Sonatas XII-84 (Farms)

They decided I was in the way; someone came and hewed me down one day
They took my limbs and leaves, but they ran out of time and went away.

I put out two stumps and tried to go, but they cut the grass around me so
Completely still I had to be, for I was just a cut down tree
Will they come back, what shall they do, will I be cut in pieces too?

Oh what is this! A great huge truck - to a mill they’ll take me, I’m in luck!
Two pretty tables they’ll make of me - I am staying with my family!

A massive tree trunk in the front yard of a farm house in Leroy, Wisconsin. It’s interesting how the trunk was left after the tree was felled. Almost as if it’s a sculpture! Maybe a statement on – who knows what. Decay, falling, ending, or maybe perseverance, persistence, survival, “I won’t give up.” Or, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” The photo was taken in September of 2016 with a Pentax 67 medium format SLR equipped with a 200 mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67 lens on Ilford HP4+ film. The negative was enlarged optically with a Beseler 23CIIXL enlarger and a 100 mm f/5.6 Schneider Componon-S lens on Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Double Weight Fiber Base silver gelatin photo paper. Processing was done archivally using Kodak chemistry, with a final toning with Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner, treated with hypo clearing agent, and washed in an archival washer.

All aspects of this print were handled in an authentic, pre-digital manner. Archival processing will ensure the maximum life span for this print.

This print (1/25) on 8” x 10” paper is available for purchase, mounted or unmounted. Please contact me if interested. Thank You.