Planting potatoes – or tatties as we call them in Scotland – isn’t the most exciting subject matter, to be fair. Even if you are fond of chips… which I very much am.
This image was captured during the first Covid lockdown, not far from where I live in Perth. As a press card holder I had a bit of freedom of movement and decided to head out one day a week to document what was happening in the rural sector. Designated as key workers, farmers and producers were largely carrying on as normal and were often glad to stop for a chat about the pandemic and what was or wasn’t happening in wider society. I think many of us look back on that time with mixed emotions. My small weekly escapes out of town and into the countryside, gadding about in a Land Rover with a flask of tea, probably did more for my mental wellbeing than they did financially – but a few nice photographs were made along the way.
I particularly like this one. It’s a simple study, but with a bit of a twist. The contrasty light (which I’d usually avoid) helps define the planting beds nicely, while the unconventional placement of the machinery at the edge of the frame makes it work well as a potential editorial spread. This image, along with others captured during that period, is available to license for stock use. Link below.
