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.
Main Street, Reinbeck
I ducked into the Reinbeck City Hall to ask about Plowden's image of 1983. The manager could tell me that it was taken from a corner gas station (then out of business) where a new bank building now stands. There were cars parked in the way so my view is partial. Of the six buildings across the street, only the 3 on the left have survived. The clinic building at the far right though, is new.
