Searching for the Same Light

Capturing the daily farming life in rural Maine through moments of labor, routine, sacrifice, and community shows the enduring connection and survival between family, the land, and the animals they cherish.

This project brings me to the kitchens, barns, fields, and gathering spaces of five farming families, where everyday gestures hold a quiet strength. These images embody the heart of rural Maine - authentic, timeless, and full of poignant moments found in everyday life, suggesting that even the smallest routines carry a deeper search for meaning.

I frame this journey from the poetry of Warsan Shire's poem "The Unbearable Weight of Staying", using the idea of light as both a literal and symbolic thread. It reflects the idea that, regardless of our ideologies, politics, or beliefs, we’re all ultimately searching for the same things — love, family, health, and a good life — with a bit of light shining on us. Even the animals are closely connected to the natural world, and the 'light.'  This series traces the resilience of people rooted in the land while questioning how place and belonging continue to shape our identities.

 Hard times are upon us; farmer Ray laments, “The fields and the animals will not, cannot wait, and if there’s no farms, there’s no food.” Amidst the turmoil and unrest across our country, we continue to stand on the shoulders of farmers —those steadfast stewards of the land who teach us reverence, drawing strength from their toil, ever reminding us of the natural order. What emerges is a reflection on our human needs - for stability, for connection, and for hope for our shared future.