For over two decades, photographer Deanna Dikeman documented a deeply personal and poignant ritual between her and her parents in Sioux City, Iowa. From 1991 to 2017, she captured the simple yet emotionally charged act of waving goodbye in a photo series titled Leaving and Waving. What began as a personal project turned into a stunning tribute to her parents’ enduring love, the passage of time, and the quiet but profound impact of family bonds.
Who is Deanna Dikeman?
Deanna Dikeman is an American photographer and artist whose work focuses on personal narratives, family relationships, and the passage of time. Born and raised in Iowa, Dikeman’s photography is deeply rooted in the Midwest, with many of her projects drawing on her experiences growing up in a close-knit family.
Leaving and Waving, her most recognized photo series, beautifully blends personal memories with universal themes of loss, change, and the inevitability of separation.
Dikeman’s artistic style is understated yet deeply emotional, capturing moments that might otherwise go unnoticed but hold significant meaning. With Leaving and Waving, she turned a simple family tradition into an evocative body of work that resonates with anyone who has ever experienced the bittersweet nature of goodbyes.
The Story Behind Leaving and Waving
The Leaving and Waving series began in 1991 when Dikeman, as a young adult, would photograph herself waving goodbye to her parents as she drove away from their home in Sioux City. These waves were the start of a yearly ritual, symbolizing not only partings but also the enduring connection between Dikeman and her parents.
As the years passed, Dikeman continued to document the farewells, each photo capturing more than just a fleeting moment of departure. Over time, the photos evolved into a visual record of her parents’ aging, the changes in her own life, and the emotional weight that accumulates over the years. Each image is quiet, intimate, and profound, showing her parents standing on the same spot in the driveway, waving goodbye with the same warmth and love.
The series also highlights the passage of time, and how it subtly but undeniably alters relationships and experiences. The photographs, while simple in composition, evoke powerful emotions—reminding us that goodbyes are a universal experience that holds meaning beyond the moment.
A Pivotal Moment in the Series
One of the most poignant moments in the series came in 2009, when Dikeman captured a photo without her father. He had passed away just days after turning 91. The absence of her father in that image marks a significant shift in the series, transforming it from a series about parting to one about loss.
However, Dikeman’s mother continued the tradition of waving until her own passing in 2017. Her presence in the photos is a symbol of resilience, love, and a commitment to keeping the ritual alive.
In fact, after her mother’s funeral, Dikeman captured one final photograph of the empty driveway—one last image with no one left to wave back. This final photo, devoid of people but rich with emotional weight, marks the end of an era in Dikeman’s family story.
Moral and Reflection
The Leaving and Waving series invites us to reflect on the quiet, everyday moments that shape our lives.
What might seem like an ordinary gesture—a simple wave goodbye—becomes a profound symbol of love, continuity, and the passage of time. Dikeman’s work reminds us that it’s often the smallest moments, the routines we overlook or take for granted, that hold the most emotional significance.
Dikeman’s photos also reflect on the inevitability of loss and the ways we navigate it. Through her intimate portrayal of family farewells, she touches on themes of mortality, resilience, and the enduring connection that remains, even after people are no longer physically present.
The empty driveway in the final photo is both heartbreaking and beautiful—a poignant reminder that love and memory persist even after goodbyes are said.
Legacy of the Series
Through Leaving and Waving, Deanna Dikeman has created a moving tribute to the complexities of family relationships, aging, and the quiet moments that define our lives. The series is not just a collection of photographs, but a meditation on the passage of time and the emotional weight carried by each farewell.
In a world where we are often preoccupied with grand gestures and big events, Dikeman’s work reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful moments are those that are simple, quiet, and deeply personal.
Her photographs have been featured in galleries and exhibitions, and the series continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Through her lens, we are invited to reflect on our own relationships, the goodbyes we’ve said, and the love that endures long after the waves have stopped.
Deanna Dikeman’s Leaving and Waving is a powerful reminder that, even in the most ordinary moments, there is extraordinary meaning—and sometimes, the simplest gestures can hold the deepest emotional truths.