The Candidates

Living in Iowa the year before a presidential election means there’s a daily chance you’ll bump into a candidate. Especially in a year where the field is over 20. More to come!

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Amy Klobuchar & Kamala Harris

Pett Buttigieg

Joe Biden

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

Cory Booker

Pete Buttigieg

Kristen Gillibrand

Steve Bullock

Cory Booker

Marianne Williamson

Bernie Sanders

Beto O'Rourke

Joe Biden

Jay Inslee

Pete Buttigieg

Beto O'Rourke

Kamala Harris

Kirsten Gillibrand

Julián Castro

Andrew Yang

Beto O'Rourke

DSM Magazine Cover

I was honored to have my image “Thinker in Snow” chosen for the cover of the January 2019 DSM Magazine. The shot was originally landscape but they did a nice crop for the vertical cover.

DSM Magazine - January 2019 Edition

Thinker in Snow © 2015 Michael F. Hiatt

Protest in Iowa

Resist - Click to see more images.

Since the day after the inauguration, protests have been happening around Des Moines. Here is a link to some of my shots so far.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/mfhiatt/h7xyN3

Kaleidos Award

One of my images was recently awarded a Top Selection - Black and White by Kaleidos.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1804053119847629&id=1495203470732597

100X - 2016

I recently finished up my 100X series for 2016. It consisted of 10 sets of 10 images.

The series included:

1.  Skywalk
2. Rally
3. Waterworks Park
4. Nomade
5. Wedding
6. Oregon Coast
7. State Fair at Night
8. Color
9. Farmers Market
10. Best of the Rest

You can view all the images larger than life on Flickr at:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskpXuAKZ

2016 10 x 10 Project

For 2016 I will be working on a 10 x 10 project - 10 subject of 10 images each. The goal is to focus more on the storytelling possibilities of shooting a group of images instead of stand alone photographs. My next series is Nomade.

Nomade

Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines, Iowa

Nomade - 1/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park opened in Des Moines in 2009. It's located on 4 1/2 acres in the heart of downtown. One of the most visible and iconic pieces is Nomade, by Jaume Plensa. Known as the Letterman by most people, it's become a mecca for pictures and is one of the most photographed locations in town. I tried to approach it with fresh eyes and perspective.

Nomade - 2/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade was created in 2007. It's letters are made of painted stainless steel. It was a gift of John and Mary Pappajohn to the Des Moines Art Center.

Nomade - 3/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 4/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 5/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 6/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

I was able to shoot most of these shots on a cloudless day right around noon. Really added to the high contrast I was after.

Nomade - 7/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 8/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 9/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Nomade - 10/10 ©2016 Michael F. Hiatt

2016 10 x 10 Project

For 2016 I will be working on a 10 x 10 project - 10 subject of 10 images each. The goal is to focus more on the storytelling possibilities of shooting a group of images instead of stand alone photographs. My first project is Skywalk.

SKYWALK

Skywalk 1/10 - Signage- © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Des Moines, Iowa is one of many cities in the upper midwest that thought building a series of skywalks on the second story of their downtown would make it easier for workers to get around in bad weather. The unintended consequence was that the street level businesses all left the area and for years you could roll tumbleweeds down the roads.

Des Moines is finally seeing the light and focusing on bringing businesses, restaurants and shops back to the street level.

But the skywalks remain and besides walkers and office workers grabbing a quick lunch and hurrying to and from their cars and offices, many little businesses have taken root.

Skywalk 2/10 - Connectors - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

From street level you can see the series of skywalks criss-crossing the major downtown arteries. There are over 4 miles of skywalks in downtown Des Moines.

Skywalk 3/10 - Lunch Walkers - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

The skywalks are busy 3 times a day. Early morning, lunch hour and rush hour. In between there are just a few stragglers.

Skywalk 4/10 - Loners - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

At lunch you'll see many groups of people power walking to pick up lunch. There are also a few loners.

Skywalk 5/10 - Barbershop - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

There are a few small businesses that thrive on the skywalk. Restaurants, banks, etc. Barbers can get folks in and out quickly and back on their way.

Skywalk 6/10 - Stan and Son - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Stan and Son Shoe Repair and Shine has been a skywalk fixture for years.

Skywalk 7/10 - Shoe Sale - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Empty store fronts waiting for a new business to move in.

Skywalk 8/10 - Metal and Glass - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

The entrances to some of the financial businesses have put some architectural thought into their connectors.

Skywalk 9/10 - View from the Top - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

Looking out on Cowles Commons in front of the Civic Center.

Skywalk 9/10 - Reflections - © 2016 Michael F. Hiatt

The play of outside light and polished floors.

2015 - A Picture a Day

For the third time, I've completed a 365 Project on Flickr. This year was all Black and White. There are pros and cons to such a project. You get to take a picture each day which helps you hone your eye and style. You also have to take a picture a day which means some days you're scrambling for an idea and end up taking a picture of your socks. I've done it every other year since 2011 so we'll see how I feel next January.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk8b7q2z