I first became aware of Amy Bateman through twitter photographic competitions such as Wexmondays. I had had a few small successes and feeling pretty smug, but some person with a handle @Croftfoot kept consistently kept getting in the top 3. I sort of assumed initially that she was a professional photographer, but as I learned more about her, we found out she was someone just starting in the world of photography with no formal training who just happened to have a natural flair for the subject.
Over the years I have crossed paths with Amy a number of times at things like the photo show, and we also got her to do an online talk to my camera club, and in the process learned a little of her backstory.
She started out as a physio therapist, married a lake district farmer, and gave up her chosen career to have children, then started in photography as a hobby to do something to fill the hours between school runs.
It is clear that she is one of those people who seem to do well in anything they set her mind too. Normally that would them incredibly irritating, however this is mitigated somewhat by the fact that in person she turns out to be actually a very nice person.
Spotting her talent early meant that I have followed her career trajectory with great interest. So when she announced she had a book coming out, I of course ordered a copy.
This is the review of that book
Forty Farms
When I put my order in, I had sort of assumed that it would be just your standard photo book of the sort that I have many of.
The first hint that this book was different was when it dropped through the letter box. Normally, photo books hit the ground with a soft "thwap". This one arrived with a loud crack and the complaint from the nearby British Geological survey that there had been a minor earthquake in the area.
After unboxing and opening the book, I realized this was not only a book containing photos, but also a documentary, analysis and treatise of Lake District farming.
The book covers 40 farms in and around Cumbria, from Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle, from one family small holdings to giant conglomerates. In it, Amy has interviewed the farm residents in length and laid out a description covering pretty well all the aspects of farming in Cumbria.
It is clear from reading the interviews that Amy's used her position as someone inset with the Cumbria farming community to gain the trust of the farmers and gain privileged access to the subjects. As a result, the book covers a vast array of subjects, from the farm dwellers themselves to the actual business of farming.
In many ways, the timing of this book is providential. Through a combination of climate change, Brexit and generally people's relationship with the countryside, farming is going through a tsunami of changes, but one thing you get from the book is that many of the farmers are here not out to get rich but are motivated by a sense of connection with the land and a belief in themselves and their own destiny. You also find that most farming is hard, unyielding work, only partly compensated by the sense of achievement. That is not to say there is any sense of self-pity, just an acceptance of the reality.
One of the impressions of people who are not in farming is that all farmers and farming are the same, and farmers speak with one voice. Something that stood out from the book is how far from the truth this is, with farmers expressing a wide range of attitudes from things as critical as breeding strategies to the effect of Brexit on farming. It is clear that farming is like any community, highly stratified and diverse, and the book lays out the differences well, and shows the tensions within the farming community on things like land access.
The attitude of farmers to hikers and walkers accessing their land is an interesting subject, and as someone who often hikes is both a concern and interest. In places like the Lake District there will always likely to be tension since it is an area of both entrenched farming and increased leisure commercialization. These two uses are not always happy partners, and the attitude from farmers ranges from frustration to those who feel that tourism brings in benefits that can be used to boost farm income. Of course the other issue is the that farmers are cash rich, but money poor and there is always pressure to sell off land for development in such a sought after location. Again the book sets out both the issues and the attitudes of the farmers
Interestingly, the author decided to include her own farm in the book. This gives a personal insight into her and her husbands' life, and perhaps a motivation in writing the book itself. One of the interesting point is that although the farm has been in the family for over a hundred years, Colin, Amy's husband, comes from an academic background and is not your traditional farmer. Again, this highlights that few of the farmers are actually dyed in the wool (sic) farmers, with many having careers outside the industry before deciding to give it a go, so going against the idea that farmers are all traditionalists against any change. For example, on the author's farm there is very much the idea that nature must be worked with and not against.
As someone who struggles to even grow sunflowers, it provides a deep dive
into the world of farming. I must admit I am still struggling to
tell a Hogg from a Gimmer, but that just a sign on how much information
has been packed in. It is definitely not a book that you can flick
though, but you will need to return to many times.
For a first book, the level of journalism is impressive as is the attitude of the author to let the interviews tell the story and let the reader make up their own mind, rather than use it as a pulpit to try and impose some world view.
May contain photos
I should also perhaps mention the photos, since this is a photographic blog.
It is clear that since Amy started picking up a camera, she has expanded her repertoire from landscape, to take in animal, people, documentary and drone photography. In fact, it is hard to think of a photographic genre which this book does not cover (although there is a lack of ICM :) ), and it is clear that Amy has expanded her skill set to become an excellent generalist.
Most of the photos are of course there to tell the story, but even then some images are slipped in that would stand out on their own, and of course we have some of her best known work, such as the sheep being driven down from the hills.
Forty Farms Later
In the last page, Amy highlights some of the issues facing farming today, such as the uncertainty of government policy on farming, the changing of government subsidies post-Brexit and the reduction in emphasis from an encouraging bio diversity. Of course, farmers are not immune to the effects of outside events, such as gas prices effects on fertilizer prices.
As she notes, farmers are not strangers to crisis and change (If you want a low stress life, farming is definitely not your profession) and it is a profession that weeds out quickly the weak, leaving people who are tough, self-reliant and determined. However, everything has a breaking point, and it is easy to forget how critical farming is in Britain; Not only in feeding the nation, but also con how we manage the countryside and strive to create a balance with nature.
Often, farmers and the public are cast as two sides, in conflict with each other. However, this book shows that farmers and the wider general public have much in common and should work together to meet our common goals.
This was not the book I was expecting, but it was definitely one I am pleased I purchased. I have come away with a different appreciation of farmers, farming, beautifully wrapped in gorgeous photos of the Cumbrian landscape and farming community.
The one thing I hope is that there is a follow-up one day, continuing the story of the families involved. Did they succeed? Were their hopes and fears realized? It calls for a follow-up called 40 Farms Later, 10 years down the line.
What this book highlights is the need for a narrative and outreach to fight the myths and misinformation on both sides. Maybe this is a role someone should pay Amy to do. It is maybe not something she has ever considered doing, but with her track record, I'm pretty sure she would become very good at it.
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