JAC PUTS FARM LIFE IN FOCUS
THESE are the powerful images that show the beautiful and brutal reality of life on a Welsh farm. Jac Williams, originally from near Llangollen, spent months documenting his family’s farm in Glyndyfrdwy.
The series, Honest Agriculture, was part of Jac’s studies at the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
The collection offers a glimpse into the real world of farming and has since won the esteemed LPA Graduate Award for the best photography series.
The 22-year-old explained that the inspiration for the photographs came as a way of explaining his own background to fellow students.
Jac said: “Until I started discussing it with people who weren’t from a rural background I didn’t realise how little appreciation and understanding there was of Britain’s farms, particularly small family run farms, which are worked all year round.”
He added: “I was keen to document the culture I grew up with and, hopefully, winning this award can help me to share this with an even larger audience.
“That was when there was the spark of ‘actually this could be something really interesting to other people.’.”
While he was taking the photographs for the project, Jac explained that he would continue to work on the farm.
Jac said: “Having the camera and the photographs is more like an accessory of the work.
“The camera was just something extra I would have on me at all times.”
Despite the project maybe sometimes getting in the way, Jac said his dad felt it was worth it.
He said: “There are moments where my dad said I was in the way but when he saw the photographs he said he was really glad I took them.”
Jac described the culture shock of moving hundreds of miles away to begin his BA course in photography at university.
He said: “Honestly it’s just so flat here [in Cambridge] – the highest thing off the ground is probably a mole hill.
“I have never lived in a densely populated place, which was a bit strange at first. But I am hoping to find more people to speak Welsh with.”
Jac added: “Before I came to Cambridge I hated farming and the outdoors.
“But after coming back for Christmas and holidays I started to really appreciate it.
“I don’t necessarily want to be a farmer but I do appreciate it.”
Jac has now finished his course and will graduate in October.
His project discussed both history and climate change in the farming sector in North Wales, looking particularly at the impact of Brexit on smallscale farming.