Moonlighting

Most farmers work a regular "day job," (called an "off-farm" job) as well as doing their farm work. They plan their vacation time to coincide with planting and harvseting. These farmers generally have fields that are one or two square miles in size to tend to. This has them working late into the night to get things done when the crops are ready. This past week farmers have been in a frenzy as they run their giant machines harvesting soy beans and corn. I like to photo them at work, especially at night. I drive the back roads looking for slow moving lights out in the vast blackness. The farmers don't care if I come and photo them--apparently I'm the only one who does it after sunset. If anything they seem to like the company. For most, it's a lonely job out there at night. I generally wear a reflective vest, and keep a constant watch for any machinery moving my way. It would be very easy to get squished out there in the dark. I am careful, and willingly take the small risk as the images I capture can be dramatic!

In this photo a combine is off-loading soy beans into a grain cart which is pulled by another guy in the tractor. The grain cart will in turn load the soy beans into a nearby semi-trailer for the trip to the elevator. The equipment in this scene is worth over a half million dollars. Near Tyler, MN.

Nikon D7100
Nikon 17-55mm f2.8
Gitzo 1325cf
ISO 3200, f2.8

Kent in SD