"Where Are You From?"

My parents divorced when I was in second grade and since then my concept of place has changed frequently. In total, I have moved nine times which does not include my most recent move to Ames. My dad lives in West Des Moines and my mom lives in Des Moines so it has always a decision between two places when I answer the question “where are you from?” The different houses and the different cities at times make me feel as though I’m not really just from one specific place. I tend to answer the question with “Des Moines” because that is the house and the city that I feel the strongest connection to. The house I grew up in was in West Des Moines, on Country Side Place to be exact. I loved the wrap around front porch and the times I spent sitting out there watching storms. I spent the time from when I was two through eighth grade loving everything about that house and that neighborhood. My brother and I would spend every day playing outside with our neighbors; running through backyards, putting on talents shows, playing school, jumping on trampolines, riding our bikes, injuring ourselves on slip n’ slides, scootering around the surrounding neighborhoods, etc. I feel like that house was there with me through every major life event over the years. Now I live in a house south of Grand, with the more historic and unique houses. There is a particular feeling I get when I drive south of Grand, towards downtown, a feeling that always makes me feel relaxed and at home. The eclectic houses, the Art Center, old Ashworth Pool, the shops on Ingersoll all give me a sense of peace. Des Moines has so many different aspects and I am still discovering the hidden treasures. The days and nights I spend driving around aimlessly always take me somewhere new and exciting and remind me why I say I am from Des Moines. 

Photo Project: Des Moines

I chose to do my photo project on Des Moines, Iowa which is where I grew up. The way I interpret my environment in Des Moines is that there is a lot of beauty but people do not always know where to find it. To me, there are hidden treasures everywhere, whether that be painting the walls of my friends bedroom or the sculpture park downtown. I wanted my pictures to show that Des Moines has a lot of simplicity as well as excitement and that everything has its own unique beauty. A lot of people think of Des Moines as Iowa's lame version of a city but I would beg to differ because Des Moines has a lot to offer. 

The first picture I chose to show was of the shot of downtown Des Moines from my car as I drive in from Ames. The state capitol is visible which is important because that is something I always identify with being home. I also show a lot of pictures from the sculpture park in downtown as well. One of my favorite pictures is the one where my friend Sarah and I are posing with the Principal building in the background. That picture shows the way in which I interpret my environment, a place to experience life and love with my friends. While taking photos for this project, my intention was not to show people in my pictures but I changed my mind because I thought the pictures with my friends fit my theme perfectly. I choose to find beauty in different places around Des Moines and that includes being with the people I care about, they tend to make those places even better. 

I feature a lot of different places in my project: a trail by my house, Raccoon River, Ingersoll Theatre, the Botanical Garden, my backyard, and others I mentioned before. I chose to show these places because they all bring different things to the table. Raccoon River is a fun place to spend the day, the pond by my house is somewhere I like to go when I need to relax and think, and the Botanical Garden has a lot of amazing kinds of plants. I want my pictures to tell my story of Des Moines, which is a place scattered with joy, serenity, and excitement all at once. 

Photo Project Presentation