4-H

 

 

This is a photo tribute to my love of 4-H. For 10 years, I was an active member of the Walnut Grove Progressors 4-H club in Knox County. Through the years in 4-H, I enjoyed and valued my experiences. And to this day, I truly cherish those experiences and memories. As a 4-H member, cattle and photography were projects that became lifelong passions. It was in 4-H where my love of photography came into focus. Over the years, my love further developed and into a career in agriculture photography.

Agriculture is what I know, love, and appreciate. Through my photographs, I am able to share my love of agriculture with others. My photos are from a unique perspective...a woman raising cattle. Photography is a love I love sharing. View my collection of agriculture photos at monicastevens.photoshelter.com.

 

The framed photo is of a John Deere 4020 and a John Deere B.

 

Through the Camera Lens

Quite often, my thoughts and feelings are conveyed through the photos I capture. Photographs are truly worth more than words. They have deeper meaning. To me, a photograph is not just the sun setting on a corn field, not just a tractor stirring up dust in the field, not just cows grazing. I see more. When I snap a picture, I see through the camera lens: faith, family, tradition, strength, hard work, pride, love, and even hope.

Often times, you may find me with my camera, as I never know when I will be inspired by what I see or spot a great idea for a photo. Even on my jogs in the country, I search for inspiration for my next photo. In the spring, I cannot help but notice the warm, yellow-orange sun beaming down on the shiny, green rows of corn or my dad in the tractor making his way across the field. Harvest is another time of inspiration. One fall while waiting on my dad to fill the grain wagon for me to haul into the bin site to unload, I took time to discover the environment around me. Lying on my stomach in the middle of a grassed waterway, I patiently waited to take that perfect picture of a Monarch butterfly on top of a red clover blossom. I am sure it was a crazy site to see from the cab of the combine! My dad was probably wondering what his daughter was up to again! The outcome of the photos was exactly what I had hoped. Several Monarchs fluttering, almost melodically, throughout the waterway inspired me to take pictures of the free spirited and wonderfully beautiful insects. These sites start a thought process...thoughts that I want to capture in photographs to share with others.

Agriculture is what I know, love and appreciate, and I want to share my love of agriculture through my photographs.