The Story Behind The Image; Farmer And Mule Plowing

Pentax 6X7; 90mm f/2.8 lens; Tri-X film (click to enlarge)

This image was made in the early to mid-1980s.  It was made in what is called "Southside" Virginia, which is the south central region of the state.  The area consists of low rolling hills but no geography out of the ordinary.  There are alot of small farms, small towns and a lot of good, hardworking people.

It was a sunny and very hot summer day.  Very, very hot and humid, as I remember.  The kind of Virginia summer day in which you can stand in the shade under a large tree and still sweat like you just ran a marathon.  The only escape from the misery of outdoors was in the car or in an air conditioned building, both could be troublesome if you then take your gear outside and have the moisture in the air instantly condense on it.

My three friends and I were "chasing" a steam locomotive, which was running an excursion across southern Virginia.  The train was traveling on the old Virginian Railway right-of-way between Burkeville, Virginia and Pamplin, Virginia.  If you aren't keenly aware from past blog posts, I have a great affinity for railroads, railroading, railroad people, railroad history and especially steam locomotives.  In the past I spent many a weekend chasing and photographing steam locomotives across Virginia.  On this day, the 1950-built Norfolk and Western #611 steam locomotive was pulling the excursion train.

I was using my trusty Pentax 6X7 with my favorite Pentax lens mounted on it—the 90mm f/2.8.  I had the camera loaded with Tri-X film.  With that camera, I always brought along my cadre Pentax lenses—the 200mm f/4, the 135mm f/4 macro and the 55mm f/2.8.  You can divide the focal lengths by 2 to arrive at the comparative 35mm lenses.  All of my black and white photography was done with that Pentax.  The negatives were sublime.  

In addition, I brought a couple of Nikon 35mm cameras and several lenses with one of the cameras loaded with Kodachrome 64.  The other a backup.  Those three cameras were my normal arsenal when out photographing.  Compare that entire kit to what I carry today with M4/3.  My current gear is about 1/3 the size and weight—and, in my opinion, has better image quality.  I have come to appreciate all of those attributes of M4/3 as I've gotten older.

It just so happened that as we were driving and looking for a good spot to photograph the locomotive and train as it made its way, we spotted this farmer plowing his field on foot with his mule.  That was a sight to see.  Very rare, even for the 1980s.  This image looks as though it could have been made during the infamous "Dust Bowl" of the 1930s.  In fact, I think this is the only time I've ever seen something like this.  Also, a terrible job on a day like that day.  Of course, we had to stop and make some photographs.  No getting around that.

(click to enlarge)

Grabbing our cameras, the three of us poured out of the car and stood on the side of the small country road and started photographing this farmer as he plowed back and forth across his field.  He looked at us as though we were crazy!  He asked us what we were doing so we told him.  He came over toward us, stopped, posed for a few images, then got back to his plowing.  I found him to be delightful, understanding as well as generous with his time in allowing us to photography him and his trusty mule.

Were we lucky to find this gentlemen engaging in a rare activity?  Maybe.  But I think you make your own luck.  This is another example of "being there" and having a camera with you to take advantage of anything that you may find.  Also, an example of meeting someone interesting and making memories as well as satisfying photographs.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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