Documenting the sustainability of farming: Photography BA student Joe Day
06 May 2025
After visiting Yeo Valley Organic, The Milk Stand at Kingston Seymour Farm, and Dowstall Farm, second year Photography BA student, Joe Day, felt inspired to document sustainable farming practices with his camera. Through his photographs, Joe has drawn light to the intricate relationship between people and their environment, using his lens to tell a compelling narrative that inspires an appreciation for the planet.
We chatted with Joe to learn more about this project and discover what he hopes to convey through his series on farming.
Can you tell us more about your project?
I focused on capturing the moments that highlight the vital animal welfare and conservation efforts happening worldwide. To share this in my photography, I worked alongside the Worldwide Veterinary Service to raise awareness for their mission rabies campaign, a disease that claims a life every nine minutes. The organisation provides support to animals worldwide, and through photographing the rabies rally I opened my eyes to the challenges faced by animals globally, and the importance of advocating for their welfare.
Photography is such a powerful tool for advocating and documenting sustainability, animal welfare, and conservation, and I have shared my thoughts on its importance on local news platforms such as BBC Radio Cornwall and South West Farmer.
How did you begin working on this project?
I began my project by gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable farming. By working with Yeo Valley Organic I gained an initial understanding of how we can create a sustainable and organic environment. It was a captivating process that involved spending a substantial amount of time engaging with the farmer and understanding their viewpoint with an unbiased perspective. By the end, I knew I wanted to create a visual narrative that highlights the importance of the hard work that sustainable farming does.
Each farm I visited offered a unique perspective, from innovative and sustainable practices to traditional methods of farming. From seeing their efforts firsthand, I knew I wanted to create a visual narrative that highlights the importance of the painstaking care that goes into sustainable farming. From upkeeping plants to nurturing beds and looking after welfare animals – I wanted to document the hard work that happens.
What do you hope to convey through your work?
If there’s one key message I want people to take away from my work it’s to always document and record everything. History is made every second, so track how far you have come in life, teach everyone a lesson and tell that lesson to future generations.
Anyone can do it, whether it’s by writing, taking a photo or shooting a video!
What do you hope to photograph next?
In the near future, I plan to continue my work with Worldwide Veterinary Service as I look to photograph internationally, expanding my understanding of animal welfare and conservation.
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