Nature, Landscape Photographer Adam Reinert Got His Start In 4-H

What began as a childhood 4-H project has evolved into a hobby and eventually a business for nature and landscape photographer Adam Reinert.

“I always had photography kind of in the back of my mind,” Reinert said recently while discussing his passion for photography. “It started out as a 4-H project when I was about 10 and I carried that through my entire 4-H career.”

Reinert was introduced to the camera at a young age by his mother, Lisa, who was a portrait photographer.

“She always had her camera so it was an easy (4-H) project for my brothers and I to do,” he said.

As a member of the Country Cousins 4-H club, Reinert won several ribbons for his photographs at the Mills County Fair. He usually had at least one of his entries selected for competition at the Iowa State Fair.

“It was fun to have success and kind of a good motivation to keep with the project,” he said.

Reinert graduated from Glenwood Community High School in 2006 and moved on to Iowa State University where he majored in finance and accounting. Reinert never took formal photography classes while earning his degree at ISU. He still enjoyed shooting outdoor photos when he had the time in college, but “didn’t get serious about photography” until after he completed his degree.

“It started out just as kind of a hobby – posting photos online and social media,” he said. “Eventually, I started getting requests for prints and it just kind of grew into a business.”

Some of the first photos Reinert received requests for were shots of old farm equipment owned by his grandfather. Photos he had taken on the ISU campus and nature scenes in Mills County and other areas of Iowa were also popular.
In 2016, the hobby grew into becoming  a business - Reinert Images.

Today, Reinert travels the country with the aim of  “capturing the breathtaking beauty of our natural world.”

Yellowstone, the Tetons, Rocky Mountains, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, Florida and Boston are among the places Reinert’s photographed.

“I love the mountains. Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are two of my favorites,” he said. “I’ve got deep roots here in Glenwood and Iowa in general. There’s a lot of places I like shooting around here, too. The Loess Hills are beautiful, the Iowa State campus is another favorite spot of mine to shoot at.”

One of Reinert’s favorite photos is one he shot during a late fall camping trip. He initially set up camp in Yellowstone, but a wintry storm a few days into the trip forced him to go south and set up camp in the Tetons. He didn’t want to take the chance of getting snowed in at Yellowstone.

“I got down to the Tetons and there was no snow, yet, up on the mountains,” he said. “Fall in the Tetons is beautiful anyway but I kind of wanted some snow on the mountains, so I set up my campsite and went to sleep. The next morning, there was a nice surprise – fresh powder and a fresh blanket of snow up on the mountains.

“I don’t think it would be near as interesting or near as good of a photo if it didn’t have the snow.”

Although he’s had no formal schooling in photography, Reinert said there are several photographers he looks up to – Tom Mangelsen, Art Wolfe and Mills County’s own John Scanlan, a longtime friend of Reinert’s family, to name a few.
When Reinert sets out on a trip to shoot a specific place in nature, he makes it a point not to look at how other photographers have shot his destination.

“I want to create my own shot and not get the one that somebody else got and try to recreate.”

Reinert has a personal goal of visiting and photographing all 63 national parks. He’s made it to about 20 so far. He also has several state parks on his radar and other scenic places in nature he wants to explore. Through his photographs, he hopes to share and inspire an appreciation for the natural beauty of our nation.

“Through my photography, I aim to share the awe and wonder I feel in nature, inviting you to see the world through my eyes and experience the magic that lies in every corner of our country,” he states on his website.
Reinert’s photographs can be viewed and purchased through his website or Facebook page.  He also sells his work at regional art shows throughout the year. Custom sizing and framing is available. Additionally, several of Reinert’s most popular photographs are on display at a gallery set up in the Warren Jewelry store building on the southwest corner of Glenwood’s Town Square.

“My grandparents still own the building here and my grandpa kind of likes having it (gallery) here,” Reinert said.

Reinert lives in Des Moines, where he’s employed as an accountant for an insurance company. He returns to Glenwood to open his gallery for private showings and special events like the annual Shop Hop and Glenwood Holiday Festival.