For something different this year, a few of The Land's team, mainly those who were on deck right before Christmas, have shared some insights on their year, including some highlights and where they traveled across the state, but also the coverage from their perspective. It includes this story from our roaming photographer Rachael Webb, who gives a bit of a taste of some of the things that have stood out to her during her travels.
It has been a big year on the road as the photographer for The Land, but a fun one.
So, given how much time I spend behind the wheel (I reckon I’ve done about 100,000 kilometres for 2017), I thought I should share a bit about what goes on behind the scenes with the making of the photos for the stories in The Land.
To help give you some context, picture this: After arriving on farm, I hop into the ute with the farmer, camera on one shoulder, farmer’s dog on the other as we head out to the paddock.
The farmer usually decides to take the young, green, overly-enthusiastic, eager-to-please dog, which needs extra work.
Once out in the paddock and the cattle, sheep or goats are sighted, 'young' dog takes off towards the mob and all you can see from the ute is a cloud of dust into the horizon.
Some exploration may be required at this point to find said young dog and mob, but after some rounds of the paddock stock are found and young dog now broken in.
Photos are taken of farmer positioned in front of livestock doing the farmer squat or bullbar lean, then its the dog’s turn to join the farmer for some photos.
For a 'successful' photo, the dog also needs to look at the camera, however, the dog’s attention is on the livestock.
The farmer will say "if you whistle they will look at you". But given I can’t whistle, I instead make a feeble attempt at a sound that barely passes for a whistle to get the dog’s attention.
So, let’s just conclude that it’s a miracle I end up taking a photo at all. I am the real life version of Wal and Footrot Flats.
The dog always has the last say, marking its territory on my vehicle’s tyres before I leave.
The mix-ups
The job also comes with unexpected perks. It’s not everyday one gets to meet their namesake or their doppelganger.
However, this year I finally had the pleasure of meeting another Rachael Webb, an agronomist in the north of the state. This gave me the chance to say thanks you for all the help she has unknowingly given me.
It’s a harvest team finishing their last paddock, revellers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and people ringing-up to tell me of their opportunities that have come out of having their photo in the paper, or that someone's Nan is happy because she now has a new photo of the grand kids.
- - Rachael Webb
On numerous occasions, agribusiness personnel and farmers have mistaken the two “Webbys”.
When I'm taking cropping photos in the north of the state most farmers think 'you beauty, I can have my photo taken and get some crop advice at the same time'.
Meanwhile, the look of disappointment on their face when I turn up, because I'm the wrong Rachael Webb, its just priceless. I think the benefits weigh more on my side, as agronomist Rachael only receives the occasional text message, 'nice photo'.
The highlights
As The Land’s photographer, I consider myself lucky to be able to meet the people I meet and see some of the things I see.
My highlights for the year just gone are in the everyday little moments.
It’s the jokes and banter of the saleyards, or a shearing shed, taking a photo of a kid with their pets or a farmer and his Akubra hat, and the fact that me taking their photo has made their day.
It’s the one-finger greeting (not the middle one) of passersby along a dirt road, receiving OMA (old man advice) at each farm, from how to pick the right pup, to what I should spray my garden with, or sharing a cup of coffee with a drover in the company of a mob of cattle.
At the Sydney Royal Show, it’s taking a photo of The Land’s Sydney Royal Showgirl winner beside a wool bale holding a fleece when there are 20 show-goers and international tourists behind me all taking iPhone photos as well, it’s having smoko with a family and they’ve run out of biscuits and resorted to eating the cake destined for the judging in the upcoming local show.
It’s a harvest team finishing their last paddock, revellers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and people ringing-up to tell me of the opportunities that have come out of having had their photo in the paper, or that someone’s Nan is happy because she now has a new photo of the grand kids hanging up on the wall.
The ‘best of’
So, to wrap up, I thought I should also share my “best of” list:
Most frequented region (aside from the Central West, where I live): Riverina
Most popular artist on the iPod: American country singer Luke Bryan
Best coffee: anything not out of my coffee thermos
Best bumper sticker: No farms = no beer
Best dog’s name: Taxi or Waiter
Best dog’s name for a useless dog: Person's name you bought it from
Best excuse to get farmers or farm workers to my location on the farm for a photo: 'It’s smoko'
