![\"DCM312.photo_skills_extra.PotatoRidging\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/kv7JLUowVQSB4fUTiDUdAR.jpg\")
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Above: Potato Ridging This shot won the Drone category of this year\u2019s International Golden Shot Photography Awards. It also made the official selection of best images in the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards. Settings: 1\/8 sec at f\/2.8, ISO 100. (Image credit: Chris Gurton)<\/p>\n
Chris Gurton is a photographer from Suffolk who received an honourable mention in the Special Night Photography category of the International Photography Awards last year for his \u2018Harvesting at Night\u2019 image. He also came second in this year\u2019s Lumearth photo awards, in the Agriculture and Rural category. \u201cAlthough photography has become a huge part of my life, I don\u2019t currently do it full-time,\u201d says Chris. \u201cEvery opportunity to photograph farming has been built around my day job, which makes the support I\u2019ve received from farmers and the recognition my work has gained even more rewarding. My ambition is to make agricultural photography my full-time career one day, continuing to tell the stories of the people and landscapes behind our food production.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n What got you into shooting farming or agricultural photography as a subject? Latest Videos FromDigital Camera World<\/p>\n Have you developed good relationships with farmers to capture them at work? Building good relationships with farmers has been one of the most rewarding parts of my photography journey. Trust is incredibly important because I\u2019m often photographing people while they\u2019re concentrating on complex tasks with large machinery. They need to know that I\u2019ll work safely, stay out of the way and never interfere with what they\u2019re doing. I think those relationships also help me to create stronger images. Spending time on farms has also given me a much deeper appreciation of the skill, dedication and long hours that are involved in producing our food, and I hope that understanding comes through in the images I make.<\/p>\n What camera equipment do you use? You may like<\/p>\n Living in rural Suffolk, I\u2019m surrounded by farmland, so it felt natural to start exploring the agricultural landscape from above. I became fascinated by the skill, precision and sheer hard work involved in producing our food, and that\u2019s what I try to capture in my photography today.<\/p>\n \n Unloading the Wheat This shot made the official selection of this year\u2019s International Photography Awards (results to be announced). It was also shortlisted for last year\u2019s British Photography Awards. Settings: 1\/4 sec at f\/2.8, ISO 100. (Image credit: Chris Gurton)<\/p>\n What made you interested in covering this subject? I\u2019ve been incredibly fortunate to receive fantastic support from the farming community. The farms that I\u2019ve worked with have trusted me to document their work in an authentic way, and those relationships have grown over time. As well as creating images for my own portfolio, I\u2019ve also produced photographs for farmers to use across their social media, websites and promotional material.<\/p>\n Chris Gurton’s top five tips<\/p>\n 1: Ensure safety always comes first 2: Learn how harvest works What to read next<\/p>\n 3: Make the most of the light \n Harvesting at Night This image received an honourable mention in the Special Night Photography category of last year\u2019s International Photography Awards. Settings: 1\/5 sec at f\/2.8, ISO 800. (Image credit: Chris Gurton)<\/p>\n 4: Tell a story, don\u2019t just show a machine 5: Be patient and enjoy the process Website: www.chrisgurtonphotography.com<\/a>
I\u2019d always been fascinated by aerial images, particularly the work of French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. His book The Earth From the Air had a huge influence on me, showing how a change in perspective could transform familiar landscapes into something extraordinary. That style of photography felt out of reach because it relied on hiring helicopters or light aircraft. Consumer camera drones completely changed that, giving photographers like me the<\/p>\n
My main camera is a Nikon D7500<\/a> DSLR with a selection of lenses, including a wide-angle and 35mm prime to a 500mm telephoto lens, depending on what I\u2019m photographing. For my aerial work, I use a DJI Air 2S camera drone<\/a>, which has been an incredible tool for capturing the patterns, textures, and scale of the agricultural landscape. Neither is the latest or most expensive piece of equipment on the market, but I\u2019ve never believed that creating a great photograph is simply about owning the newest camera. It\u2019s far more important to understand light, composition, timing, and the story you\u2019re trying to tell.<\/p>\n![\"DCM312.photo_skills_extra.UnloadingtheWheat\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4MecQyH9WFC7iDjYWkvPkL.jpg\")
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What really drew me to agricultural photography was the opportunity to tell stories that many people never get to see. Most people only see the finished product on the supermarket shelves; I wanted to capture what takes place right at the start of the food production process.<\/p>\n
Harvest is one of the busiest periods of the farming year, with multiple machines working together. Never assume you can simply walk into a field with a camera \u2013 always ask the farmer or landowner for permission first. If you want to get closer, you have to respect that they\u2019re running a business. Always stay aware of your surroundings, keep well clear of working machinery and never distract operators.<\/p>\n
Understanding what\u2019s happening in the field makes a huge difference. If you know when a combine is likely to unload, where tractors will position themselves, or how the crop will be worked, then you can anticipate these moments.<\/p>\n
Some of my favorite harvest photographs have been taken during golden hour or even after sunset. Dust hanging in the air and low-angle light can completely transform a scene, so don\u2019t pack away your camera when the sun starts to disappear.<\/p>\n![\"DCM312.photo_skills_extra.ChrisGurtonDJI_0634copy\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/o5qhqJieKUjT7hBFRrjroB.jpg\")
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A combine harvester is an impressive machine, but the strongest photographs include the wider story. Look for leading lines in the crop, dramatic skies, birds following the machinery or people working together. These details add context and help viewers connect with the image.<\/p>\n
Harvest rarely goes exactly to plan. Weather changes, machinery breaks down and the light doesn\u2019t always cooperate. The best photographs often come after hours of waiting, so be patient and keep looking for new angles. If the conditions aren\u2019t right, don\u2019t be afraid to call it quits and return on another day.<\/p>\n
Instagram<\/a>: @chrisgurtonphotography<\/a><\/p>\n