Photography

On December 27, 2010, while loading my car to return to St. Louis from my parents’ home in Bloomfield, Iowa, I enjoyed an early morning chill that covered everything in a crystal white frost.

After successfully capturing its beauty in the winter of 2010, two years later in 2012, I attempted to capture the Davis County Courthouse of Bloomfield, Iowa in its summer and fall splendor. Standing on a ladder in the backyard of my childhood home, I snapped these images through the trees.

In the summer of 2012, the Missouri Botanical Garden hosted its very first Chinese lantern festival, during which huge one-of-a-kind lanterns were constructed in the garden for display all summer long.

As the tagline for the festival reads, it’s “art by day, magic by night.” While the lanterns were spectacularly beautiful during the day, they were truly magical at night.

On a warm, summer day, the Shaw Nature Reserve south of St. Louis makes for a great place to take a nature walk and snap some photos.

When fall arrives, it’s time to head back to the Garden to see what new sights are in store.

Later in the fall, a return trip to the Garden reveals even more to see.

In addition to the Garden, nearby Willmore Park also offers a lot of natural beauty each autumn.

Another nearby park, Carondelet Park, boasts some of the most beautiful fall foliage in St. Louis.

One foggy morning in late November, I stopped by the Garden, then the Arch to snap a few eerie photos.

There is no better time of year to visit the Garden, or the Arch, than in the spring when so much is in bloom.

In mid-summer, it’s time to return to the Garden to see the lotus flowers in peak bloom.

The Chinese lantern festival returned to the Garden in the summer of 2015 with an entirely new display.

While the Garden is my favorite outdoor space in St. Louis, my favorite indoor space is the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Touring Broadway shows play the Fox, and I take advantage of a season ticket whenever possible.

After having lived in St. Louis for 25 years, especially since I drive right by it on my way into the office, I take the Arch for granted. It’s sad but true. Every once in a while though, I make the time to pay it a visit so I can fully appreciate its unique beauty.

My favorite pastime is live theater, Broadway musicals in particular. Although the Fox hosts a lot of great touring shows, not every touring production stops at the Fox. So I occasionally hop the Amtrak to Chicago in order to catch a Broadway tour, or a pre-Broadway run.

In addition to attending live theater, the best reason to visit Chicago is to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day by watching them dye the Chicago River green.

I was so desperate to see Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo in the original production of Moulin Rouge the musical, I visited Boston for the first time in my life to see the pre-Broadway run at the newly renovated Emerson Colonial Theatre. It was worth the trip.

I had the good fortune to visit New York City in both January and June of 2019. While there, I was extremely lucky to see 10 Broadway shows. I also had the privilege of attending the annual Pride parade and visiting the Stonewall Inn on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.

In addition to nature photographs, my favorite photos are those of my nieces and nephew.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is slowly waking up from its winter hibernation. There are several varieties of flowers, trees, and other plants, beginning to open some blooms. 🌸🌼🌺🍀