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"HERITAGE" is a documentary series created during an olive harvest volunteer program, all photographed within two weeks. I and five others lived with the host and his family inside their Altamura home, a town located in the Puglia region of southern Italy. The days were long and hard - seven to eight hours of work in the orchards - but just as rewarding. The unity the group displayed each day to meet our quotas was uplifting and spurred excitement within us to continue onward.

 

Although the buzzing of the electrical rakes, melodies of songs, and grunts of muscle fatigue filled the air during the day, these images emphasize how calm and soothing the lifestyle was. The rolling hills and scenery we gazed upon for hours, the rewarding lunches we shared as a group, the many stories told about the family business's history, and the sight of cratefuls of olives falling off the branches; we couldn't have asked for more. 

 

These photographs tell a story not just about a historic agricultural process. They showcase every core aspect of this experience in its wonder. Within commotion lies peace. Within exhaustion lies strength. Within family lies love.

@2024 by Julian Lopez-Castillo

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