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When most think of photography, they think of putting visuals to words or making a statement. Some might think of current events such as 9/11 or a devastated New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Others might think of abstract photography that is left open to interpretation. When Larry Mendenhall thinks of photography, he thinks of peace, serenity. A lot of times in our life, we get too busy and overwhelmed that we don’t have enough time in the day to relax. Mendenhall uses his gift to create serene images with the goal of helping his audience experience just a sense of relaxation in their busy day. He knew from the get-go that his voice would be heard through his imagery. 

“Once I started on landscape photography, that was it, you know it’s just like I can’t like not photograph that; I would just wither and die,” Mendenhall said.

Luckily for the students of Grand View, they had the chance to get a break from the stressful everyday life they live and view Mendenhall’s project in the Prairie Meadows Gallery on the second level of the Student Center.  

Mendenhall said landscape photography is his preferred style—that or straight photography, which depicts a scene in sharp focus. However, his take of landscapes comes in the form of peacefully lit churches in his recent project “Quiet Places.”  

Mendenhall developed an interest in photography when he was a kid. His passion grew when he took a class in high school and he was able to get his hands on a camera and develop his own photos. This resulted in working in the newspaper field for 14 years.  

Mendenhall did things from photography to writing for the newspaper with his varied skill set. Photography for Mendenhall has always been a hobby; he never really made a living out of it besides the newspaper job.  

One thing that Mendenhall really pays attention to when he shoots is composition. He said that he still hasn’t gotten it down perfectly, but photography is a lifelong learning process.   

While shooting landscape photography in Iowa, he realized that landscapes don’t have to be beautiful.

“Simple, everyday things can still make meaningful photographs, so that was really when I started to really explore what landscape photography is. It’s not all about the gorgeous mountains; sometimes it’s about the dried leaf on the ground,” Mendenhall said.

Places that Mendenhall likes to shoot are Thomas Mitchell State Park, east of Des Moines. He also enjoys shooting at Chichaqua Bottoms, west of Farar.   

“I like to look for places with rolling hills because I’m trying to do a more minimalistic approach to my photography so I just want to photograph the essence of an Iowa landscape,” Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall explained that he likes to take a mindfulness approach to his photography. When he shoots, he looks for features that make up a good photo. Some examples that he pays attention to are curvy lines and interesting angles. He tries to gather details that work together instead of fixing his mind on one thing.  

In his “Quiet Places” work, he puts a spin on landscape photography focusing on a smaller scope and the usage of natural light. Not only have his works won him awards and been published, but most importantly for Mendenhall, his point gets across.  

Mendenhall strives to give people a minute of peace and quiet. He just wants “to give people a recess from the hurly-burly of everyday life. To him, photographs have to appeal in more than a superficial way.   

“Photos that you can imagine a story in or communicate an emotion in, those are the kind of photographs that I strive to take and produce,” Mendenhall said.

He also focuses on constantly improving his photography. He values the fact that there’s always something to learn in his field.

Advice that Mendenhall has for current or future photographers is: “You have a unique vision that is worthy of sharing; never doubt that.”