3306 South 9th Street

The jewel of the ceremony I was invited to photograph was 3306 South 9th Street, a three story brick home built in the first years of the 20th Century. It was nearly a ruin when local developer Kraig Schnitzmeier and his company Historic Homes began a total restoration. The house is now stunning and luxurious. It's on the market for sale if any of my local readers are interested. At the lower right, 9th Ward Alderman Ken Ortmann offers his congratulations.

TOMORROW: CDPB monthly theme day: corner/neighborhood store.

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South Soulard

I've had a notice on this blog for a long time that if people, groups or organizations would like to be featured here they should just e-mail me. Well, someone finally did. Soulard is an eclectic neighborhood just south of downtown. A member of the local community association saw my blog and invited me to photograph a ceremony marking the restoration of three beautiful old homes. This was in a sub-district called South Soulard, a little jewel of a neighborhood tucked in a corner between the huge Anheuser-Busch brewery and I 55. I drive around my city on weekends looking for places to photograph but I've never been here.

An anchor of the neighborhood is the Clydesdale Cottage, a charming B & B owned by Maureen and Ray Kanski. It's been open about a year. The name refers to Anheuser-Busch's Clydesdale horses, a symbol of A-B's Budweiser beer. The bathrooms all have newly-made stained glass windows; this picture is an example. More about South Soulard, the ceremony and the Clydesdale Cottage over the next few days.

Thursday Arch Series

Back to a more austere style of Arch photo, setting off straight lines against its great curve. The shadow on the right side of the stairs is from the Arch's south leg. The monument seems to dwarf other downtown structures. In fact, the largest building of the group with a bit of a point on top is only slightly shorter than the Arch itself.

The Rapture

The Rapture is a belief of a minority of Christians, mostly from the 19th Century forward, predominantly but not exclusively American. As one web site describes it:

The rapture is belief that is almost exclusively confined to conservative Protestants. It involves Jesus Christ returning from Heaven towards earth. In violation of the law of gravity, saved individuals -- both dead and alive -- are expected by believers in the rapture to rise up in the air and join Jesus in the sky...

The word "Rapture" comes from the Latin word "Rapare" which means to take away or to snatch out. This would be a remarkable event. As it is described in Evangelical literature, pilots would disappear from planes, truck drivers from their trucks; people from automobiles, etc. Some born-again Christians believe that a family will be eating dinner, when some of the members will float upwards from their seats, pass through the roof and keep rising through the air towards Jesus.

Could it be that there are already signs of this in St. Louis?

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch series

Yet Another Dose of Gratuitous Cuteness

What is wrong with me? My self-image (hmmm, a little vain, perhaps?) is urbane and ironic. I go to contemporary art museums. I speak a little Japanese (Ikaga desu ka? Genki desu, okagesamade.) Sometimes I dress all in black. And lately I keep posting pictures of babies, with the odd dog thrown in. You'd think I took a job working for Gerber. Can I dare show my face in New York City? Anyway, this is Faith, daughter of a co-worker (that's mom's smile in the upper left) at our law firm's country party. Heaven help me if I ever have grandchildren.

TOMORROW: The Rapture

Stare Down

Dalton vs. Bella. Who will possess the chip in the end?

TOMORROW: What's happening to me?

Get The Blow Off

I walked right over this thing in Forest Park. Probably would have paid no attention to it if it were not for for the white paint. It's scary. I mean, how'd you like to be walking across this, whistling, looking at the birdies in the trees, when WHOOMP, the thing, well, blows off? Imagine your surprise. As a lawyer, I can imagine the consequences.

TOMORROW: Stare down.

Poker Face

Yesterday, we talked about how Ronald McDonald appealed to children, using his cute clownishness to lure them into a life of obesity, diabetes and all sorts of other loathsome diseases. Several commenters agreed. Today's snare on the youth of America is different (although perhaps less effective). This picture was taken at the Arthritis Walk fundraiser a couple of weeks ago. My law firm sponsored a water station along the 5 km route. The water was provided courtesy of Ameristar Casino. Not many people outside the area know it, but St. Louis has become Little Las Vegas on Missississi, with six sizable casinos, three in the downtown area. This cute tot is getting his first taste of ka-ching. His expression looks like he is playing Texas Hold-Em in one of those ubiquitous TV poker tournaments.

TOMORROW: When the pressure becomes unbearable...

The Beat

At the end of the Annie Malone parade last weekend, some participants hung out on the side streets, keeping the beat going and thumping it off the surrounding office buildings. This young man was with a group of percussionists and dancers in the courtyard of Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building. It is of great architectural significance, being one of the first couple of steel-framed skyscrapers in the world. (Eleven stories was a skyscraper in 1890.) These kids put on a great improv dance show for their own pleasure but I was fascinated by this young man's disengagement. I liked his crooked yellow bow tie and the way the light played off his face, too.

TOMORROW: Poker Face

Thursday Arch Series' Bad Nutrition Test Kitchen

The horror...the horror...

I have a trembling fascination with Ronald McDonald as a symbol of corporate evil and greed that also happens to be cute and appealing to children. McDonald's sponsored a small blues festival in Kiener Plaza downtown after the parade and baseball game last Saturday. Even cowgirls get the blues, but I don't believe that Ronald gets the blues. I don't think he even gets the point.

That evening, my wife and I went to a performance of the national touring company of The Second City, Chicago's renowned improv comedy troupe. In one of the bits, a male member of the cast came out on stage with a guitar. He started to sing a sort of folk rock song with a bitter tone. It was about how he started out on a road trip with a new girlfriend. He eventually got hungry and proposed a stop at McDonald's. The girlfriend strongly objected, going on about how she would never put that high fat, high calorie, high sodium garbage in her mouth. The young man dug in his heels, ending every verse with the refrain, F*** Y**, it's delicious! (Us ROTFL.) You pays your money and you takes your choice. But Ronald, please stay out of my nice little downtown plaza.

OH, AND BY THE WAY, happy birthday to Chicago's U "R" Us, daily photo blogger and scion of the Tastes family, who's off for a really big party in New York City (my home town) tonight! He can make it there, so he can make it anywhere.

TOMORROW: Oh, what the hell, another street portrait.

Chips Pickles Candy

This man was selling ice cream and snacks on a side street just off the parade route. I stopped and chatted with him well before the parade started when he was not busy. He works special events and, in between, just cruises neighborhoods and parks. The idea for this kind of shot is that a photographer can just go up and start talking to somebody about him or herself - never about you. Once a little relationship is established you can ask to take their picture. Few people say no. If that happens, just be polite, smile, say thanks anyway and find someone new to meet.

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch Series (special sauce department)

King DJ

The Annie Malone parade Sunday went on for about two and a half hours. There was a huge amount to shoot but the main parade route was out in hard sunshine, creating harsh shadows and bright spots. I went up a side street where the parade was ending and there was some shade. This man was riding on top of a truck, promoting his DJ service. His hat says "King."

There are some excellent nature photographers on CDBP. Other kinds of fauna interest me more, some wild, some domesticated.

TOMORROW: Chips, pickles, candy.

Two Sides of St. Louis

There was a lot going on downtown yesterday. We had the annual Annie Malone Parade. The Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center is a 120 year old institution in the black community. Their annual grand parade is one of the biggest celebrations of African-American society in St. Louis. In addition, the Cardinals were at home, meeting the Tampa Bay Rays in interleague play. As usual, it was a sell out.

As I walked around with my camera, it was interesting to watch the almost exclusively white crowd going to the baseball game and the almost exclusively black crowd watching the parade. This honkie is an equal opportunity photographer.

TOMORROW: The King of DJs

No Visible Means of Support

The Inquiring Photographers of St. Louis run across this all the time at public events: the gigantic American flag, held aloft by the cranes of two big fire department hook and ladder trucks. The flag was at the Arthritis Walk Friday night, as it was a year ago. It's been featured on this blog on other occasions, like here. I like to Photoshop out the cranes and supporting cables, leaving the flag suspended in mid-air, like this picture from last Fourth of July. So I did it again today with images taken at the Walk.

Vote for which of the two you prefer. I like the first one. It's more abstract, although it makes me think of a stingray on hallucinogens. There might be a bit of Magritte in it.

TOMORROW: Black and white (and I don't mean the photo).

Arthritis Walk

I'm on the board of the local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Every May, it holds an Arthritis Walk in Forest Park to raise funds for research and services. My firm is a co-sponsor of the event. We get every kind of walker out in support of the cause, including those who need regular walking and some to whom it may be a special occasion.

TOMORROW: Unsupported patriotism.

I (Almost) Never Shoot Flowers

I'm not very interested in nature photography. People and their creations have a stronger pull on me; I'm a city boy. Occasionally, though, something tugs me in the opposite direction. The photographer and teacher Bryan Peterson urges his students to get down on the ground on their bellies, use a wide angle lens, see what's coming out of the earth and what surrounds it. This is a bed of tulips and other flowers at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The photo has a shallow depth of field, out - in - out of focus. I got my shirt a little dirty, according to instructions.

TOMORROW: Arthritis

Thursday Arch Series

The Thursday Arch Series is back after a brief rest. This view is from the south leg with several people to give some sense of scale. As usual, the Arch dwarfs us. Our small size is almost irrelevant as we stand before it. But, of course, it was made by human hands. Age cannot wither it, nor custom stale its infinite variety.

TOMORROW: Exception to the rule.

Gratuitous Cuteness

We return to our occasional Gratuitous Cuteness series. While poking around Forest Park a few weeks ago I met the Burton family near the fiberglass dinosaurs. The father, William Burton, Jr., is an artist and craftsman. He helped make the dinosaurs. Check out his web site for the things he creates. He, his wife and his three kids were enjoying the park. The children were irresistible subjects. You meet the most interesting people by walking around with a DSLR and saying hello.

TOMORROW: The Thursday Arch Series returns.

Bluegrass

While wandering around Forest Park looking for material, I met this bluegrass trio who had performed at an event. They didn't have a business card and I didn't make a note of the group's name but they were happy to talk about what they did and let me take their picture.

I was much too shy to approach people in such situations until I took the brilliant Bobbi Lane's introduction to portrait photography workshop at the Maine Media Workshops last summer. There is a way to do this without fear or embarrassment - she taught us how. Bobbi might be the best teacher I ever had in any field. If you are interested in this sort of thing, the experience could change your life. I highly recommend it.

Show Me The Money

Got home late last night from Chicago in desperate need of something to post today. This is back at the St. Louis Cinco de Mayo festival. A popular taqueria was selling its wares out front on the sidewalk. The manager was happy to show off his successful sales to me. I didn't stop for a taco. I was too busy hunting images.

TOMORROW: Bluegrass

Visiting Chicago

My wife and I are spending Mother's Day weekend visiting our son, U "R" Us, in Chicago. We are enjoying the alpha and omega of the city's culture. Yesterday morning we saw the Edward Hopper show at the Chicago Art Institute. In the afternoon, we went to a Cubs game at ancient Wrigley Field, a first for us. This afternoon we are going to a performance of Don Giovanni at Chicago Opera Theater. So much to do here.

TOMORROW: Show me the money.

If Mitch Can Do It...

Mitch Rossow of Minneapolis DPB often posts a "moment of zen" picture on Saturday. The reference is to Jon Stewart's The Daily Show on our Comedy Central network. It ends with a short video clip of some bizarre statement or behavior of a notable person, which Stewart calls your moment of zen (follow the link to the show's web site for examples). This is my homage to Mitch's blog version. There seems to be circular logic at work here. And, notice the luchador in the left background. Can't stop looking at him, either.

TOMORROW: Chicago

Mother, Son, Bunny Ears

One of the sponsore of last weekend's Cinco de Mayo festival was Energizer Batteries. You know, the Energizer Bunny (it keeps going and going and going...). Their corporate headquarters is here in St. Louis. The company was passing out pink foam rubber bunny ears, which were a big hit with the kids. It creates a face only a mother could love. In return, the eyes tell us that this son loves his mother very much.

String Theory

No, not that kind. Some of the entertainment at last weekend's Cinco de Mayo festival was provided by a really good R&B band. Not very Mexican but they had their own brand of hot sauce. I took this picture of the bass player with a 400 mm lens. Only when I looked it at the computer did I see that his instrument had five strings. I used to own both an electric guitar and an electric bass in my wayward youth. (Couldn't play either of them worth a damn.) The bass had four strings, the regular guitar had six strings unless it didn't because it was a twelve-string and, well, that's how it was. Never heard of a five string bass before. Can one of you musicians out there illuminate the subject?

TOMORROW: Mother, son, bunny ears.

Cherokee Street

Real and imagined residents of St. Louis' Little Mexico: painted residents on a painted bench with sort of Medieval style perspective, and a living father with his somewhat sullen daughter. (Well, she is almost a teen-ager. What do you want?) You can't see the detail in this version but when I zoomed in on the original I noticed that the man was wearing a University of North Carolina baseball cap and a tee shirt that says, "Your Mother Went To College." What do you make of that?

TOMORROW: String theory.

Lucha Libre At the Whitney

I've mentioned lucha libre over the last couple of days, Mexico's unique form of professional wrestling. The contestants are often smaller, more agile men than U.S. wrestlers, emphasizing aerial maneuvers done by flinging themselves off the ropes. They always wear a mask and adopt a persona. There is an interesting discussion of the history masks for role-playing in Mexican culture leading up to lucha libre here.

These paintings of luchadores on sheets of plywood were out on Cherokee Street in our Little Mexico during the Cinco de Mayo festival. I think they're fabulous (but, by definition, I have strange tastes). There is something very edgy and contemporary in them. It wouldn't surprise me to find these works in the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art in New York or one of the city's more out-there downtown galleries, selling for a lot of money. You would never guess that their first show was sitting on the sidewalk in a sketchy part of south St. Louis.

By the way, this picture was a technical challenge. The scene was horribly back lit. When editing it, the sky would be completely blown out or the foreground would be too dark. I decided to put a mask (no pun intended) on the sky, darken it, brighten the foreground and bump up the color saturation all over. It creates a sort of unnatural glow that I like. Tell me if it works for you.

TOMORROW: Cherokee Street

Cinco de Mayo

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Many Americans think that May 5th is Mexican independence day. Wrong. That's September 16. May 5 is not even a national holiday in Mexico. The day commemorates Mexican forces' defeat of the French army when Napoleon III attempted to subjugate the country after the collapse of Spanish power. The French eventually took Mexico City but five years later Benito Juarez executed the erstwhile Emperor Maximillian I. That'll teach them Frenchies.

Today, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of culture throughout the Mexican diaspora. Four blocks of Chippewa Street in south St. Louis have become Little Mexico. I never knew! (Perhaps, in part, because my Spanish, while not nonexistent, it pretty bad.) It was the venue of our city's celebration.

I LOVE mariachis. The drive, lyricism, blend of brass, guitars and male voices is unlike any other music. These guys were really knocking it out.

By the way, Knoxville Girl wins yesterdays contest with a fast, spot-on answer. The masks are those of lucha libre, free fighting, Mexico's wildly popular form of professional wrestling.

TOMORROW: Lucha libre meets the contemporary art scene.

¿QUE?

We're going to do a Latin American Week on STL DPB. Our Hispanic population is small compared to many American cities but it has a vibrant presence.

Today's picture is a bit of a teaser. I'm asking for your comments or guesses. Why a Latino theme this week? Why are these two guys wearing these head-thingies? What do they refer to? Correct guessers are invited to select a photo from any of my posts and I'll mail you a print. More will be revealed tomorrow.

MAÑANA: Uno, dos, tres, quatro, CINCO!

Well, What ARE You Doing?

This vehicle was spotted in the parking lot of the Missouri Botanical Garden. We Americans are reeling from the increase in the price of gasoline but we don't appreciate how good we've had it. Almost everyplace in the world has much higher fuel taxes. The price for regular in St. Louis is about US$ 0.97 per liter, if I worked out the conversion correctly, and we're cheaper than most of the country. I paid almost twice that the last time I drove in the UK two or three years ago. Many of us are passionately in love with big SUVs and pickup trucks (like the one in the mid-ground here) but the cost of operating them is becoming unaffordable for many. We have long distances to drive and poor public transportation in many regions. It's creating a hardship for some but it will force us to change out habits.

MAÑANA: Semana Latinoamericana de STL DPB.

Dark Leaf

Well, enough conceptual art for a while. In any event, we return to the beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden, which my family visited last weekend for the opening of the Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture exhibit. The most interesting building is the Climatron, a recreation of a lowland tropical forest under a geodesic dome. We think this plant was some kind of giant blackened philodendron. This leaf was almost a meter long. High drama in the plant world.

TOMORROW: That's a really good question.

CDPB Monthly Theme Day: Numbers

For an explanation of this post

CLICK HERE

Glassware courtesy of Jenny Holzer. See also here and here.

I could swear that I signed up for this theme day a month ago but somehow I'm not on the list. In any event, count up the total of all these other participants: Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

TOMORROW: Meanwhile, back at the Garden...