“Allowed to age” means Book Published by the University of Chicago Press. This project began as a personal exploration of photographer Isa Leshko’s fear of aging. The fear of aging was triggered by caring for a mother who had Alzheimer’s disease. But her motivations for the project evolved as she visited game reserves across America and met rescued farm animals. I wanted to use it to raise awareness about their stories and to speak on their behalf. and captures the unique personality of each animal.
This project not only features aging domestic animals, but also aging companion animals, illustrating the similarities between these animals and sparking investigations as to why some animals are treated differently. Most of the farm animals Leshko encountered suffered horrific abuse and neglect before being rescued. Through his portraits, Leshko wants to emphasize the beauty and dignity of these animals and make them think about what they lose when they are not allowed to grow old.
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This rooster is of unknown age and was a factory farm survivor
bored panda Please contact Isa Leshko for more information on this special project. I have many questions about the production process for “Allowed to Grow Old,” but the first is how the photographer came up with this idea. Isa replied: “I started this series right after taking care of my mother with Alzheimer’s disease. Her experience had such an impact on me that I was forced to face my own death. I have a fear of getting old, and to see this fear unflinchingly, I started photographing older animals. However, after meeting and listening to the rescued livestock, my motivation for making this work changed. I became an avid supporter of these animals and wanted to use my image to represent them. ”
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Handsome Wang, a 33-year-old thoroughbred, was handed over to the reserve when he retired from racing
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Morgan-Arabian crossbreed, 28-year-old Pumpkin handed over to sanctuary after guardians were unable to care for it
Asked about the beginning of “Allowed to Grow Old,” Isa said: He is two hours away from where I live in Salem, Massachusetts. I made several trips to the sanctuary during that fall. At that point, I still wasn’t sure if I would publish these images because I felt they were too intimate. I had a hard time looking at the pictures I took. They seemed to be a very raw expression of the sadness and fear I was feeling.I left the first set of negatives unedited and unprinted for about a year. ”
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Broad-breasted white turkey Ash was a factory farm survivor
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Kelly, an 11-year-old Irish Wolfhound, was adopted from a breeder after giving birth to her last litter.
“But those images stuck in my mind. In the fall of 2009, I prepared for Photo NOLA, a portfolio review that takes place in New Orleans every December. presents your work to curators, gallerists, publishers and photo editors in 20-minute strictly reserved sessions, a bit like speed dating, but getting your work seen by the right people. Photo I was printing NOLA’s portfolio so I decided to include some images from Winslow Farm I was curious to see what reviewers thought of this piece. And the reviewers I met that weekend were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about this new product, some cried when they saw the images, and everyone was very supportive of continuing to make this work. I attended three other portfolio reviews in the first half of 2010 and the reaction was pretty much the same: I realized I had the makings of a long-term project. I researched farm reserves in the United States and looked at artwork related to aging, portraits and animals, and began creating new images for my fall project.”
Image credit: Isa Leshko
A 13-year-old Southdown sheep, Phyllis was bred for wool for her first eight years before being handed over to the reserve.
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Sierra, a 3-year-old white Dutch turkey rescued as a young brood from a commercial hatchery that supplies turkeys to factory farms
We know that Peaty, the aforementioned aging Appaloosa horse, is what inspired him to start photographing older animals, and with the “Allowed to Grow Old” project in mind, which animal was actually photographed first? Here Isa quotes a story contained in the book. I found them lying in the barn door, their faces lit by the warm September sun. . They seemed calm, so I stepped forward a bit. Again, they didn’t stir. I got down to the ground so I could look directly into their eyes while taking pictures. It seemed natural to take this approach, so I took it for the rest of the project. ”
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Red, a mixed breed rescue dog 14+ years old in phospice care
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Abe, a 21-year-old alpine goat, was handed over to the sanctuary after his parents were placed on welfare.
I doubt anyone would be completely neutral about the images created for this project. Pictures of older animals, sometimes injured or disabled, must affect a large number of people. Beyond the image of animals, it becomes even more emotional when you realize that time passes for animals and humans alike. Isa Leshko shared some more details about the reaction she witnessed. she said: I received hundreds of very personal emails from people around the world who shared their grief about dying parents and sick beloved pets. I receive hugs from complete strangers on a daily basis.I am deeply touched that my work has affected people on such an emotional level. I am grateful for the love and support I have received for this work. But these encounters were also painful at times, especially when they happened while I was mourning the death of my parents.
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Blue, Endengan, 28, rescue details unknown
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Babs, Donkey, 24 years old
Explaining the lessons learned from this project, Isa explained: “Spending time with animals that have reached old age in spite of all odds reminds us that aging is a luxury, not a curse. Never stop fearing what the future holds. But I want to face eventual decline with the same stoicism and grace that the animals in these pictures have shown. was sick often. I got out of this condition in his late teens, but have been dealing with orthopedic issues as an adult. I think living with chronic pain has made me a more compassionate and determined person. I have spent countless hours in mud and animal droppings in search of photographs. By the end of his day in the barn, I am filthy, sweaty, and sometimes covered in dust mites. My muscles and joints ache as I contort to keep eye level with the animal being photographed. I feel as old as the animals I met that day. ”
Finally, the author added:
Image credit: Isa Leshko
A 20-year-old Holstein cow, Bessie spent her first four years as a ‘milkman’ on a commercial dairy farm and had repeated pregnancies.
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Buddy, a 28-year-old Appaloosa horse, was handed over to sanctuary after his guardians failed to properly care for him after he lost his sight.
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Forrest, a 16-year-old sheep, was roaming free with her herd on Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California.
Image credit: Isa Leshko
Violet, a 12-year-old Daruma pig, was born with partially paralyzed hind legs. She was turned over to a sanctuary after her parents failed to adequately care for her special needs.
Image credit: Isa Leshko