Dorset Farmer sees life through a lens.

Description:

Dorset has been captured on film by a Dorchester farmer.  He has produced work with the title 'Farm life'.  His style of photography is very traditional and is a wonderful way of diarising local Dorset folk history and livestock.  Robin Mills has been inspired by his love of the County, working for many years amongst this picturesque County. 

He says:  "I consider it a huge privilege to live and work in this environment, and am constantly reminded of how precious and magical this part of world is.  Although working full time as a farmer at Godmanstone, I have been passionate about photography since 1997, after I had an accident and found myself in bed for three weeks and I started reading photography books and manuals."

"I've  documented a wonderfully diverse selection of farming characters in Dorset, photographed in their working situations, showing the indomitable spirit of the local community holding it's own in a changing world."

Robin uses the traditional photographic techniques concentrating on black and white film.  He has set up his own dark room where he hand prints all his work.  He says "No two prints produced in this way will ever be exactly the same".

He says he's often asked why he doesn't use digital equipment:  "The answer is that I think there still remains a particular level of quality, and something that can only be called 'flavour', with film photography, especially monochrome.

"More importantly, I love darkroom work and although amazed by its capability, I get no joy from my computer".  

"I find this type of photography ultimately the most rewarding: it gives the greatest pleasure when each part of the process is carried out with care, skill, and love of the subject matter.  I hope the photographs reflect this view".

Robin Mills has exhibited at the Bridport Arts Centre in Dorset.