Photograph info: These photos were taken last summer but I'd forgotten about them until now. Jakey was busy mowing and baling this particular field over two days and I spent time documenting the different processes using just one lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.2L (a favorite).

For more detail on the mowing process, see the information in the post before last.

Camera settings and post-processing: All of these were shot with the Canon EOS 5D and the Canon 50mm f/1.2L lens at ISO 200, with very fast shutter speeds to take advantage of the lovely f/1.2 aperture. These are camera JPEGS with little to no post-processing.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

-- Kathleen

Nice series Kathleen. My vote goes to Amber, and Jakie fixing the belt, though all are good. Well done!!

An amazing little series. So many different views from his world. I like the one with the dog most ;-)

A great photo documentary! I like the closeup on the orchard grass and the picture of him walking on the field.

This makes me want to live on a farm. It looks like hard work, and at the same time, it's somehow inviting.

All very nice. I'm very fond of Chocolate Labs, so the one of Amber with Jakey blurred is pretty neat.

The 'bales' one is funky because of the angle. The board is blurred on the left and clear on the right and there is a very thin plane of hay in focus. Brilliant!

I see the merit of the prime here. Hmmm.

With tractor and wagon and Amber by his side,
Jakey gathers the hay and down the road it does ride.
But the process comes to a halt when the baler belt, it does break.
So back to the shop for a new one and repairs he does make.
Willing equipment and workers, just what this harvest needs
For soon out of the barn come the bales, many livestock it feeds.

Superb storyboard of harvesting! Got a real feel for what it would be like out there - well executed! Use of shallow DoF works really well on some of those shots.

Sweet Mother Mary, been missing Jakey and this is why! Great shots, esp. Amber on the tractor and the red mower... and Jakey, did I mention Jakey? Beautifully done as per your usual

f1.2 is a wide aperture so should be used with SLOWER shutter speed!

Jakie's cheap tattoo looks gross!

Beautiful series. My favorite is "Amber". All are wonderful though.

Ed: In extremely bright light, like there was that day, a very fast shutter is needed with an f/1.2 aperture - a slow shutter would cause the images to be overexposed.

Oh, man, I need to find me a farmer.... to take photos of, that is! :-) Great "day in the life" series of shots, like the short DOF.

f1.2 is a wide aperture so should be used with SLOWER shutter speed!

Eh? Where does that come from?

Do you find any actual, VISUAL, fault in the picture ―or are you only interested in the EXIF tag info?!!!

1. Letting off steam, or is that a cloud?
2. The Big Bang--200 billion years--finally, this summer, Eddy grew up.
3. Planning the next move. (Squint Eastwood)
4. Office Space.
5. Board Room.
6. Working cubical.
7. The Business Trip.
8. Life is like a red mower; Some days you get a big cut, some days you get the shaft, and before the day is out, you need a good belt!
9. Planning that next tattoo / Observing optimism in the lab.
10. Aw yeah, nothing sets up a working lunch like a brisk power walk in your chosen field.
11. Hmmmmmmm....first make the ears, then twist over.....loop for a nose....now how DID that trick go........Roger?
12. Hey Jakey, I don't see any blood on those knuckles. THAT'S impressive!

A full day's work, Kathleen. (And Jakey, Amber, Roger, et al.) You more than make up for the slow shutter speed lately with this essay, once again illustrating natural balance! Brilliant fieldwork as usual.

Thanks by the dozen.

Jakey--what a babe!

Wonderful series of photos! Living in a large urban center, it's nice to see the other side of life once in a while.

Love all of them, Amber and Bales are my favorites.

Beautiful day-in-the-life series, both tender and tough. I like the grass in the axle for its abstract value. Jakey is a great subject - so looks the part. The partnership you've forged with light is remarkable.

Fantastic series and great detail shots.

Great series, Kathleen. Thanks.

The Orchard Grass photo feels like the On Your Side album by Magnet. Have You heard any of it?

Kathleen. This series is so cool. I used to help my friend iball bale hay and run the tractor. brings back some fond memories. the shot of the mower with the little hay spindle is so great! this i remember seeing a lot, it always struck me. Sort of a bizarre freak of "nature & machine" where there is a little bit of art work formed each time the field is mowed. different each time, but always beautiful. I'd like to trade lives with Jake for a week is possible, just a week. :)

If that was a video story, it could have been mundane but capturing each moment and the colours, shapes, textures and forms all come to life. Great job!

Great series ... and a wonderful story they tell.

Makes me want to hop on a plane tomorrow and smell that hay, feel that sunshine, hear Amber's barks, eat tomatoes, and see you and Jakey!

I'm a long time viewer and admirer of your photos but never commented because how many "This is wonderfuls" can one hear? But, I am curious about you saying that this 50 mm L lens is one of your favorites and, yet, I don't believe in my six months or so viewing of this blog, I have seen this lens used in a photo. Perhaps, I have missed some but I am wondering if this lens is a favorite of yours for specific purposes, as in this photo essay format? Oh, yes...these photos are, of course, wonderful!!

Like everyone else, your photo essay is wonderful! Favorite? I'm not sure I can isolate just one. The walk across the fiend with the broken belt is probably it. As for Jakey!!! Oh my!

As a country side boy myself I just adore this series. What a great tractor and Amber is beautiful.

Yep, excellent series.

I have to say that as a farm girl myself, I love these photos. It's so refreshing to see beautiful and artistic photography that is not solely centered on the urban. I also have to say I do love a good, hard working farm boy. Well done Kathleen and "Jakey".