craig.j.tucker

Going to St. Louis for a ballgame and looking for photo ideas, primarily angles/positions to shoot the arch from (also: warehouses, churches, funky neighborhoods, etc).

ref: East St. Louis - this place has been known to be worse than Chicago and L.A. combined. And though I'd be just across the river -- with expensive camera gear -- how bad is it? I'd probably be over there at 1:00 am.

Thanks

(I really like old, beat-up, and funky)

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

You do NOT want to be in East St. Louis at 1AM under any circumstances. EVER. Personally I don't go into ESL at ANY time of day. When I occasionally go to daytime events in Belleville, which is further east, I spend the extra time and (probably 5 extra) miles on the interstate going around ESL, rather than take the direct route through town.

loosecanon Loc: Central Texas

Run. Fast. Far away.

Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO

Not a safe place to be at 1:00 in the morning. Keep equipment in the trunk and keep head down if must go. Best time to go would be maybe 8:00 a.m. till maybe noon. Still need to be very watchful.

craig.j.tucker

Okay, thanks-- but just across the river -- at the arch -- is cool -- yes - no ?

Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO

The Arch area, Old Courthouse area, the Busch stadium area, even the Brewery will be pretty safe. Of course like any where, keep eyes open and be aware of surroundings.

craig.j.tucker

I live in Downtown Chicago and I'm pretty used to fending off scumbags, so I'm not so concerned about safety as good shots without really asking for trouble

What about a warehouse area?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The title of your thread says it all. St. Louis - help. Once again this year St Louis is the murder capital of the United States with 65 murders for every 100, 000 people. That is 30 times the rate of New York City!! Given that, can other types of crime be far behind? I feel badly for the many good people that live in St Louis that this venerable old city has fallen so far. When the ballgame ends get in your car and leave. Don't be foolish enough to risk your life, or if nothing else your valuable camera, on a whim. I'm sure there are probably some very interesting photo ops. Take them at your own risk.

craig.j.tucker

ref: 65 murders [in E. St. Louis ] for every 100,000 people

That's super high, but I do believe most statistic show they're offing each other. Which I used to think is fine, until I read the cost of caring for shooting victims who aren't killed in Cook County, IL.

jfdnp Loc: Coastal Connecticut

Lots of great stuff in the Central West End; the areas around Euclid & McPherson. not necessarily the dining area but the gated side streets beyond with lots of huge old houses try https://cwescene.com/

Joe

PaulB Loc: Alabama

Just south of the ballpark and before you get to the Busch Brewery is an area known as Soulard. It is one of the oldest communities in the city. The Soulard market has been active since the 1700's (It is built in an "H" pattern, supposedly copied from the design of a hospital in Milan, Italy). There are many other interesting structures there, including the oldest church west of the Mississippi. Soulard is relatively safe, but, as in any big city, you should maintain situational awareness.

Re: East St. Louis. There is an elevated light rail stop in the parking lot of the casino directly across from the St. Louis Arch. The stairs leading up to the rail platform afford an excellent vantage point for photographing the arch and city. The casino parking lot has security, but I would still only visit in daylight hours. FYI: When I lived in the area over 13 years ago, the East St. Louis High School football games were held on Saturday's during the day, rather than under "Friday Night Lights"---too dangerous.

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

I agree totally! Avoid East St. Louis.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Your initial urge to visit East St. Louis has a positive component: the archaeological site and museum at Kahokia is unique in the US as the only real city of 25K before the arrival of the Europeans. Monks Mound is a sacred place and a great place to photograph and climb its 100 steps. You will feel the sacred character of this vast city that originally spread all the way to St. Louis. Don't miss the Wood-henge.

St. Louis has over 300 parks: Forest Park (zoo, museum, Missouri Historical Society, and much more in it), the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the nearby Tower Grove Park are a must. The Campus of Washington University is one of the most beautiful in the country and is surrounded by great neighborhoods with beautiful homes. The St. Louis downtown area is great and you shouldn't miss the Arch grounds, recently renovated (just opened July 4). All these places are safe and the crime statistics are blown out of proportion; crime is limited to a few neighborhoods (don't visit north St. Louis anytime and East St. Louis at night). I have never seen crime in any of the places I mention here.
Have fun.

joanloy Loc: St. Louis, MO

A good place to get pictures of the Arch and surrounding area is from East St. Louis at the Malcolm Martin viewing platform. It is near the Casino Queen. I would only go during the day and/or early evening. I have some good sunset pics from there.

itsnoelb Loc: Edgewater, FL. Originally: FLINT. MI.

The Children's Museum is great. Inside is done using architecture from demolished buildings around St. Louis. They had off hours just for photography as to avoid usual Patrons.