Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
Heartland

In the fall of 2023, I took a road trip west with my dog, Dozy, to Telluride, Colorado, to photograph fall colors. The journey was filled with many laughs and brilliant memories of my furry best friend. After spending a few hours driving across Nebraska chasing storms, I crossed into Northwest Kansas just as the sunset started showing. Many powerful storms ripped through the area that evening, leaving the sky full of beautiful clouds. I could see a grain elevator in the distance. I thought, “This would make for a perfect subject for the scene unfolding in front of me.” Dozy and I turned down a long dirt road until we positioned ourselves where it would silhouette the grain elevator when the sun hit the horizon. We waited ten minutes. She was sitting on the car’s roof, and I was lining up the shot. Then it hit perfectly.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.0023
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: Goodland, Kansas, United States of America
Copyright: © Derek Nielsen