Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #7

"STL Love" is one of my favorite photos from the last year. This is from STL250's Burning Love Festival... supposed to happen on Valentine's Day, but had to be rescheduled due to ice. It probably had much lower attendance because of the weekday move plus Art Hill was so muddy. But it was a fun and unique celebration.

That purple STL heart later "caught" fire and was a beautiful burning heart. I thought about using that photo instead but I really love the three hearts, the purple (because I'm still me) and the beams of light in the background. It was a beautiful event design and I was happy to capture it.

Note - this one was also shot without a tripod (because I hate dragging them around) and hand-held. And on a low battery (oops!). 

Up next: The most popular photo in my exhibit.

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #6

This is "Shadows", also know as the Zoo Gate. This one is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight wonders of St. Louis. I love this photo because the snow has stuck gloriously to that patina-d sculpture. 

This photo was taken from my car while driving through the Hampton roundabout. (Well, I was stopped because the Zoo Gate all lit up with the snow sticking to it begged to be captured.) (And I'm not THAT crazy of a photographer.)

The most significant thing about this photo that is a behind-the-shot story is the fact that originally, I had it printed in color. But I didn't really like it as much until I printed it in Black and White. And then I loved it. 

I was a little nervous that it didn't fit in with the rest of the color pieces in the show, but a little adjustment in the lineup and all was well.

Up next: Celebrating St. Louis at 250.

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #5

Entitled "Escape", I chose a very literal title for a very literal thing. This is the fire escape as seen from Washington Avenue on the side of the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

This piece speaks to me on many levels - I have spent my adult life and professional life in the arts; I have had theatre as part of my life for as long as I remember.

I also enjoy the technical composition of the photo itself, how the stairs flow like a negative data graph. I enjoy the texture of the brick and the aging of the rust, "dripping" down the sides.

But most of all - I love that I took this on the way back to the car after an incredible opening of the "City at 250" exhibit at the Sheldon Art Galleries, with the previous picture in the exhibition.

Up next: A gate in a different light.

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #4

"Limelight" is one of my favorites of the show. I have always been a fan of the Climatron, but the Climatron lit up for the Garden Glow... glorious.

What's special in my heart about this photo is how I took it. You aren't allowed a tripod so I had to hold my breath and take multiple shots in order to have one without any shake. Something that one has to contend with in low light, below freezing conditions and even with a fancy new camera (this is one of the first series of shots taken with the new Canon 70D).

I'm proud not only of the subject and the composition but what I had to do to get there! I'm still in awe of my ability (and luck) in getting a clear, shake-free shot.

I can't wait to try again this year!

Up next: An unexpected side of a famous place.

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #3

I titled this one "Lines" because that's the main focus of this composition. I like this because it's one of the really not quite obvious inclusions in this exhibit. These are the old rail lines that are under (or next to) the Union Station Train Shed.

Now with LHM having taken over Union Station, hopefully these train lines might actually see some action. I know it is their plans to have a la carte train traffic (i.e. not Amtrak).

I just love the way I composed this picture, the lines disappear into the trees and end in the radio tower. And not a hint of those famous red towers. Not everything can be hidden in plain view!

Up next: A familiar sight in unfamiliar light.

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #2

Let me introduce you to "Intersections", also taken in Choteau's Landing. I had to do a little digging, but I took this back in 2010 during a Meetup.com meet-up. We were doing a photographic scavenger hunt in Downtown St. Louis along the theme of "Decay/Isolation/Creepy/Weird" and had a list of things to cross off. It was wildly fun and it makes me want to do one again soon. I wonder if I have the original list written down somewhere.

Obviously, the Crunden-Martin photo was a revisit to the space but I hadn't been down in the area for awhile and didn't realize I'd actually be there before. My up ticking interest in urban decay and historic preservation has brought me back to that mostly vacant area. It is all hauntingly beautiful.

Up next: A different view of a familiar place. 

Behind the Shot: Alternate Views #1

Since some people just won't be able to make it to my exhibition at Third Degree Glass (up until November 18th!), I thought I'd tour folks through the exhibit, the background behind the photos, etc. I had so many questions about some of the photos that it prompted me to remember the story behind photo. Some are more interesting than others but I'd still love to share with you.

If you are in St. Louis, I highly recommend seeing them in person... I'm really proud of this exhibit.

So without further delay:

This is "Arch/Crunden-Martin".

I took this on a Photo Flood of downtown St. Louis. This building has been on my radar after it spectacularly caught fire in 2011. That fire brought my attention this area of Choteau's Landing that I was previously unaware of.

This was the first time I'd explored this area on foot (I generally don't enter areas that are relatively unoccupied alone unless in a car).

Perhaps this is one of the images that really compelled the curation of the "Alternate Views" because I really love that it isn't your "standard" Arch shot, yet it still celebrates two parts of St. Louis history.

Tomorrow, I'll move on to "Intersections". Similar place, different perspective. With the exception of the last photo in the exhibit, the pieces are laid out geographically from downtown to far west.