Forty Farms - Conversations about change in the landscapes of Cumbria

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My photography work is only done in school hours. The rest of the time, I'm determined to be around for my children. And so, there's a big compromise between being a commercial photographer and being a mum. I’ve turned significant commissions down as I can't travel to far flung places or have the ease of working to my own schedule. When seeing other people's photographs of sunrises, I need to remind myself that I have three young girls and I’m married to a farmer. My dedication to my family and farm makes capturing photographs of sunrises difficult, so I’ll just wait and over time I will have opportunities to capture those images. And of course I make the most of our land here at home, on my doorstep.

None of this would be happening without the commitment and enthusiasm my publisher, Dave Felton, and the financial support of the Arts Council as well as five sponsors: Rathbone Brothers (wealth management), H&H Group, NFU (National Farmers Union), the University of Cumbria’s Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas and The Cumberland, the Carlisle-based mutual building society.

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In March 2021, British Life Photographer of the Year Amy Bateman embarked on a journey to record the stories of forty farms in Cumbria. Photographer Amy Bateman says, “I have tried to reflect the widest possible range of farmers engaged with the widest variety of animals, crops, landscapes and diversifications”

Over the course of a year, Amy conducted frank conversations about the financial challenge of farming in post-Brexit Britain; the tightrope balance of producing quality food in nature-rich landscapes; and the highs and lows of working in an area internationally famed for its beauty. British Wool (Image credit: Amy Bateman - Forty Farms) What is your essential kit for the outdoors capturing domestic and wild farm life? Helen has appeared on Sky News, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC World Service, talkRadio, and GB News. An experienced chairperson and speaker, she regularly chairs conferences and events for, among others, literature festivals, award ceremonies, and tech shows. She was also a Guest Lecturer at Westminster University in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, and a Guest Lecturer at City University and at MMU. She taught Music Journalism at Salford University for a number of years, and taught Political Reporting at Huddersfield University. In 2017, she was shortlisted for Person with Purpose at the Northern Power Women Awards. In 2019, she was a judge for the HWA Gold Crown Awards which recognise the best historical novels.As well as the “real” Gallery exhibition, there’s also a virtual Online Gallery, which includes exclusive images not in the book (as well as lots that are) and offers the chance to buy a range of formats and sizes for about 400 images as prints. Follow the link to find out more and for the full selection. Image credit: Amy Bateman - Forty Farms) What is the most challenging and rewarding part of your photography?