Saint Boogie

A crowd in downtown is serenaded as they had a quick breakfast and organized for their  annual parade. In the background is the old St. Louis Courthouse.  This is the site of the Dred Scott case which contributed to the start of the Civil War and now acts as an historic museum sitting in frontContinue reading “Saint Boogie”

Old Barn

This is a follow-up to the previous post. The Midwest is filled with very flat farmland as shown in the previous post and gentle rolling hills as shown here. As our old barns are disappearing, our scenic landscape is changing. Regardless, driving through our picturesque Midwest is a way to experience spacious farmlands,  old structuresContinue reading “Old Barn”

Rural America

If you are traveling by by car for vacation this summer, this may be a scene you see repeatedly on the highway. Our Midwest can be a place of beauty with interesting scenes around every corner. Be sure to visit: Rural Missouri for more scenes like this. Click on the photo for purchase options.

Flying People

I thought I would use this scene to give some photography tips. This is a gymnastic team at Circus Flora in St. Louis. Circus Flora is a one ring circus with interesting sets, costumes and acts. This makes it a good venue to photograph with continuing subjects and a lot of challenges. The good: oneContinue reading “Flying People”

Under the Big Top

Yoyo the Narrator opens Circus Flora, a one ring circus. Commissioned by famed Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti for the Spoleto Festival in 1986, Circus Flora immediately set about creating productions unlike most Americans had seen before – productions that melded the best elements of traditional European circus with modern theater techniques and sensibilities. FromContinue reading “Under the Big Top”

Waking the Beast

If someone woke you up, you would be grumpy too. Starting this Wright Twin Cyclone’s 14 cylinders is fun to watch as it kicks and backfires during the startup process. Here you see the co-pilot watch the engine as each cylinder comes in line until they all are working in unison.  Once all is running smoothlyContinue reading “Waking the Beast”

Spanish Lady

“Spanish Lady” is Nose Art on a North American Aviation T-6 Texan. The Spanish Lady is a 1949 North American T-6G Texan. She was originally manufactured by North American Aviation in 1944 as an AT-6D and was used to train allied pilots during World War II. The Texan is two-seat aircraft and served as theContinue reading “Spanish Lady”

Stearman

Commemorative Air Force’s P-17 Stearman. The Army and Navy both used the trusty Stearman where they were referred to primarily as a PT-17 with the Army and a N2S-3 with the Navy.  Although the Stearman was challenging to fly in the hands of a student pilot with no previous experience, it allowed instructors to quickly evaluateContinue reading “Stearman”

Show Me

B-25 Mitchell “Show Me” taxis in after a short flight. Following is a PT-17 Stearman. St. Charles’ Smartt Field is home of the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force which has the B-25, the Stearman and a TBM-3 Avenger. The Wright Twin Cyclone engines power this beast to the delight of air show attendeesContinue reading “Show Me”

A Salute to America

The Min-Aqua Bats’ final act, A Salute to America. These young ladies skiing around Lake Minocqua with flags flying is a sight to see. Happy Memorial Day to my friends.