An American Portrait

Photographer Paul Mobley says, "I'm a portrait photographer. My interest is the people." After tens of thousands miles and as many pictures, Paul's journey is finally nearing its end. Despite getting a little dirty at times, Mobley says photography is worth every minute of it. For three years, Mobley has traveled the heartland, covering some 30 states, capturing images of America's farmers and ranchers. His work has culminated in a book of photos and essays called simply, "American Farmer." Mobley recalls a particular photo shoot, "You know. I photographed a guy, a citrus farmer in Florida who was 104, who told me a story about how he started picking oranges when he was seven."

We found Paul on a photo shoot in a remote corner of New Mexico, at the 19,000-acre Carter Cattle Ranch. He was there to photograph a man with an unusual but memorable name: Powhatan Carter the Third. A third generation cattle rancher who goes by "Pow." He's spent his entire life on these windswept plains. Pow says, "There's a lot of good things, there's a lot of downside but we could all go out and make a better living probably in other places but this is what I've chosen to do." Mobley points out, "It's really about the human connection when you're a portrait photographer. Not the cameras or what kind of lenses, what kind of equipment you have. It's about if you're going get a good portrait. You've got to try to connect with that person.

Paul Mobley says that throughout the entire project he's not met one farmer or rancher he did not connect with. He says he's become good friends with each and every one of them and he says he's not just a better person because of it, he's a changed person, and "I would drive away from every shoot whether it was a ranch or a farm and just felt that I had taken a life's worth of lessons from each photo shoot. So it was not only a pleasure to take the picture but just some of the things to listen and learn and to hear what would come out of their mouth was really something. Very refreshing for me to know that these kinds of people really exist." Mobley adds, "I'm the last person in the world that would ever, before this project started, who would have wanted a farm and I want a big piece of land, so bad I can't take it."

So, in the next year or so, Mobley plans to move his family west-from Michigan to the wide open spaces of Arizona. A move that's been prompted, in part, by the farmers and ranchers he's met along the way. He says, "I've photographed so many different kinds of people-celebrities, regular people, athletes, all across the board and I would never have thought that this particular project would bring me the gratitude. I've been a photographer a long time. It's probably been the most satisfying on an artistic level and on a personal level. I'm a better person because of this project." Mobley recalls the hospitality he's received along the way, "Every single time that I would photograph somebody, there was an immediate dinner invitation and most of the time, ya know, come and spend the night. Why stay at a hotel?- kind of thing. I had farmers and ranchers gas my car up on their own property. When I say, 'I've gotta find a gas station'. 'No you don't. Let us gas your car for you." Mobley says it's been a dream for him. A dream that often entails a lot of hard work.climbing, crouching, and coaching.

His first stop on any shoot is scouting the farm or ranch, looking for those ideal settings for his subject. Ultimately, at Pow's ranch, that meant the tack room. Mobley coaches Pow on posing just right for the photograph, "Okay, Pow, this is gonna be our first spot. This is a great spot. Here's what I want you to do. Just come in here. And I just want you to put your arms like this and just look at me. Don't do any more than that. Let your arms relax and just look at me like that, okay? Good. And just turn your head up. Perfect." At the end of this shoot, Pow turned the tables on Paul. The result? Well not professionally shot, but certainly close to picture-perfect. Mobley laughs and says, "Thanks Pow!" Pow replies, "Thank you!"