The Amish
Going Back in Time
On arrival to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the heart of the Amish community, conditions were unfavourable. Drift smoke from the Canadian wildfires greyed out the skies, and temperatures soared with high humidity. Yet, undeterred by the unpleasantness, farmers and locals carried on with the minutia of the day.
The Amish are reluctant to be photographed; religious values are at play here, and understandably so. Others are willing to accommodate, providing they are not posed for tourist purposes. You can respectfully photograph them from a distance, such as working in a field naturally and photographing their barns which is perfectly acceptable by most. Nobody likes a camera shoved in their face.
The Amish have been present in America since the 1720s and speak Pennsylvanian Dutch, a dialect of low German; they live an honest and straightforward way of life without the modern luxuries that we are accustomed to, such as electricity, cars, the internet, etc. Schooling is taught to eighth grade; they don't become baptised until adulthood.
There are complexities and fascinations intertwined within their culture. I found them personable, skilful, hard-working, shrewd and affluent.
An Amish women in traditional bonnet and daily clothing.
I met the farmer in person he was quite the character, note his shoes and hat.
The Amish acquire unused racehorses reassigned for the purpose.
Here an Amish family congregate by the garden, two daughters and a son stand attentive to their father.
An Amish boy scoots barefooted on his chainless bicycle.
Running errands in a horse-drawn carriage. A new buggy can cost $20,000.00
Laundry is carried out on Mondays.
Cows have a routine milking twice daily from 5am to 5pm
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