Video feature in Vice News

March 23, 2018

I was proud to contribute Washington, DC footage and student interviews to this Vice News video about the National School Walkout on March 14, 2018.

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Farmer Ben Whatley at the end of his work day in his parents home on his family farm where he grew up. Ben says, “If I wasn’t tied down here, there are still things I’d love to do. But I think I’m pretty ok with the reality that I can’t just pick up and do something for months. If I was to do that, I’d be sacrificing so much else.”

Whatley Farm in the winter, Topsham, Maine.

In Maine, farmers under the age of 35 have increased by 40 percent, according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Nationally, that increase is only 1.5 percent. I had the pleasure of following around one of these young farmers, Ben Whatley of Whatley Farm in Topsham, Maine. Ben reflects on his decision to farm "At one time, farming was more idealistic or ideologically motivated by something like Wendell Berry essays. That was maybe my initial motivation, but after a number of years I forgot about all of that. It doesn’t really matter. For me it is more about doing it and being engaged. I get satisfaction from that and not patting myself on the back for all of these ideas that inspired me once upon a time.” First photo: Ben harvesting in his greenhouse. Second photo: Ben taking a walk at the end of his work day.

Favorite light, winter light.

Vic didn’t let the snowstorm ruin his trip to Portland from Boston. He ventured out in the frigid temperatures to take advantage of some snowboarding in Eastern Promenade. (swipe left)

I almost lost some fingers to frostbite for this one, but it was worth it to meet Jake, an avid unicyclist and coincidentally a fellow MECA student. Winter storms in Maine don’t stop people from doing what they love outdoors.

Saying goodbye to my Instagram hiatus as I share this new view into the world of Maine winter. I’m just finishing up my first week at the Salt Institute at the Maine College of Art studying visual storytelling. Deeply grateful to everyone who supported me getting here. And as I enter a new stage, the major influence of Mary Oliver’s words have been echoing in my mind: “I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing — that the light is everything — that it is more than the sum of each flawed blossom rising and fading. And I do.”

Paula Bannerman is a DC programmer and art advocate. She is one of the participants I photographed a couple weeks ago for Tech, Rebalanced, an initiative working to get more underrepresented genders and sexes into tech. They’ve created an inclusive community for learning, compassion, and support to change the future of the industry.

About:

Brooke Saias is a Photographer specializing in portraiture, travel, events, and documentary work based in Washington, DC.