Bales of Hay..
Hay bales somehow give me a warm, fuzzy feeling, knowing I’m out in the rural countryside, away from the city. It’s interesting the various shapes used by different farmers, and how some farmers are neater than others, with the way they stack them!
What you might not know is that the shape of a bale is a practical decision- round bales shed rain naturally, making them better suited for outdoor storage, while rectangular bales stack more efficiently for transport. The round bales can weigh anywhere from 300 to over 500 kg, and the timing of baling is critical: the hay must be dried to just the right moisture level before wrapping, as baling it too wet can cause it to rot, or even spontaneously combust in storage!
The white wrapped ones you sometimes spot are actually silage- green fodder sealed in plastic and left to ferment, preserving its nutritional value for the dry months ahead. A distinctly modern twist on a very ancient practice.
The round bales remind me of a friendly version of The Ruum. "The Ruum", a book by Arthur Porges, is a science fiction short story about a relentlessly rolling, indestructible machine called The Ruum, a large metallic object that rolls on its edge.
It’s an alien device designed to collect specimens, rolling across the landscape and capturing everything in its path. It focuses on a human, Jim Irwin, who has to outrun/outwit it. I’m not a big sci-fi fan, but this is a good read.
I digress, but I think I’m done photographing hay bales for now, until the next time!
There’s a fire raging in the mountains in the distance, hence the smokey backdrop to this field of hay bales, waiting for collection.
I gave this photo of hay bales a painterly effect.
Triangular hay bale stacks, alongside an abandoned labourer's cottage.
Hay bales at Golden Hour.
The Ruum!
Bokkies and bales.
Tractor in the heat haze, doing the heavy-lifting.
Bokkie and Bale.
Hay bales on Mars.
My favourite photo of hay bales.
