Iowa’s99…The Why
Iowa’s 99 started as a solution to a desire to do more with my photography. It has become…something so much more. A connection, a commitment, and a sincere invitation to anyone who hears or reads about it, to step outdoors and explore the natural spaces around you, here in Iowa or wherever you may live.
My very first outing for Iowa’s 99 took me to Madison County. Before the project had fully taken shape, I made one simple decision: I chose nine counties within a 50-mile radius of where I live and reached out to their conservation boards. I didn’t have a plan beyond starting. When Madison County was the first to respond, it naturally became the kickoff—and the moment Iowa’s 99 began to feel real.
That first response quietly shifted my understanding of what this project could be. What I thought would be mainly about photographing parks began to open into something deeper. The connections I started to make—unexpected and meaningful—added a human layer I hadn’t known I was missing. From that point on, I wasn’t just looking for landscapes; I was looking for connection, and that changed everything.
Along with connection, Iowa’s 99 is also a commitment. It’s a long-term story—one that shifts and evolves with each new collection of photographs. Every conversation and inquiry opens a door to a new idea or direction I hadn’t considered, reminding me that this project is alive and constantly unfolding.
That evolution has required another kind of commitment: focus. I’ve learned that without it, I may never finish. Much like the photographs themselves, the project demands careful attention—choosing what to keep, what to set aside, and what truly serves the story. Without that discipline, it would be easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of why I began.
As much as Iowa’s 99 is about doing more with my photography, it’s also an invitation. An invitation to slow down, to look closer, and to see familiar places with fresh eyes. My hope is that the work reaches beyond me—into the hearts of those who see it—and encourages a sense of curiosity and possibility.
If it sparks someone to explore a park they’ve driven past a hundred times, or to discover a hidden gem in their own backyard, then the project has done more than document a place. It has opened a door—and that, to me, is just as important as the photographs themselves.
