Behind the Cover – Issue 10: Kristina Rust

For the summer issue, our cover photographer Kristina Rust was kind enough to sit down and talk about the inspiration behind the Midwestern Gothic Issue 10 (Summer 2013) cover image.

Kristina_Rust-Iowa_Hills
The above image was taken in July 2011 while participating in the RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday. This is a bike ride that my father has raved about and participated in for the past 18 years. Every year my dad would ask my sister and me to join him and in 2011 we surprised him at his 70th birthday party with “Team Jeske” bike shirts (our last name) and a promise to do the ride with him that summer.

I’ve been living in California for the past 20 years and coming back to join my dad for this ride was an amazing experience. It was so great to see first hand why he loves this ride so much. This festive adventure took us through small towns that celebrated the arrival of the 10,000 plus cyclists with pancakes-fests, delicious BBQ’s, waving flags, opportunities to pet a goat or milk a cow, the music of high school marching bands and lots of cheers and smiles. Oh how I love the Midwest!

Riding with my dad and sister as well as our extended group (which included my uncle and family friends) is something I’ll always cherish. The laughs we shared, the friendly people we met, the delicious food we enjoyed (home-made pies and pork chops) are all memories that I will forever hold in my heart.

This year, I’m proud to say my father will be riding again (for the 20th time!) and pedaling at his side will be my 16 year old son. I know that my son will love sharing this adventure with his grandfather and while he may not realize it now, this journey through the Iowa hills and heat will be an experience he will never forget.

Kristina_-16-2Kristina Rust is a Midwestern girl at heart but has called California home for the past 23 years. She is passionate about photography and takes photos each and every day (despite the eye rolling from her four kids). Kristina is natural light, on-location photographer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her easy going nature allows her to capture images that truly showcase each family’s unique personality. In addition to family and children’s portraiture, Kristina enjoys collaborating with small businesses to create corporate headshots and product photography.

You can view her portfolio at Kristina Rust Photography and on her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Instagram at Kristinarust and contact her at kristina.rust@gmail.com.

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