The Cotton Picking Story in Australia (Now with Higher Res Images)

[Alanroseman]

Awesome and informative set!

Hi Brady.

Thanks much. That's a really nice informative, well documented set.

I really appreciate the insider look at the goings on there during cotton harvest.

Thanks again. Alan

 

[walt_tbay]

Hey Icon. I really like your cotton pickin' pictures!

 

[bnash]

Thanks for bumping this up Icon, I missed it first time around. Great pictures and very interesting - although as a beekeeper I didn't like the looks of that spray plane!

Bill

 

[Boyzo]

Great images

 

[bilzmale]

Great series icon - those modules are something else.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

This is really excellent documentary work. Great stuff.

 

[Alanroseman]

BUMP

 

[jfoco]

Great story and images!

 

[Iconindustries]

Big thanks to Alan, Walt, Bill, John, Bill No. 2, Rick and Jfoco! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

cheerio,

 

[Alanroseman]

 

[Iconindustries]

The Loading Of A Cotton Module

Here's how the modules are loaded and carried from the farm to the cotton gin.

The truck coming around the corner
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655590279/" title="Coming around the corner by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="360" alt="Coming around the corner"></a>


He drives past the module to be loaded
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655591449/" title="Driving past the module to be loaded by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="Driving past the module to be loaded"></a>


Reverses back
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655592437/" title="Reversing in by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="Reversing in"></a>


He reverses back until there's just enough room to open the door. He is operating the door by the controls on the side of the trailer.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656165394/" title="Lifting the rear door by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="Lifting the rear door"></a>


The hydraulics for the trailer is operated by it's own power plant at the front
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655597323/" title="The power plant for the trailer by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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He now operates the controls to move the trailer cage backwards. As it moves over the point of balance, the back drops down onto the ground.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656166230/" title="Operating the manual controls to move the trailer over the axles by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="Operating the manual controls to move the trailer over the axles"></a>


Once on the ground, the crawler tracks engage and this pulls the whole shebang along the ground- including the prime mover. The tracks push the chain bed underneath the front of the module.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655595219/" title="The tracks pushing the trailer under the front of the module by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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The tracks continue to move the trailer and truck backwards while the chain bed continues to pull in the module
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656167826/" title="The chains pulling the truck backwards as the module loads by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="The chains pulling the truck backwards as the module loads"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656168696/" title="Nearly in by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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Here you can see it's nearly in
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656170376/" title="The trailer controls are where the man is stamding by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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Tucked in bed
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5656172078/" title="In bed by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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"640" height="359" alt="In bed"></a>


Off he goes to the gin and unloads the same way in reverse.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5655600759/" title="Untitled by iconindustries, on Flickr">

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[Luckypenguin]

Brady, I love the documentary-style work that you do. Great story and always great images!

 

[sprinke]

Thanks for the lesson!

 

[Iconindustries]

So more interesting shots for your enjoyment. GF1 and 14-45mm. The 2 black and white ones are processed in Silver Efex.


JD 9976 Six row picker unloading

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5754248130/" title="John Deere 9976 6 Row picker unloading. by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 165422 "1024" height="575" alt="John Deere 9976 6 Row picker unloading."></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5735051682/" title="A six row John Deere Cotton Picker from behind by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 165423 "1024" height="576" alt="A six row John Deere Cotton Picker from behind"></a>

This one was an accident. I was just about to take the pic when my brother came around the front on the picker and saw me. He went to move out of my way but I took it as he moved so that's why his arms are kinda bent. I really love how his arms compliment the cotton chutes on the picker.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5735051250/" title="A pure accident. My brother saw me trying to take a pic and tried to move out of the way. A classic by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 165424 "1024" height="576" alt="A pure accident. My brother saw me trying to take a pic and tried to move out of the way. A classic"></a>

The new John Deere pickers are Automatic Round Balers!
Here is a truck load of the Round Cotton Bales. They weigh about 3 ton each and are approximately 2.2 metres high and wide.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5753719493/" title="Round Cotton Bales. by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 165425 "1024" height="575" alt="Round Cotton Bales."></a>

 

[Kosta]

fantastic stuff! all that machinery is amazing (from my engineering perspective)!

Thank you for sharing

 

[Alanroseman]

Great job Brady!

The B&W especially stand out for composition...

All really very good though..

 

[Iconindustries]

10.30PM and calling it a day after 13 hours. Cleaning the machines before we knock off.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5872451488/" title="10.30PM and calling it a day after 13 hours cotton picking. Cleaning the machines before we knock off. by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 168106 "1024" height="575" alt="10.30PM and calling it a day after 13 hours cotton picking. Cleaning the machines before we knock off."></a>

 

[Allan Crowson]

Thanks for this report. It looks like you do this down under the same way they do it in my wife's home state of Georgia...

although maybe they drive on different sides of the row??

 

[Alanroseman]

Brady,

The one shot you posted early this morning, just makes us want more....

Thanks, Alan

 

[Iconindustries]

Thanks for this report. It looks like you do this down under the same way they do it in my wife's home state of Georgia...

although maybe they drive on different sides of the row??

Thanks Allan! How's that eh- two Allan's Posted. Yeah it just depends on how tired we are to what row we pick.:smile:

Brady,

The one shot you posted early this morning, just makes us want more....

Thanks, Alan

We'll I have another to tease you with.