S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

North America's Heartland: A trip to Independence, Wisconsin

2008.04.08

I’m right here to tell you, mister. There ain’t nobody gonna push me off my land. My grandpa took up this land seventy years ago. My pa was born here. We was all born on it. And some of us was killed on it. And some of us died on it. That’s what makes it ourn. Bein’ born on it. And workin’ on it. And dyin’ on it. And not no piece of paper with writin’ on it.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

"Land is the only thing in the world that amounts to anything, for ‘tis the only thing in this world that lasts.... ‘Tis the only thing worth working for, worth fighting for—worth dying for."
Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949)

You’re the emblem of
The land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.

“You’re a Grand Old Flag,”

Like farmers we need to learn that we cannot sow and reap the same day.

"Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen people, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue."
Thomas Jefferson

There is extraordinary similarities between the Midwest in America and Europe in that there is this sense of vast, open sky and loneliness and cold.
Ajay Naidu

“Water has an endless horizon; there is no limitation when you look out into the water. I suppose it's the same way people in the Midwest feel about watching amber waves of grain or endless rows of cornfields. There is something exhilarating about it.”
Billy Joel

We took a trip to the little town of Independence, Wisconsin to watch our friends power lift at a competition. Scott is one of the Power Lifting Champions in the U.S. and his wife Rachel is fourth in the world. It was exciting and very interesting. But of course, I fell in love with the landscape! Here are few pics that I thought were beautiful.

69 Comments

Nice set I really love the first shot :)

mystic1 · 2008-04-08: 12:11

No wonder you fell in love with the landscape! It's absolutely lovely! So very different from anything I've seen before. I would fall in love too

Carley · 2008-04-08: 12:16

# 1, 6 and 10 are FAB! :)

(and what about some photos of the competition?)

Cabecilha · 2008-04-08: 12:20

Beautiful set

peregol · 2008-04-08: 12:25

Great set!

neusnet · 2008-04-08: 12:58

Wow! what a beautiful silo. Nice set

caroq · 2008-04-08: 13:09

Farm land is beautiful! But everyone see things differently. 1,4,6 & 7 are my picks in this set. Like the words also!

tbranscum · 2008-04-08: 13:47

Greeeeeat landscapes! :-)

wfrnk · 2008-04-08: 16:16

Well you know I love these kind of shots, great job.

joycephotography · 2008-04-08: 16:26

what beautiful shots! fantastic job!

neffijer · 2008-04-08: 18:12

very nice, great landscape photos kimmie!

CJLata · 2008-04-08: 20:16

Very beautiful set! The first shot is magnificent! :)

mclps · 2008-04-08: 23:29

Yes the landscapes are truly magnificent - as are the photographs. Great words too.

Robertthebob · 2008-04-09: 06:53

Great set, suggestive scenario !
Well Done Kimauman !

Francko · 2008-04-09: 06:58

beautiful set ....Congratulation on front page !!

vterezia · 2008-04-09: 11:31

these landscapes are unique, I can understand u have fallen in love with them :))

TIM927 · 2008-04-09: 11:34

great set. good compositions
congrats on the front page

slowpete · 2008-04-09: 11:39

WOW congrats on front page!! These snaps are fabulous!! All of them are great!! Reminds me of where we live!

SheriJ · 2008-04-09: 11:47

I love the first shot with this very impressive quote... thanks.

onepicaday · 2008-04-09: 11:52

beautiful set, congratulations on front page

giodinu · 2008-04-09: 12:29

i am really loving the rolling hills

sunshineand · 2008-04-09: 12:32

the first one is so good

elclic · 2008-04-09: 12:39

Superbes ces photos ! Bravo Kim pour le front page !

maudlaurens · 2008-04-09: 12:40

Congrats on front page!!!!! I told you I really liked #1! Of course I had to name a few others. lol

tbranscum · 2008-04-09: 12:46

Truly beautiful scenery.
Congrats!!

ambersunsets · 2008-04-09: 12:53

Nice set! Congrats on the front page!

ScubaLiz · 2008-04-09: 13:00

Gorgeous farmland!! I love the first photo!! Congrats on front page!! :o)

Jazzy · 2008-04-09: 13:03

really nice! Congrats on the fp!

Nayah · 2008-04-09: 13:09

great "subtitles" ... and photos :) thx.

fotolapeta · 2008-04-09: 13:20

powerful...I like these lines

millapiim · 2008-04-09: 13:21

I love them all they are unique...Congratulation on your front page.

curlyq60 · 2008-04-09: 13:23

Wow, love #1! The composition and colors are awesome! The quote is perfect. Love the little red barns in 4 and the dof of 5.

LostAspen · 2008-04-09: 14:20

YEAH!!!!!! Congratulations!!!! :)

mclps · 2008-04-09: 14:29

Hey, I am back in Bryn Mawr, and I see that you are the FP! Great job girly girl!

CJLata · 2008-04-09: 15:23

The first shot is magnificent! Congrats on front page!!!!!

sendao · 2008-04-09: 16:22

Wonderful post, both words and images - congrats!

jet28 · 2008-04-09: 16:28

Congratulations on the front page! This is Americana at her very best. The last one is outstanding!

pattyb · 2008-04-09: 16:44

Outstanding set! Well done!

sparkylu25 · 2008-04-09: 16:47

wowwww very good set, all toguether text end pics
congratulation

Mertxe · 2008-04-09: 17:07

You made the front page, way to go.

joycephotography · 2008-04-09: 17:08

great and beautiful set! the first one is dreamlike! wonderful lanscape!

tomie · 2008-04-09: 17:10

Wonderful first!

CbK · 2008-04-09: 17:20

These are absolutely fantastic - especially the first two! Congrats on first page!

ncshutterbug · 2008-04-09: 18:43

great shots and congrats

mojaroo · 2008-04-09: 19:19

The photos are incredibly beautiful and the quotations are so apt. Beautiful, sensitive and enduring.

photopoet · 2008-04-09: 20:48

very good

Saeedeh · 2008-04-09: 21:19

great set, great trip

PEXRI · 2008-04-09: 23:13

Amazing lines and depth on #1. Congrats on the front page.

etodd80 · 2008-04-09: 23:45

Spectacular!

leocheung · 2008-04-09: 23:53

Congratulations on a superb series and a well-deserved FPage!

jagungal · 2008-04-10: 03:43

So so beautiful! Congrats on frontpage

chrisfly · 2008-04-10: 03:47

beautiful set.. love #1... congrats on frontpage...

maryamrs · 2008-04-10: 04:10

nice set

jinumaria · 2008-04-10: 08:00

The ranch / farm house in the first one looks like its computerized!

NICE SET THO LOVE IT

hippy · 2008-04-10: 09:40

nice set, congrats on first page

Orhidea46 · 2008-04-10: 09:44

perfect work!

ranginkamaan · 2008-04-10: 10:10

beautiful!!! specially #1 and #4, congrats on front page!!!

Marieluska · 2008-04-10: 11:43

Remarkable first photo and apt quote. Thank you for sharing.

LastFrontier · 2008-04-10: 12:15

Sooooo beautiful!!Congrats!

Freyja · 2008-04-10: 13:36

Thank you for the great set. I am originally from Minnesota and since moving to Austin, Texas I have been longing to see the rolling farms of the midwest...

lmruppert · 2008-04-10: 13:49

PS: ho! congrats for the frontpage, Kim! i'm feeling angry to have missed this FP of you! i mean, it's only when i saw the comments that i realised you've gotten the FP!

tomie · 2008-04-10: 14:13