Sunset on the Missouri

Sunset

For those that live in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, they are familiar with Highway 40 (64) where it crosses the Missouri River near Chesterfield’s Gumbo Flats. Once while crossing the bridge I looked to the west and noticed a spectacular sunset. This is major metropolitan highway with no way to stop to take a photo so I did not stop. Over the next year I examined the bridge and found that it had a pedestrian walk/bike path and a nearby mall for parking. When the sun was lined up  with with the river again, I was able to stop to get this shot (with massive 18 wheelers rushing past, 5 feet behind me).

Grand Basin

St. Louis Art Museum

This photo takes you back over 115 years in time. Forest Park’s Grand Basin served as the center of the 1904 World’s Fair. This body of water was surrounded by “Grand Palaces” that featured: Electricity and Machinery; Industry and Manufacturing; Transportation; Mining; and Liberal Arts.

Beyond that is the famous Art Hill. Art Hill is the place to be seen sledding on snow days, a stage for large public events and, sometimes, the Forest Park Baloon Glow site.

Beyond that is The Palace of Fine Arts, the only palace constructed for the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair which was intended to remain after the fair. The other buildings were constructed of wood and ornamented with what was called “staff”, a mixture of lime plaster and cement which contained glycerin and dextrose to which shredded hemp was added. During the fair the Palace of Fine Arts was dwarfed and hidden behind the much larger Festival Hall. The Palace of Fine Art is now the home to the St. Louis Art Museum and keeping to the inscription on the building “Dedicated to Art and Free to All”, the art museum changes no admission.

The photo is a three shot HDR photo taken on one end of the basin. Click on the photo for a larger version and more information.

Nathan Frank Bandstand

Forest Park

One historic structure in St. Louis’ Forest Park is the Nathan Frank Bandstand. The original bandstand on this site was built around the time Forest Park opened in 1876. Constructed of wood, it was renovated for the 1904 World’s Fair and was one of the Fair’s most photographed structures. Concerts held there were popular attractions and were continued for several years after the Fair. It closed in 1911 for repairs but was destroyed not long after by a storm and fire.

St. Louis lawyer, Nathan Frank, donated $50,000 to erect a new bandstand, making the first private gift to a St. Louis park. It was dedicated in 1925. Of classic Renaissance design, the new bandstand was designed by Heffensteller, Hirsch and Watson and made of white marble with bronze railings and ornaments.

The Bandstand makes a very scenic area in front of the park’s and makes a great opportunity for a photograph.

Late Fall in Forest Park

Suspension Bridge

Of all of the buildings and structures in St. Louis’ Forest park, this is one of my favorites. This a suspension foot bridge near Post-Dipatch lake in the center of the park. This bridge connects Forest Park’s Grand Basin (the heart of the 1904 World’s Fair) and the parks Boathouse restaurant. This has always made a nice walk for my dogs where we can end up at the Boathouse for lunch.

The bridge makes for a great photographic subject!

Riverfront

Gateway Arch

St. Louis’ riverfront on the Mississippi River. This photo was taken from the historic Eads Bridge,  a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River connecting the cities of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. Also in this photo the Gateway Arch.

 

Hounds

My two hounds: Lolly and Dixie. They do not get to go hunting in the country but like to chase rabbits in the back yard. However the back yard fencing cuts the hunt short. They have discovered that other critters, like opossums, cannot make it to the fence. Unfortunately the opossums fight back but Dixie takes that as a challenge. Even the opossums enjoy the challenge as they come to the back door looking for Dixie.

This is a photo using sunset light on the hounds.

Moonrise over Possum Hollow Road

Herbst Farm

I was photographing a sunset in Farmington, Missouri and turned around to see that the moon was rising in the east. And yes, just on the other side of the evergreens is Possum Hollow Road. On this day, I was with a group of Basseters hunting rabbits but my Basset is great fan of  Opossums and loves to hunt them in the back yard.

We always have the same conversation: “do you really want to bring that into the house” and “I don’t think it is really dead.”

High Horse

Elsah, Il

This gift shop was built in 1856 according to the sign. However, I suspect it did not start out as a tourist trap. This is a building in  Elsa, Illinois, an old village along the Mississippi River between Alton and Grafton. This 18th century enclave is fun to explore with lost of classic old buildings.

Sochii

Bruce Hunt

Sochii is out with his pack combing through brush and undergrowth trying to pickup the scent of a rabbit. He usually hunts with a dozen other Basset Hounds and is part of a pack that belongs to Three Creek Bassets, a professional group of hounds that competes nationally.

This is actually part of a sport called Basseting, which is, following a pack of Basset Hounds in pursuit of hares or rabbits. The structure is nearly identical to a traditional foxhunt, although the pursuit is on foot. It is a centuries-old tradition that continues to draw young and old who love the outdoors, good sport, and hunting with hounds.

The staff consists of the Master, or Joint Masters, Secretary, Whippers-in, and the Huntsman. Followers are called the Field. The Huntsman is responsible for the actual hunting of the hounds, while the Whippers-in assist to manage the pack. The Field Master leads the Field so members and guests will have the optimal views of the hounds at work.

Sochii and his packmates get out several times a week to do what they were originally bred for and they love their work.