Fireworks over the Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

seeking solace, Kirkwood, Missouri.

I’m always on the lookout for images that take me away, at least for a minute, to another place. I see a thicket of birds amongst the prairie. It gives me comfort, peace, solace.  Think Sam Abell’s Seeing Gardens.

Scrap metal yard, (gritty) south St. Louis, Missouri.

There’s an inherent challenge in illustrating a story on scrap metal theft when a majority of scrap yards want absolutely nothing to do with you or your presence. It’s the type of assignment that requires less of a dress code and more wit in dealing with a list of characters that either flee the camera or clam up on request for a brief conversation. The Canon 1D is the size of a SUV, and the click of the shutter sounds like a car backfiring. I’m always grateful to those few who have something to say and are willing to let me join them and make pictures.

Barista competition, St. Louis, Missouri, Photo by Erik M. Lunsford

The barista competition claimed in the community event listing that the admission and coffee was free. I waited all week to snag an espresso from some pretty talented baristas. It’s a shame that after an hour of shooting and sniffing, they tore down the community espresso machine, leaving me empty handed. Given that it was probably the one time I could get something free on assignment, I was pretty deflated. Not cool, not cool at all. At least Lorenzo Perkins, the snazzy barista pictured here from Austin, Texas, walked away with first place in the brewer’s cup, which recognizes the art of manual coffee preparation. Nice.

St. Gabriel Catholic Church fish fry,  south St. Louis, by Erik M. Lunsford

Good words to live by, and by the way, I’m falling madly in love with slide film color. It convinced me to re-review my Miguel Rio Branco collection. Shot this on the M6 with Provia 100F.

St. Patrick’s Day parade, Dogtown, photos by Erik M. Lunsford

The St. Patrick’s Day parade, also known as the first sunburn parade of the year for me, involves a lot of green, a lot of sweat, and pair of Dansko clogs with completely worn and torn soles.

green eyes, buttons, wool cap.

A long way to the ground

baby on board

wish it was a green shoe

argyle over stripes any day.

Tree removal, St. Louis City, photo by Erik Lunsford

You know you’re in the right spot for a photograph when a crew member tells you that you’re in for a wood shaving shower.

Saddleseat riding lesson, Lake St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Erik Lunsford

Thanks to the generosity and kindness of Grand Manor, a stable in Lake St. Louis, who let me make a few photographs during a riding lesson for one of those 11th hour “save-our-ship” standalone feature requests from the newspaper. Sometimes those run-for-your-life feature hunts result in some of the best photographs.

yellow bug, neon green, red pawn, we believe. Wentzville, Missouri. Photo by Erik Lunsford

Just finished absorbing For Now, William Eggleston, a beautifully printed book on William Eggleston by film-maker Michael Almereyda. I’m still in the process of writing a review for the newspaper, but on first reflection it’s a gorgeous oversize book straddling the line between Eggleston’s family and work life; perfect for photojournalists who balance vision on and off assignment. Here’s my contribution to the Eggleston-land sphere of influence.

Through the rose colored window glass, amtrak st. louis station. Photo by Erik Lunsford