Photographer and Writer at Iowa Farm Bureau
West Des Moines, IA
- About me
For more than a decade I have had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with people from all walks of life through my photography. I have photographed presidents and heads of state, traversed the winding alleyways of the Fes Medina in Morocco, photographed the sprawling countryside and people that make up Argentina and I have covered events that have made up the fabric of our country.
After receiving my degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Iowa, I worked as a photo editor and staff photographer for The Daily Iowan in Iowa City. After college, I served in several photography and communications positions with various publications including The Iowa City Press Citizen, Northwest Iowa Review, The Britt News Tribune, and The Clinton Herald. I’m currently a photographer and writer for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in West Des Moines, IA. From covering high school and collegiate sports and authoring photo essays to writing feature stories and providing creative vision for web sites, my experience spans the field of communications. But, my true love of photography always came first.
I have received numerous awards for my work including: Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award; J.Y. Bryan Prize in the field of interpretive photography, two IABC Bronze Quill Awards of excellence for color photography and illustrations, and two American Farm Bureau best single photo awards. Additionally, my work has been featured in National Geographic Television, Time, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal Constitution, United Press International, Associated Press, Liaison, the Des Moines Register and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
I was most recently honored by Congressman Tom Latham when he chose several of my photographs to display in his Washington D.C. office. The photographs chosen by Latham feature a broad range of all that Iowa has to offer.
"I think the photos depict the diverse landscapes and beauty that can be found across Iowa. It's wonderful to have a photographic reminder for me and my visitors to my office of vibrant change of seasons in Iowa and of the state's rich agricultural landscapes," Latham said. "Almost every visitor to the office has expressed their appreciation and admiration for these images that are constant reminders of Iowa's natural beauty."
My first memories of photography came from taking pictures with my dad in northern Iowa. And, now, I'm lucky enough to have made a career of capturing the special people and places of Iowa and the world.
After receiving my degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Iowa, I worked as a photo editor and staff photographer for The Daily Iowan in Iowa City. After college, I served in several photography and communications positions with various publications including The Iowa City Press Citizen, Northwest Iowa Review, The Britt News Tribune, and The Clinton Herald. I’m currently a photographer and writer for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in West Des Moines, IA. From covering high school and collegiate sports and authoring photo essays to writing feature stories and providing creative vision for web sites, my experience spans the field of communications. But, my true love of photography always came first.
I have received numerous awards for my work including: Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award; J.Y. Bryan Prize in the field of interpretive photography, two IABC Bronze Quill Awards of excellence for color photography and illustrations, and two American Farm Bureau best single photo awards. Additionally, my work has been featured in National Geographic Television, Time, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal Constitution, United Press International, Associated Press, Liaison, the Des Moines Register and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
I was most recently honored by Congressman Tom Latham when he chose several of my photographs to display in his Washington D.C. office. The photographs chosen by Latham feature a broad range of all that Iowa has to offer.
"I think the photos depict the diverse landscapes and beauty that can be found across Iowa. It's wonderful to have a photographic reminder for me and my visitors to my office of vibrant change of seasons in Iowa and of the state's rich agricultural landscapes," Latham said. "Almost every visitor to the office has expressed their appreciation and admiration for these images that are constant reminders of Iowa's natural beauty."
My first memories of photography came from taking pictures with my dad in northern Iowa. And, now, I'm lucky enough to have made a career of capturing the special people and places of Iowa and the world.
- Where I grew up
- Forest City, IA
- Places I've lived
- Iowa City, IA; Davenport, IA; Sheldon, IA; Britt, IA; West Des Moines, IA; Cedar Falls, IA
- Companies I've worked for
- Iowa City Press-Citizen; Clinton Herald; Britt News-Tribune; N'West Iowa Review; Freelance for United Press International; Freelance for Associated Press
- Schools I've attended
- University of Northern Iowa; University of Iowa
- Other names
- jmurphpix
