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Our current exhibition, Kansas From 400’ or Less, is a feast for the eyes. If you enjoy the beauty of a Kansas sunrise or sunset, this exhibition is delicacy you won't want to miss. Art photographer Thomas Zimmerman is well known for capturing the Kansas skies and true to his reputation, Zimmerman did it again. This collection doesn't disappoint.
The name of the exhibition comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) regulation that limits drones to flying no higher than 400 feet above ground level. This regulation is designed to prevent interference with manned aircraft and to help pilots maintain visual contact with their drones. Along with this altitude restriction, Zimmerman encountered instances where a shot was thwarted due to restricted airspace. Needless to say, Zimmerman found himself challenged beyond the usual environmental and technical hurdles that come along with ground-based photography. The exhibition is a testament to the fact that not only did Zimmerman rise to the challenge, but he mastered it.
Capturing photos from the air provides a bird’s-eye view, showcasing perspectives that are not readily available from the ground. Within the exhibition, you’ll find captivating images of the tops of grain elevators, the City of Quinter’s water tower, the cross that crowns the Church at Park, Kansas, and many other fascinating vantage points. Using the drone, Zimmerman also attempted to photograph blackbirds in the midst of their murmuration—a flight pattern that resembles a choreographed dance across the sky. Zimmerman spent considerable time trying to acclimate the birds to the drone in hopes of capturing this aerial ballet. The birds were comfortable with the drone as long as it sat quietly among them on the ground, but as soon as the motor started, they broke apart from their graceful configurations. Instead of capturing a serene sky dance, Zimmerman photographed a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 movie The Birds. Although not frightening or in black and white, the photo gives viewers a vivid sense of what it might feel like to be surrounded by a flock of blackbirds in motion.
Make plans to see Kansas From 400’ or Less before January 26, 2024. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We are closed on New Year’s Day. The museum is handicap accessible, and admission is always free, thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846. We hope to see you at the museum!
