Stories Behind the Lens: My First State Fair Photography Submission
After the whirlwind of holidays, school schedules, and everyday life, I’m finally finding my way back to blogging. While working on my annual photo album recently, I found myself lingering over images from the past year, reliving moments I’d almost forgotten.
That reflection reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to share: the photos I submitted to the Iowa State Fair photography competition last year, along with the stories behind them and why each one holds personal meaning.
Photography has become more than a hobby for me — it’s a way of preserving fleeting moments, capturing wonder, and slowing down long enough to truly see. These four images represent growth, creativity, family, and connection. Here’s the story behind each one.
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Momentary Marvel – Anything Goes Category
A Solar Eclipse Composite from April 2024
This image is a composite of the breathtaking total solar eclipse from April 2024, and it will forever be tied to a season of transition in my life.
At the time, my youngest was was halfway into his second year of life, and after years of stress and anxiety from the changes involved in being a student, teacher, wife, and mother, I was finally settling into a routine, focusing on me, and starting to feel like myself again. When I heard that my dad was planning to travel to the path of totality to witness the eclipse, I asked if I could tag along. He had experienced the 2017 eclipse and had been anticipating this one for years. Even though weather forecasts predicted heavy cloud cover, we decided to drive south from Iowa and take our chances.
As I was just getting into photography as a hobby, I didn’t have a lens with a focal distance long enough to get good pictures of the Sun. With limited equipment and a tight budget, I got creative. A few days before the trip, I ordered a vintage Canon lens and hoped I could get it to work with my camera. I found a secondhand tripod on Mercari and ordered that as well. I also needed a way to protect my camera from the Sun. On the morning of the trip, this is what I had assembled:
- A Canon FD 300mm f/5.6 lens from the 1970s
- A Micro 4/3 adapter
- A DIY solar filter made from solar filter paper and cardstock
- A tripod
- A remote shutter release
*If you’re curious about the camera I used, you can read a little about it here.
We traveled to St. Louis the night before and left our hotel at 4 a.m. to beat traffic and reach the zone of totality. Eventually, we ended up at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, where clouds threatened our view just minutes before the eclipse began. In a last-minute decision, we drove again — eventually spotting a small rural church perched on a hill. We pulled into the gravel lot, asked permission to stay and watch with the few workers who were tending to the church, and quickly set up our gear.
I set up exposure bracketing and my remote shutter, so that I could focus on the eclipse when it happened. As totality approached, I captured as many frames as possible — hoping for the elusive “diamond ring” effect. When totality finally arrived, I removed the filter, allowed my camera and tripod to do their thing, and simply looked up. The temperature dropped. Stars appeared. Time felt suspended.
One detail stands out vividly: a tiny red dot along the sun’s edge. Later, we learned it was a solar prominence — a massive jet of plasma stretching over 4.5 Earth diameters long. When people ask what the experience was like, I struggle to find words. The closest description I can offer is this:
It was as close to a spiritual experience as I’ve ever had.
This image, Momentary Marvel, was selected for display at the fair and earned an Honorable Mention, making the experience even more meaningful. My dad also has it proudly displayed on his living room wall.
Worn and Weathered – Architecture Category
Documenting the Beauty of Letting Go
This photo captures the old barn that stood on our property when we first moved in.
With its curved roof and stunning interior beams, it instantly stole our hearts. It became home to our four pet goats and symbolized all the plans we dreamed about — someday restoring it to its former glory.
But harsh Iowa winters and brutal summer storms slowly took their toll. After consulting roofers and contractors, we realized restoration wasn’t realistic. With heavy hearts, we decided to tear it down and start fresh.
Before demolition began, I spent time photographing every detail — the beams, the dust, the light streaming through holes in the roof — preserving the barn in the only way I could.
It represents impermanence, memory, and honoring what once was.
This image was also selected for state fair display, and its emotional weight still lingers every time I look at it.
Salt Study – Macro Category
Finding Beauty in Simplicity
Not every photo carries a dramatic story — and that’s okay.
I had been experimenting with macro photography, mostly with flowers and insects, and wanted to challenge myself creatively. So I spilled some salt onto the table, placed the shaker in the background for scale, and began shooting.
Without a dedicated macro lens, I used extension tubes, which magnify subjects by increasing lens distance. While imperfect — causing slight distortion and light leaks — I loved the unexpected textures and patterns that emerged. I edited it to black and white because I felt it made the salt stand out more.
This photo pushed me to try something new and reminded me that creativity often thrives within limitations.
Edge of Emergence – Animals Category
Witnessing Metamorphosis Up Close
This image captures a monarch butterfly moments before emerging from its chrysalis — one of nature’s most extraordinary transformations.
Right before emergence, the chrysalis turns black and transparent, revealing the folded butterfly inside. Catching this moment requires patience, timing, and a little luck.
Raising monarchs has become a family tradition since moving here. My kids and I:
- Search for eggs and caterpillars on backyard milkweed
- Raise them in jars
- Watch their life cycle unfold
It never stops feeling magical.
This photo represents wonder, quality family time, learning, and slowing down enough to witness transformation.
My First State Fair Photography Submission: Lessons Learned
I mounted the photos myself using adhesive spray — a process I won’t be repeating anytime soon. Keeping everything centered while avoiding stray glue was…stressful.
Next year, I’ll definitely have them professionally dry mounted.
Since it was my first time submitting photos to the state fair, I had no idea what to expect:
- Would they all be rejected?
- Did I mess up the mounting rules?
- Did I overlook something obvious?
Opening the mailbox to find a card announcing that two of my photos were selected for display and one won an award was a welcome surprise.
When we finally attended the fair, I learned:
- Worn and Weathered and Momentary Marvel were selected for display
- Momentary Marvel earned an Honorable Mention
For a first submission, I couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.
Looking Ahead: This Year’s Photography Goals
Now it’s time to start selecting photos for this year’s state fair competition — and I’m more excited than nervous.
This journey has reminded me why I love photography. It has the power to:
- preserve fleeting beauty
- document transformation
- slow time
- honor memory
And now, to finally start sharing it again here.
Thanks for being part of this creative journey with me. 💛
