Over the course of a year, photographer Garrett Hansen sporadically lived and photographed the prairie at the Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA — pronounced “sera”). CERA is located in Kellogg, Iowa, and contains both remnant and reconstructed prairie.
Before European settlers discovered Iowa, 85 percent of the state was covered in prairie. Today, only one-tenth of one percent remains. Consequently, places like CERA are working to reconstruct Iowa’s natural habitat.
As detailed in the slideshow, Hansen’s photography at CERA made him recognize and appreciate the differences between remnant and reconstructed prairie. His views imply that an aesthetic approach alongside a biological approach could help in reconstructing prairie more accurately.