If you can’t find my Father, you can usually find him behind the wood shed chopping wood for fun or clearing the next trail through the woods behind his house at Arkadelphia Acres.
For this year’s Spoiled Rotten Photography Personal Project, I knew my Father would be the perfect subject to use to mimic the inspiration piece of art I chose. While I was recently in Bentonville, Arkansas, I was able to visit the Crystal Bridges Art Museum.
While visiting Crystal Bridges Art Museum, I discovered this painting called “Tobacco Sorters.” What caught my attention was the contrast in subjects and to me it told a story of a grandfather telling his granddaughter about life or the industry in which he worked. I chose to tell a similar generational story in my image with my Father who has always chopped wood for fun and his only grandson. I wanted the lighting and finish to depict the roughness and texture of the piles of wood and my Father’s weathered skin.
I captured two images that I felt mimicked the composition and theme of the original painting. I chose to call these, “Passing the Axe” and “Behind the Wood Shed.”
My Father…
You may never knew what he is thinking or feeling, but his mind is always processing the next project and path he wants to clear. He was born to have his hands in the dirt and not much slows him down!
His example has taught his 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren how to be satisfied with the simple things in life, the value of hard work, and using the resources you have been given wisely.
I am thankful the timing of this photo project allowed me a rare opportunity to photograph my Father alone, in his element, as a tribute for Father’s Day this year.
These yearly personal photo projects have become a great way for me to tell the stories of my family’s heritage and legacy.
Do you have any portraits of your family members that tell a story for the next generation to know something about them?
