned I lesson I was not prepared to learn. My photograph is a sepia toned image of a grove of trees. Nowadays, many people turn to technology as it renders all other older methods obsolete. From looking at the endless rows of trees, I wonder about farmers in the old days.

Hard work and labor. Why suffer, when there are obviously easier ways of accomplishing something. But it's not just the convenience, more the method. The process of understanding what you're accomplishing and how you're going to get there.

So many people no longer appreciate the joy of pure hard work. That tingly feeling you get from doing an honest days work that doesn't compare to anything else. Farmers especially, are known to make up the bottom of our social class. But without them would we have anything? Not food, obviously. But more than that, we all had to start somewhere. And that's usually at the bottom. It's when you move up from the bottom that truly matters, because face it, it's no easy task.

A couple weeks ago, I, in order to complete some volunteer hours took on a task of picking fruit from trees to feed the underprivileged. From 9 to 12, I labored under the hot sun, climbing ladders and picking grapefruit. But when I was done, I can honestly say that I hadn't felt as good in a long time. Not just for completing my hours either. To know that I put in a honest days work.

This brings me back to my photograph. For our final, we had a choice, print in the darkroom or develop your image digitally. Most people were drawn to the latter, but I differed. I wanted to work in the darkroom. Although digital prints seem to draw people in more due to their sharp focus and crisp colors, I opted to spend every single day remaking prints. And in the end, I got my final done and I'm happy and all is good. And my picture is a tribute to those farmers, with all my undying gratitude and all my faith that they did contribute to this society.