Iowa, photography, and humble beauty

Thank you to prairielightsbooks for this great video on youtube about a photographer in Iowa who captured small town life in Iowa beautifully. The video really speaks for itself.

I couldn't help but pause the video on several photos. The merry-go-round at 2:10 is so unique. I remember push merry-go-rounds as a kid, but I have never seen one like that. It almost seems as though the entire merry-go-round is a lady with an enormous dress on, because there is a pair of legs in the center (that's actually a little girl standing in the center) and the merry-go-round is shaped like an A-line dress (or a Christmas tree).

Do you see how the woman washing her husband's hair with a bucket is endearing? We need more moments like that these days. The economy has changed so much recently that it's time for us all to celebrate again the humble moments like that in life, only today's version of what is humble may be different. Maybe it doesn't involve a bucket for washing hair. But, it could involve hanging the clothes on the line sometimes to save electricity. The smell of fresh air while hanging your clothes to dry helps us to appreciate them in a way is almost like meditation. Plus, a photo of clothes hanging on the line to dry looks so much more beautiful than a photo of a dryer.

Even dining at inexpensive restaurants and diners can be so much more fun than dining at a restaurant that is intended to be chic and glamorous. The chic and glamorous restaurants - they have their place. But, rarely do I laugh as much with friends in a "chic" restaurant as I do in a restaurant or diner that serves up good old American humble pie. It is in those types of places that we are most ourselves. No pretentiousness. No pressure from the waiter to order the overpriced special of the day. Just good friends and good times with good food that reminds you of your childhood.

This photographer never had the money to develop his photographs, but that didn't stop him. He kept on clicking away anyway; he had more than 2,000 negatives that didn't get developed until 60 years later. So, the lesson from this small town photographer is that you can still pursue your passion, even if you can't afford to do everything you'd like to do. And, the most precious moments in life are also the most humble. A picnic with friends will likely be remembered more fondly years later in life than another dinner at a trendy restaurant where the waiter corrects you when you mispronounce the word "riesling". (that last line is for my friend "T" ;) )