I think this will always be my favorite Amish photograph. It’s a Willa  Cather photography, right out of My Antonia or O Pioneers.

It was cold, windy, getting dark.

On the right is Moise Miller, out at dusk planing his tomato crop and three of his children, across from him in the wind and the gaining dark, to help him in the wind blowing from the West.

It’s an iconic photo, a family working in tandem to get their crops in on time, the family struggling together to fight the elements to get their crop in the ground.

It captured the spirit of this family for me and helped me understand how I can photograph these amazing people without violating their space or values.

The Amish so most of their farm work by hand or ancient farm machines. They don’t seem to need tractors or any gasoline.

When I showed the family this photo, they asked me if I could have a print.

So I said yes, I would make a print for them. And I did.

I knew it wouldn’t hang up in their houses; the Amish think photos of them are too self-serving and sometimes violate Bible teachings.

But permission can be given.

I know the families don’t hang them on the walls, but they do keep them in drawers and take them out on special occasions.

I always photograph in plain sight, and I always ask, and anyone has the chance to opt out of a picture at any time. The family has talked about this, and they like the idea of having some record of their extraordinary experience here.

They also have the right to ask me to destroy any photographs they don’t like. So far, that hasn’t happened.

I see them as a family now, and a part of my family, and I am proud they see some of my photographs worthy of keeping, even if they must be put away and not hung on walls.

They are a photographer’s dream each photo about nature, family, love, and individuality.

At Jacob and Maddie’s shed, I found some Amish-made picture frames and I brought one home to Maria.

She has ordered the matting that will frame the photo and I bought this frame, it seemed only right that the photo should be framed by an Amish farmer. Maria, once a framer, will put it all together this weekend.

People ask me if I want to write a book. I don’t and I won’t, that ought to be a direct enough answer for anyone.

I’m not going to profit from them in any way, except by knowing them and having their permission to write about them.

I’ve got a great spot to hang it on my study wall. I’m calling the photography “Family.”