Forget about Uncle Ben

[susaan]

This is how my neighbors grow theirs.

For the last week,I've been getting to know my new camera,spending 2 - 3 hours a day getting muddy and sunburnt with some new friends.
If I turn up early,they ply me with boiled bananas and rice,later,offer tea - looks like I'll be baking cookies for a party at the end of the harvest.

1 - Threshing by hand,most common method.

2 - Making her way to work,down very narrow paths ( back up with care when taking photos ) the rice fields are flowing water,for most of the year.

3 - Tea and cigarettes,before starting work,blue plastic tarps cover the crop cut the day before.

4 - The ladies work differently to men,cut off the heads only."Security "means 6 months food for her family,with 2 crops each year.

[another view]

Awhile back I saw how wild rice was traditionally harvested in the very-northern midwest, and I thought that seemed like a lot of work. It seemed very cheap based on what went into that one pound bag sold so many places in Minnesota. And theirs falls into a canoe so they don't even have to carry it!

[Old Timer]

Susaan once again thanks for you insiders glimpse at another culture. I love that second image, the hat and shirt are so colorful and seem so traditional. I hope you don't get tired of the new camera and stop all these great post.

[susaan]

Thank you !
- No danger of getting tired of this camera and lens - it will probably take the rest of my life to master,and the experiences are sweet and vivid.
I have yet to shoot a live music show,or any night stuff with it,as my days are consumed with shooting early and editing 'til late - thank goodness my family are all busy ,too,and sympathetic to my projects .

[susaan]

A few more from today..

1 - Rice is a heavy load - more so when fresh.

2 - Beautiful colors,newly picked.- the women pick off heads only,men cut further down the stalks and thresh by hand on a wooden stand or peddle-power thresher.

3 - Kettles of tea - Time for a break,between fields.

4 -Wheel from bicycle chain driven thresher.

[Pink Dragonfly]

Great images, Susaan! I also saw these sights a lot in my 5 years on Borneo, and seeing your images reminds me all too much of this wonderful part of the world :sad:

Mette