Spring Countdown

While I am on the Spring countdown, I am adding more content to my Instagram to keep me busy, among other things.

On another note, the 2020 census data indicates that the population of Sioux Falls, South Dakota back in 1988 was 192,517. That was the year I first encountered this geographically beautiful small town that I fell so in love with. The population of Sioux Falls was then recorded at about 80,000. That was part of the reason I decided to call Sioux Falls "home."

The figure of the 2020 census data reflects the city's growth and development over the years, yet the discrepancy in population figures most likely arise from different census estimates or data collection methods, but the census data is considered a reliable source for population counts. The 2026 census data is not yet available. However, as of 2025, the city's population is estimated to be around 224,676. This certainly reflects how the city's on-going growth has been significant over the years.

As a photographer, operating in a city with rapid population growth is crucial while essentially documenting a "living, breathing entity" that is transforming faster than at any other point in its history. A fast-growing city is constantly losing it's past to make way for the future, and as an archivist - freezing moments like a small building surrounded by new construction - that will likely disappear.

Capturing the "Urban Evolution" alters the skyline and streetscapes, documenting the transition from low-rise to high-rise, or the encroachment of modern development into older neighborhoods. Rapid growth often brings demographic changes, rising costs of living, and, sometimes, displacement; documenting social and cultural shifts capture the human impact of this.

High-growth cities are characterized by a "hustle and bustle." Capturing energy and dynamism, showing the contrast of Old and New in which growth creates sharp contrasts between modern glass towers and historical buildings, or old residential neighborhoods and new high-density, smart-city infrastructure. Unveiling unique perspectives with rapid development there often comes new, unexpected, and sometimes bizarre, angles and viewpoints that can be captured, offering a fresh, artistic view of the cityscape, giving context to urban issues, calling attention to the impacts of overpopulation, sustainability challenges, and urban planning decisions.

It's not just taking pictures; it is producing a "time-capsule" that records the "rich tapestry of life" and the dramatic metamorphosis of the environment.