craig.j.tucker wrote:
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)
You don't want to be out at 1:00 a.m. anywhere.
If you want to get a great picture of The Arch and the St. Louis riverfront, go to Malcolm W. Martin Park, 185 W. Trendley Avenue, East St. Louis, IL. You shouldn't have a problem during the day. There's an observation place where you can get a great shot.
Also, the St. Louis area has a lot of things to see. Check out the world-famous St. Louis Zoo. The admission is free. You can park on the street or pay $15.00 to park in a lot. The zoo is in Forest Park. Also in Forest Park is the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center and Missouri History Museum. These are free. There may be fees for certain exhibits. If you like musical theater, check out the Muny. It's celebrating its 100th year. It's the largest outdoor musical theater in the country. It's also in Forest Park. Visit the Forest Park Forever center in Forest Park for more information.
While in the City of St. Louis, you might want to check out City Museum, City Garden and the new museum under The Arch which just recently opened after a 4 year renovation of Arch grounds. The museum is free.
The International Hall of Photography is located off Grand. You can probably Google info online for more information.
Missouri Botanical Gardens is another place worth seeing. There is a fee for getting in. MoBot is having an event called Floral Borealis (sp) at night. Great opportunity for some unusual pictures. Check it out at the Missouri Botanical Garden Website.
If you like to take pictures of cemeteries, there are several in the St. Louis area. Bellefontaine is one of the oldest. There's also Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in south St. Louis County. It's off Telegraph Road.
If you like dogs, go to the AKC Dog Museum in Queeney Park, which is in St. Louis Country. This museum was moved from New York several years ago because the AKC was running out of room for all the pieces they had. It's in a beautiful building. The AKC pays only $1.00 per year to rent the space. Unfortunately, the AKC is planning on moving the museum back to New York to a place that's smaller than they had before. Stupid move on the part of the AKC. The museum will close in October :(
Another place to go is the Purina Event Center and Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO just off exit 253. Also in the same area is Shaw Nature Reserve. You can visit both in the same day as they are very close to each other.
Laumeier Sculpture Park is in the Kirkwood area. There's an old train station in Kirkwood you might find interesting.
The World Bird Sanctuary is off I-44 on the way to Gray Summit. Also in the same area, is Lone Elk Park.
Hope you enjoy your stay in St. Louis.
Happy photographing.