WHEN SOUTHERN MINN SCENE, a regional arts and entertainment magazine in southern Minnesota resumed publication late last year, I reclaimed my column. I’m delighted to be back crafting “Through a SoMinn Lens,” an essay of images and words, but mostly images.
A look back at 2021 themed the recently-published January issue. I titled my piece “Reflections and hope during a pandemic year.” I wrote a reflective essay and then searched my photo files for supporting images.
I encourage you to view my column, which features 26 photos, by clicking here. I aim to tell the story of 2021 in southern Minnesota from an everyday perspective. Through my camera lens as I’m out and about. I focus on words, people, events, nature, art, small town Main Street… This is my world. Perhaps your world, too. Or maybe a place not at all familiar.
Yet, wherever we live, whatever we do, we share the commonality of humanity. We need to remember that as we begin 2022, as we continue pushing through this pandemic with hope.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Fun to see all the photos. I know the family whose tombstone you photographed in the Valley Grove Cemetery. They are a wonderful family and reflect the saying on the stone.
Valerie, thank you for sharing about your connection to this family with this loving message on the tombstone.
That is a great magazine, I bet, and your contributions would be just perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I think my images and words bring something to Southern Minn Scene. If anything, I hope people will see, via my work, what’s right here in their backyards to enjoy.
Audrey, You always do a wonderful job, telling stories in photos and words
Thank you, dear Ruth.