This portrait captures a local couple from the village where I grew up in Belarus. Life there is simple and often harsh, but the people make do with what they have. I took this photo during a visit to my parents. I was struck by how these villagers rarely wore shoes in the summer, working the fields in sandals or even barefoot. Their rough, calloused hands tell a story of tireless labor and resilience. Here, the couple sits on their family hearse, a vehicle they use to transport hay or grain to feed their farm animals.
It took me a couple of days to plan this shot and catch the couple when they weren’t busy working. My mom helped by assisting with communication and holding the light reflector. When I approached the woman to ask if I could take a portrait of her and her husband, she frowned, gave me that look, and said the "doofus" was passed out drunk. Somehow, we managed to persuade him to come outside and sit on the hearse next to his wife. Though quite drunk, he kept making humorous comments to my mom, who was standing to the side, while his wife scolded him to smile and look at the camera. I didn’t hesitate and kept shooting, aiming to capture their conversation and make the portrait as candid as possible.
– Ansel Adams
