Des Moines photographer captures city’s walls in new book
4/1/2026
When Jim Zeller began sorting through old negatives from the mid-1980s, he held them up to the light. He thought about the negatives, which had been replaced by digital pictures.
“These negatives will end up in the dumpster,” he recalls. “People might be interested in old photos. These photos would make a good book.”
That was about 10 years ago, when Zeller began photographing downtown Des Moines buildings, some of which are now demolished. Over the past few years, he snapped, sorted and arranged the images, creating a collection of Des Moines “walls.” His book idea finally took shape and was aptly named “Des Moines Wallscapes Unseen.”
The book focuses on walls at various buildings in Des Moines, as well as the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
“The subject of walls appeals to me,” he says. “I didn’t set out taking pictures of walls.”
He enlisted the help of graphic designer Connie Wilson, formerly with the Des Moines Art Center. Wilson advised on photo placement and layout.
Zeller grew up in Des Moines, helping his father in the family darkroom. He and his twin brother assisted with the developing process by dipping paper into chemical tanks and baths.
He took photos for his high school yearbook at Roosevelt High School. After college, he began shooting pictures in Des Moines. His work in a photo printing lab sharpened his eye for editing. He also photographed briefly for the Des Moines Business Record, carrying a camera wherever he went.
One of his exhibitions featured 100 churches in the Des Moines metro area. He has photographed many events for his own Greek Orthodox Church of St. George but was intrigued by other religious sites.
“I walked my way through 100 churches. I was unsupervised,” he admits. “I had on my signature bow tie, so I appeared harmless.”
The resulting 202 photos were displayed at the Catholic Pastoral Center.
“I wish I would have gotten that in book form,” he reflects.
Another series featured homes of different colors throughout Des Moines. For example, he photographed all the yellow houses and grouped them together on a poster.
One of his favorite photos captures him tutoring a Vietnamese girl learning English.
Zeller’s love of photography books is evident in his home, where bookcases overflow with favorites, including Fred Herzog, Christopher Payne and Berenice Abbott.
He has no formal photography training and considers it an advantage.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. I don’t like to follow directions,” he says.
He uses an Olympus 4/3 camera.
“It’s got a smaller body with a retro feel. It feels like a film camera. I’m getting too old to carry around a heavy camera,” he explains.
By “taking pictures on the fly,” he encourages other photographers to do the same.
“Take what you see now and where you live — because you don’t know when it might be gone,” he reflects.
His books are available at Beaverdale Books, The Blok in West Des Moines, and the Des Moines Art Center gift shop.
Those interested in his photography can email him at zellerjim50@gmail.com. ♦
