Photos of The Arch

Ho hum. We have a gorgeous giant stainless steel work of art looming over our downtown skyline. Yawn.

That’s how we St. Louisans tend to think about our arch. Actually, that’s not true: we usually don’t think of it at all. I suppose that’s just the way it is when something so great is so ubiquitous. We take amazing stuff for granted.

Lately a few photo shoots have put me downtown on the riverfront, under the arch, in the arch, all around the arch, photographing all sorts of things except the arch. Still. When you’re there, you kinda can’t help but shoot it. So I did, on different days (and nights) at different times. What a beauty.

We are so lucky.

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Working on the River

Been busy lately, which is really nice. Even nicer is that I’ve been photographing great people doing great things. And now I’m free to show you who and what. So I’ll start here.

I spent the day with my friends from Anheuser Busch and a guy named Chad. Chad is a bit of a hero, and a bit of a celebrity. One day he decided the river was dirty and someone oughtta pick up all that junk. Then he decided that if he wouldn’t do it, nobody would. So he did it. He compiled a team who travels up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries, recruiting assistance from folks like the employees of Anheuser Busch, and they clean up trash.

A lot of trash.

On this particular day there were a few hundred of us who piled into john boats under the Gateway Arch and headed up river. A few flying carp later and we were ashore again to begin the cleanup. It’s amazing what a few dedicated people can do when they work together.

Kids pitched in too. That’s the good thing about picking up junk: anybody can do it.

I saw things I never would have imagined, including the aforementioned flying fish and a family of deer who were swimming in the river. (Don’t worry; apparently this is a thing they do. Also, pardon the awful photograph. They were very far away, fairly fast moving, and I was shooting from an unsteady position. You get the point.)

If you’re interested in helping these fine folks clean up the river, get in touch. I’m sure Chad would be happy to have your help.

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