As our society increasingly relies upon industrial agriculture, there are still those who continue a close relationship with the land and all it has to offer, be they hunters, farmers, woodsmen, gardeners, or foragers. My work recognises and acknowledges their commitment in a series of portraits that honours these individuals in their environments. My approach to this work is to visit with my subject for a day or so prior to making any photographs, thereby allowing us time to establish a rapport. I also use this time to observe their method of work, body language, and how they relate to their environment as they conduct different tasks throughout the day. From there I begin to photograph, spending several days collaborating with my subjects to create images that speak to their life. I have chosen to work with the wet plate collodion/tintype process for its timelessness and its aesthetic connection that resonates to an era when we were all closer to the land. All plates are 20 cm x 25 cm and each of my subjects receives plates as well.

Craig J. Barber