The Iowa Project

The Iowa Project is something that I came up with on a sunny day in March. I was sitting outside at my mothers house out in the country enjoying a bit of sun after the torturous winter we had here this year when I heard the song. "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert. I don't even like country but I like her. It brought tears to my eyes... granted I am naturally a very emotional sappy person. I looked around at my "home". Iowa is the home that built me. To be fair, I was born into a military family so I lived in a lot of different places when I was little but this is where I grew up, THIS is home!

I think Iowa gets a bad wrap. "Iowa? That's the potato state right?". Anyone who passes down I-80 while traveling to what they would like to think is a far more entertaining and beautiful destination will tell you that it's a boring ride. Corn... cow... hog... Des Moines... more corn.. bean farm... etc. But they're MISSING something! Iowa is so much more! The food, the places, the things to do, the beautiful sunsets and even prettier sunrises... but the people. Oh, you have never met such amazing people if you have not lived in Iowa.

If you don't want to take my word for it. Jack Kerouac wrote "On The Road". This is what he wrote about Iowa: "I ate apple pie and ice cream - it was getting better as I got deeper into Iowa, the pie bigger, the ice cream richer. There were the most beautiful bevies of girls everywhere I looked in Des Moines that afternoon - they were coming home from high school - but I had no time for thoughts like that... So I rushed past the pretty girls, and the prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines." And I would have to agree with him :)

That's when the idea came to me. I love this place, I have a camera, and I know how to use it! This will be an ongoing lengthy project. Partially because I actually live in Kansas! What I want to do is take pictures of all the beautiful and interesting things that makes Iowa so great! I want to compile a book or calendar of the best images at the end to sell. Any revenue I make from these images will go to a charitable organization that helps Iowa in some way or another. I am hoping for some amazing shots this year from the Fair. When I think Iowa summer, the fair has to be my favorite part! Oh deep fat fried snickers bar... how I miss you so!

Anyone else have some ideas? If you live in Iowa, have ever lived in Iowa, or just love Iowa... what places, events, and activities scream "IOWA" to you?