Farms, Elevators and Towns
A new project for me in 2023 is to re-photograph many locations in rural Iowa previously shot by David Plowden in the 1980s. Plowden's books ("A Sense of Place," "A Handful of Dust," and "Imprints: A Retrospective") have been my guides to experiencing rural Iowa.
Seeking out Plowden's scenes finds many absences; however, I find just as many new developments. Some rural towns are largely hollowed out, while others seem to be more prosperous. Therefore, in this gallery's images there will be some gaping holes when I plant my tripod to re-photograph an old scene. I supplement those views with signs of regrowth or preservation nearby. Along the way I add other images that are compatible with the original theme.
Throughout this effort I have approached Iowans saying that I am on a kind of photographic scavenger hunt. Invariably people have tried to point me in the right direction by pullling out old plat maps, texting colleagues, or walking me around a site.
Read MoreSeeking out Plowden's scenes finds many absences; however, I find just as many new developments. Some rural towns are largely hollowed out, while others seem to be more prosperous. Therefore, in this gallery's images there will be some gaping holes when I plant my tripod to re-photograph an old scene. I supplement those views with signs of regrowth or preservation nearby. Along the way I add other images that are compatible with the original theme.
Throughout this effort I have approached Iowans saying that I am on a kind of photographic scavenger hunt. Invariably people have tried to point me in the right direction by pullling out old plat maps, texting colleagues, or walking me around a site.
Abandoned Store (Deep River)
When Plowden shot here in 1985 there were three, two-story buildings to the right where the metal shed is now. Mayor Casey Pierce showed me that the back wall of the remaining structure has collapsed and the rest will fall soon.
