SoFoBoMo - Cows with Coiffures

SoFoBoMo is short for Solo Photo Book Month - a group event where a bunch of photographers all make solo photo books start to finish, in 31 days, at more or less the same time.

I've chosen cows with coiffures. This follows a project to take some portraits of sheep last year where I discovered some real individual characters. I thought it might work with cows, and that the hair styles might be the key. This is my SoFoBoMo project for 2009.

I started on the 30th May. So far I've been building relationships with the various different groups around the village. Visiting every day, getting closer, talking, mooing, belching and sniffing. The theory is that if I make similar noises, they may let me get closer, and be generally less disturbed when I eventually get in the field with them.

Last year I discovered that getting in amongst the animals was great for perspective, and background as well as just getting closer. Some of the more agressive cam close, but their darting runs at me made it quite hard to photograph.

This year I need to be more careful not to upset them. Cows are a lot bigger than sheep! They do seem to be less agressive and more curious though. This means they may get too close to photograph easily.

The other thing is flies. Flies love cows eyes, and they look foul. Even around 7am - the earliest I've tried so far - and with temperatures around 6-8C, they're already there. Not sure how to solve that one yet.

Anyway. Here's one shot to give you an idea.