Dustbowl season in Indiana.


As the air cools and colors change, everything starts to slow down. Well, not everything. For many farmers fall is their busiest season of the year and is no easy task. Working early in the morning to late at night makes for a long day, not to mention breakdowns happening at the most inconvenient times and watching the sky praying that you'll beat the bad weather. Waking up, farmers never know what the day may hold. Still, they continue to work long hard hours knowing the reward will be worth it in the end.


In the fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to take harvest photos for Brechbill Farms Inc., a local, family-owned farm located in Northeast Indiana. My time with them was spent taking photos while getting an inside look at what their harvest season is like. Looking through and editing a couple of thousand photos, I realized that I wanted to share the entire experience with you, not just the photos. That being said, I'll be sharing some of my favorite images, as well as how I achieved the results I did.

Day 1: Soybean Harvest

October 23, 2022


Fall time. When the leaves begin to change color, you know work views are going to get better. We started off the evening in a field of soybeans just outside of town. I knew plenty of walking and photo-taking looked promising for the night. Walking through the thick dust produced by the combine, I made my way to the woods. As the combine came down along the beautiful orange and yellow trees, I popped out and captured it making a turn to continue onto the next path.

New Holland combine harvester working in a field surrounded by autumn trees.
Modern combine harvester parked in field with golden fall foliage in background.
Yellow combine harvester working in autumn field with golden foliage in background.

I knew it was getting late in the evening when the sun turned golden and the air began to cool.

Onto the next field.

Semi truck with white trailer parked in field during golden hour.

As I arrived, I could tell it was going to be a good set. I mostly stayed out along the road to take some long-distance shots of the combine as well as some pretty neat close-ups. The light cast shadows across the field from behind the trees, and the soybeans almost resembled a sandy beach, making the dust appear crystal white.

Combine harvester working in golden wheat field at sunset with tree line in background.
Yellow combine harvester kicking up dust while harvesting in dry field.
Silhouette of combine harvester working in golden wheat field during sunset.
Close-up of dry soybean plants with harvester visible in distant misty field.
Modern yellow combine harvester with wide header working in agricultural field.
Close-up view of yellow combine harvester with large header attachment in field.
Combine harvester unloading grain into red wagon trailer while creating dust cloud.

At this point, the sun was quickly approaching the horizon. I snapped a few shots of the grain cart on its way to unload while the combine continued to work hard in the distance. The combine soon made its way to the road to pick me up for a trip down and back before the night came to an end.

A blurred combine harvester works in golden wheat fields at sunset.
Combine harvester working in misty field during autumn harvest.
Farm tractor traverses through autumn crop fields during harvest season.
Yellow combine harvester cutting through soybean field with dust cloud.
Farm equipment working in harvested field during golden sunset with trees in background.
Side mirror view of farm equipment with fall foliage in background.

I knew it was time to wrap things up when the sun was hardly noticeable. I snuck in a few low-light shots before heading to my Jeep. I rarely get my camera out in these conditions, but I'm very glad I did. When editing, I applied my preset and made a few tweaks to the exposure, shadows, and blacks to really get the lights to pop against the dark sky.

Combine harvester working at night with bright lights illuminating the field.
Farm machinery with bright headlights harvesting crops during nighttime operation.
Agricultural harvester operating in misty field at night with glowing lights.
Large combine harvester with illuminated front lights working through a dark field.

Day 2: Corn Harvest

November 2, 2022


Don't be fooled by the weather in Indiana. Sunny and 80 degrees in November? I'll take it! Day 2 was all about new angles, detailed shots, and of course more walking. The night started off harvesting corn just east of the county line and ended back at the farm getting shots of the semi unloading.

Close-up detail of dried corn stalks and harvest debris creating a textured agricultural background.

One of the first things I do when arriving at a new location is make observations. I spend time watching the combine and grain cart to see which part of the field is being worked on first and the paths they are most likely to take. This helps me figure out how I can acquire the images I'm looking for without getting in the way of their job. Having a game plan is essential, but so is being adaptable to any changes that may occur.

Modern yellow combine harvester working in a dry cornfield during autumn harvest season.
Tractor with red grain cart harvesting in golden cornfield at sunset.
Yellow combine harvester working in harvested cornfield with tree trunk in foreground.

Walking up and down each row of corn, I followed the combine as it made its way around the field. I captured close-ups full of details, images from all angles, and shots of the combine emptying into the grain cart as they made their way over a hill to ensure I obtained a wide variety of photos.

Close-up view of yellow combine harvester cab against cloudy sky.
Combine harvester transferring corn to tractor with grain cart between rows of standing corn.
New Holland combine harvester working in stubble field at sunset.
Yellow combine harvester cutting through cornfield with header extended.
Modern combine harvester working through tall corn stalks during harvest season.
Combine harvester kicking up dust while harvesting corn against treeline backdrop.

With the sunlight shining through the dust and the combine approaching, I knew I had a chance at a good shot. Ready to go, I held my camera up and captured the photo below as soon as it moved into the middle of my viewfinder. The sun rays filtering through the dust behind the combine created a beautiful scene. I'm always looking ahead for photo opportunities so that when they present themselves, I'm ready to capture them.

Yellow combine harvester working in a dusty cornfield at sunset creates a dramatic silhouette against the golden sky.

I went to the farm right before sundown to capture what goes on away from the field during their harvest season. Shooting details of the unloading process, sample collecting, and the history of the farm made for a great, well-spent night!

Peterbilt semi truck positioned under grain loading station at agricultural facility.
American flag waves atop metal grain silo against grey sky.
Semi truck trailer parked under grain loading structure at dusk.
Golden corn kernels flowing through industrial grain processing equipment.
Weathered sign for Churchill Farms on metal building exterior.

Special thank you to Brechbill Farms Inc. for inviting me to join them during their harvest season, allowing me the chance to further my photography skills.

Interested in coverage of your harvest season? Inquire below!