Sharing Iowa’s beauty one picture at a time

I’ve had the privilege of interviewing gubernatorial and political candidates through the years, and some years ago, I interviewed the now late Fred Thompson, who was running in the 2008 election for President. He made a campaign stop in Montezuma shortly after Christmas 2007 and at the Republican newspaper office where I did the interview.

A stately and polite man, he took a seat at the desk across from me where he placed his 10-gallon cowboy hat and crossed his legs.

The Republican office quickly filled up with Thompson campaign folks. It was so quiet during the interview, that I could hear a pin drop.

But my best interviews have been talking with every day Iowans who are following their dreams, sharing their lives and their talents.

Take for instance, Brian Abeling of West Des Moines.

Known as the man behind the camera on his Facebook page, Iowa Road Trip, Abeling has been traveling around the state for years photographing state parks, attending parades and festivals, promoting small town businesses and taking photos of unusual and interesting features in Iowa.

Abeling, 54, who grew up in Monticello, became interested in photography in the ninth grade. He didn’t do much with the art in the early going.

After attending and graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, Abeling landed in Peoria, Illinois.

Seven years later he returned to West Des Moines where he works as the director of technology at West Des Moines Schools.

He is married with two grown kids.

Abeling renewed his interest in photography and, in the early years, took photos on family vacations.

It was in 2013 that Abeling realized he didn’t have to wait for a vacation to take great photos.

“I had always wanted to take photos around Iowa,” he said. “I started shooting more photos that were close to home.”

He posted his work on his own personal Facebook page.

In 2018, he started Iowa Road Trip.

Abeling has visited all 99 Iowa counties, but not all the cities and towns in each county. When asked how towns he has visited, Abeling said he doesn’t know.

His Facebook page features about 10-12 places a day.

“I’m not at all those places every day,” he said. “It’s places that I have already visited.”

He takes an average of 1 — 2 photo trips a month and covers 7,000 miles a year for photography.

He started with a Pentex 1000 camera in the early days. Today, his cameras of choice are Canon, Sony and a drone.

His trips are labeled under three different categories — wife trips, mother-in-law trips and solo trips.

The wife trips include traveling to places where his wife can shop and dine. The mother-in-law trips are catered toward her interests. This includes visiting many of the beautiful Iowa churches, especially those in small towns.

And then there are the solo trips. It’s just him and his camera.

“I’m up for a road trip anytime,” he said.

In some cases, he might photograph 20 — 30 things in one town. It just depends on what is available.

Those who follow Abeling often recognize him in the communities he visits. For instance, he was recently in Orange City in northwest Iowa covering a Dutch festival.

“My first time being in Orange City, people recognized me from Iowa Roadtrip and wanted to talk,” he recalled.

A few years ago, he met a couple at a state park and they started visiting. He learned that they were at the state park after seeing his photos on Facebook.

“I have been in places where people have told me that the reason that they are there is because of Iowa Roadtrip,” he said.

With all the miles and time away from home, I asked Abeling how he funds the trips. He doesn’t get paid. Instead, he does freelance work and sells his photos to Iowa magazines such as “The Iowan” and “Our Iowa.”

He also runs a stock photo business and sells his work to tourist organization and similar companies.

Abeling is branching out more these days promoting small businesses and restaurants and telling their stories.

He encourages owners of small business or destinations, to email him at brian@iowaroadtrip.net and share about what their business or destination has to offer.

“I work with the owners to help promote their businesses,” he said.

Sounds like a win-win for Iowans and Iowa businesses, restaurants and tourism. And it all started with a love of photography.

Have a great week, and always remember that “Good Things are Happening” every day.