Mardi Gras float preparation, Soulard, St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford

It’s like I Heart Photograph, except it’s my own work.

Revitalization of Dunbar Elementary, St. Louis, Missouri, Photo by Erik M. Lunsford

Once was a parking lot, photographs by Erik M. Lunsford

I’ve always had a strange compulsive desire to collect sea shells. When I lived in Florida, I scoured the beaches daily for something new. I went after thunderstorms, hurricanes, tropical storms, etc, to see what washed up on shore. It was hard because the east coast of Florida is rather shell-less. The shell collectors dream award goes to the Gulf coast of Florida for its beautiful varieties.  When I found a shell I liked, it was bagged and the search continued. A second, a third, a whole bag full; it didn’t matter. I wanted more and more. Had I continued to live longer down there my house would have turned into some eccentric shell-lady house full of shell decorations. Shell lamps, shell drink coasters (have those), shells in glass jars (have that too), shell-framed mirrors, shoes with shells tied on them, etc, etc.

The same goes for fall foliage photos. I drank the Fall Kool-Aid last week (see previous post on the tree farm) and since then I’m on the same compulsive kick like the shell addiction. If it’s a drizzly and cloudy day with mounds and ground covers of leaves, I want to be there shooting it and possibly jumping into it as well. Call them cliche they are and boring, it’s something I can’t control. Just look down, see what I mean?

Summer & Fall meet, Jefferson Barracks Park, St. Louis, Missouri.

Remnants on a  car hood, St. Louis, Missouri

Red on blue building, south St. Louis City, Missouri.

Rainbow of color, downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

Autumn Maple Blaze trees, Hoette Farms & Nursery,  New Florence, Missouri, photograph by Erik M. Lunsford

Detour West (very far from the highway) St. Louis, Missouri

Somehow this detour may not be the most feasible route to the highway. Hmm.