Look at the Field
This photography project emerged from a singular moment of observation during Benjamin J. Cheng's train journey across the English countryside. Whilst gazing through the carriage window at an expanse of wheat fields in the midst of an English summer, Benjamin observed a scene that would spark his interest in the rural landscape. Against the backdrop of a cloudy, overcast sky that permitted only occasional shafts of sunlight to pierce through, he observed what initially appeared to be a golden patch illuminated by rare sunshine amongst the verdant wheat. Upon closer inspection, however, Benjamin discovered that this golden area was not the result of celestial illumination, but rather a mysterious section of wheat that had ripened prematurely, creating an unexpected visual anomaly within the uniform green expanse.
This fleeting moment, observed from the window of a speeding train, sparked Benjamin's enduring fascination with the English countryside and its subtle, often overlooked narratives. The transient nature of that initial observation—here one moment, gone the next—became the catalyst for a more deliberate and intimate exploration of rural England through photography.
Look at the Field represents Benjamin's attempt to slow down and truly observe the agricultural landscapes that surround us, moving beyond the cursory glance of the passing traveller to engage with the fields as living, breathing entities with their own rhythms and stories. Through careful observation and proximity to these rural spaces, Benjamin has begun to glimpse fragments of English agricultural life and the enduring relationship between the land and those who work it.
Look at the Field ultimately invites viewers to pause and consider the agricultural spaces that often exist at the periphery of our urban consciousness, encouraging a more mindful engagement with the countryside that continues to define much of England's character and identity. This body of work has cultivated Benjamin's growing curiosity about the lives of English farmers and promises to inspire future explorations into the human stories that continue to shape these enduring landscapes.
