This summer I interned for Land O’Lakes and had the pleasure of visiting and photographing farms across the country. During these trips, I immersed myself in the farming lifestyle and quickly realized that this rising fashion trend of utility wear has been prevalent within the world of farming since the age of the cowboy.
Our creative team—one photographer, one videographer, one photo assistant and four models—headed towards Sylvania, Ga. in hopes of executing this vision. With little to no expectations, we entered the afternoon with open minds, not knowing that the next few hours would blow our expectations out of the water. Once we arrived at the location, we were greeted by Ben, the owner of the farm, and his best friend Lynn.
Right off the bat, this duo took “Southern hospitality” to a whole different level. Welcoming us with open arms, they offered to take us on a tour of the farm. After we hopped into Ben’s four-wheeler and ventured around the property, it became evident that what we thought was going to be a small farm next to a field was the complete opposite.
Consisting of over 100 acres, this location is filled with an array of different animals, buildings, equipment and resources. Due to the hard-working mindset instilled within Ben and his family, this farm emits a sense of nostalgia and timelessness, unlike any farm that I have ever been on. Throughout the afternoon, this nostalgic feeling permeated our entire experience.
As Ben led us to unique lighting scenarios in hopes of catering towards my creative vision, we took advantage of the in-between moments to compare and contrast our diverse walks of life. When a young SCAD student like me and a seasoned southern farmer like Ben cross paths, it’s inevitable that perspectives and views are going to collide. Contrast is commonly viewed as a negative attribute, yet in this situation, our clashing views were ultimately what made this experience so special.
At the end of the night, as we wrapped up the shoot and analyzed the 1300 photos that had been captured, Ben marveled that he’d never looked at his farm in the way that we did. We brought a completely new perspective to his property; he would never look at his farm the same. Hardworking farmers like Ben are the people that inspired this editorial, so knowing that this concept resonated with him and that we were able to capture his property in a new light made for an experience that I will never forget.
Written by Ty Dowda
Photography by Ty Dowda
Video by Jasper Lazor
Photo assistant: Tyler Rogow
Talent: Day Toscano, Connor Cole, Maria Sofia & Zaye