Whether a picture is worth a thousand words, I can’t really say. That seems like a lot to me. But what I can say with certainty, in having waded through a million of them in the course of doing the job of a magazine editor, is that the right photo’s worth is in its ability to inspire and provide perspective in a way that words alone cannot.

It’s certainly difficult to find the right words to put COVID-19 in perspective. Now in its seventh month, and going on eight, the pandemic can bring you into dark places. Not only can it be hard to see the light, but also hard to keep motivated and to just keep going. So I’m thankful, as I’m sure all of you are, for any small moment that re-energizes.

That type of moment happened to me yesterday when working with the team to find photos for an upcoming project reflecting on the pandemic’s impact this year on the entire meat supply chain — strictly through the personal stories of those who continue to make it work. I was honestly dragging through a drab day until finding inspiration in how beautiful the work of the industry can be conveyed, and finding perspective on all the tough work it takes every step of the way to get food to people’s plates.

That, combined with coming to a definitive story and design concept at the same time, re-energized me. It changed my outlook on the day. It made me happy, like the important people in those family photos with which we surround ourselves.

I’m reminded that I’m not only lucky to work with creative and professional people, but also fortunate that the work the industry does — and does with passion — inspires our work. Moreover, it drives us to tell its story in the form of a quality editorial product.

The stories of the supply chain will encompass a wide range of perspectives and reflect a spectrum of emotions that come with the ups and downs of challenges and triumphs. Collectively, however, we feel the chorus of these varied voices will help inspire, help re-energize and give hope for the future.

As one of our voices, a plant manager, said, "Let us keep thriving."

Look for this and other stories of historical record in the December issue.

A picture's worth

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