The Iowa Photo: A new perspective

I believe a beautiful photo can be created in any situation or location, which is the inspiration for this photo.

I was out hunting for photos of trains by Fourth Street SE near downtown Cedar Rapids when I spotted bright, yellow sunflowers poking out of the dirt. As I drove farther down the tracks, I noticed a large pile of concrete pipes within view of the flowers.

I stopped and played with different focal lengths on my camera before deciding that a 70-200 lens would best capture the light at the end of the dark tunnel. With the wind blowing, it took several minutes of waiting with my finger on the shutter to get the perfect shot when the flower was highlighted by the sun.

I like the simplicity of this photo and what it represents. We often take things at face value while we are out in the world, but taking a step back to look at the little things that surround us can provide a new perspective.

There are photo-worthy moments everywhere if you look close enough. On your next walk, I encourage you to stop and look at your surroundings with a new “lens.” Stop and look at flowers poking through the grass. Crouch down and frame birds flying across the sky, framed by the long lines of utility wires.

You will be amazed at how beautiful the ordinary becomes.