Mike Shimwell
New member
Disclaimer - I grew up in the sheep farming hill country of North Derbyshire. My grandfather kept sheep and a few chickens, albeit that he wasn't a shepherd or fellsman. This undoubtedly impacts on my enjoyment of this book.
'Gathering' is the book resulting from a 15 month project that took photojournalist Kate Bellis from her Derbyshire home to the village of Tarset in Northumberland to work with sculptor Sally Matthews recording the way of life of the shepherds and their families. The book contains many images that strike a chord with me and stir memories of growing up in a similar district (in fact Kate Bellis has also worked with Derbyshire hill farmers). The shepherds' way of life may be disappearing - certainly it is a hard living and one that is not well paid, but there is a spirit amongst the people photgraphed here that rises above the hardshhip and an intense pride in their way of life that shines out of the pages.
Apart from Kate Bellis' photos, there are some pictures of a couple of Sally Matthews wonderful scuptures of animals, including sheep on the fells.
I should be fair and say that Sue didn't like all the pictures, and her perspective is different from mine, but I enjoyed it!!
Mike
Kate Bellis
Sally Matthews
'Gathering' is the book resulting from a 15 month project that took photojournalist Kate Bellis from her Derbyshire home to the village of Tarset in Northumberland to work with sculptor Sally Matthews recording the way of life of the shepherds and their families. The book contains many images that strike a chord with me and stir memories of growing up in a similar district (in fact Kate Bellis has also worked with Derbyshire hill farmers). The shepherds' way of life may be disappearing - certainly it is a hard living and one that is not well paid, but there is a spirit amongst the people photgraphed here that rises above the hardshhip and an intense pride in their way of life that shines out of the pages.
Apart from Kate Bellis' photos, there are some pictures of a couple of Sally Matthews wonderful scuptures of animals, including sheep on the fells.
I should be fair and say that Sue didn't like all the pictures, and her perspective is different from mine, but I enjoyed it!!
Mike
Kate Bellis
Sally Matthews