If farmers are for food security, who is against it?
A photojournalism report from Parliament Square in London on a tractor rally
After a rather trying train journey yesterday — two hours parked outside Paddington station due to a trespasser — I got to photograph a particularly interesting and unusual freedom rally. Normally I do all my photojournalism in black and white, but for once I have reprocessed a selection as colour images. While I typically avoid dwelling on camera gear or the technical side of making my work, for once it is quite relevant.
Being held at 6-8pm meant this event was at dusk, so monochrome lacks contrast. The subject matter — big tractors waving flags — is notably colourful. Having been travelling on public transport I couldn’t bring my big camera bag with fast prime lenses, made of lots of glass, and sporting big apertures for the low light level. So this is all from my street camera — a Ricoh GR III (pictured below), which I got to replace my aging Fujifilm X100F (which I got repaired and keep as a backup).
While my readers bought mine for me — much appreciated — this kind of kit is within the budget of most keen enthusiasts. You don’t need my level of polish to begin doing similar kind of work and publishing it. There are so many stories to be told, and what matters is showing up more than what kit you have. Buy good shoes! More important than anything else. People who stay at home take no pictures.
The tube train to Westminster still had remnants of the Covid protest stickers.
The different tyrannical issues — health, travel, energy, food, banking — are all interlinked, and this wasn’t the only protest ongoing. Two aggrieved gentlemen were seeking Prime Ministerial intervention into their case of injustice. Many have been predated by our gangster-run financial system.
This context of the state as thief, rapist, jailer, conman, and murder runs across our society. Corrupt police, councils, banks, judges, politicians, utilities, bailiffs, media… it’s a long list. A lot of us are very hungry for justice right now, as there’s only so much you can do at an individual level to fight crimes like treason.
As you know, people who like food security are far-right extremists (not). You can tell by their appearance as “grannies with grudges”. More seriously, I note older women are disproportionately represented in my own “truther” circles, both in person, as well as online.
Of course, there are younger ones too!
The yellow board movement has grown to deliver punchy messages with easy to read at the side of the road. “Rebels on roundabouts” turn up at peak hour around the UK.
I know a lot of well-off establishment people who think this stuff will never affect them personally. Someone else always pays the price of politically correct ideologies. Unfortunately they are about to have a hellish wakeup, but that’s out of my influence.
As locations go, you cannot get more iconic and photogenic.
Van, bus, and taxi drivers were all hooting in support. Doubtless the police notice.
It dawned on me the real story was at a meta level, which is how the rally was turned into a media event. Lots of professional photographers were present, with long telephoto lenses. When I bring my normal camera kit, I like to get stuck right in and use extreme wide angle! So my take on this story is showing the media sausage factory in operation, done as street photography.
Some sights that you would hardly ever get to photograph normally.
Knowing you aren’t alone in your struggles is an intrinsic part of street rallies, even “farmer pride”, and these drivers will be taking back an ecstatic message to their families of an unforgettable experience. They have taken some action and made a noise, which is empowering in its own right, and leads to more coordinated effort.
Their messages are ones that have broad support and aren’t selfish to farming interests. Modern farming may have many problems, but we’re factually dependent upon it, short of full-scale wartime mobilisation to grow your own, as with WW2.
I was tempted to headline with the picture below. Technically it’s not much to look at, but culturally it’s highly significant. When London cabbies back your cause, that is indicative that the “base load” of society is behind you. Taxi drivers are very awake.
This young man stopped on his bicycle to talk to a farmer and learn what it was all about. Deep in my heart I know that the multicultural mishmash of London will work itself out. It always has.
Every rally is a “micro-media” event as random passersby capture and share it. The online audience is far bigger than the physical event. The dynamics of protest are fundamentally changes by smartphones and social media. Make your message visual and memorable!
We’re taking back our flag, too. It belongs to the people, not the government.
TV crews were everywhere.
A quick loop around Parliament Square.
Up and down Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street.
“Racing” buses past the Cenotaph.
I think some of the lads were enjoying themselves a lot!
Farmers have so much goodwill from the public.
That this message needs saying ought to concern everyone. Something is wrong.
The issues are deadly serious. Bolsheviks killed 25 million Russians via starvation.
It is up to us to speak out — don’t give your consent to tyranny via silence.
How could anyone even suggest we have a problem with Satanism in our society?
If you think more people ought to know what’s going on, why not share this article on social media and ask people to sign up? It’s free — payment is voluntary for those know like to be part of making history by proxy. Your financial help makes this work possible, so I can focus on content and not commerce.
Virtual reality, voting systems, digital divorces. Strange times of civic upheaval.
So, that was London on a very special Monday evening.
You may wish to compare and contrast the quality of my own output with that of the BBC. My budget was about £120 for travel, and I will get half back as my train was delayed over an hour. I reckon my work is more attractive and informative.
People with a passion and purpose are absolutely trashing legacy media.
We are the media now… and do a better job, too!
We are the news AND the media, thanks for witnessing it for all of us 🙏🏻
Thank you, as always.