Spring Break Missouri - Part VI

Vibrant sunrises often indicate an approaching weather system for which after the previous post, skies followed suit and filled in with dull gray cloud. As a result, the light was less than ideal so for this final entry at Hannibal, I ran the pictures through a few 'old timey' effects to give an historic feel. We didn't tour the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum but we did spend some time outside where a well defined solar halo lent itself for effect and especially over The Haunted House On Hill Street that was closed for reasons unknown.













I would then take Ava down to the river where we watched a river boat pull into port.




Our final tourist stop was high atop Lover's Leap which affords a spectacular view of the Western Illinois flood plain. Per the namesake, this site has a somewhat somber legend affixed to it found HERE.




This should give an idea of how much ground I covered during the sunrise post from ascending to the lighthouse but then back down to the water front. A lengthy walk coupled with everything else crammed into the 72 hours up to this point made for both an extremely exhausting yet highly rewarding adventure. Thank you for following along.

Spring Break Missouri - Part V

Having been trolled the night before by a sunset with great potential that didn't pop, I wasn't exactly optimistic that I would get any real color against the river at Hannibal during this trip. Determined to try again with sunrise, my pessimism quickly changed upon reading the quiet pre-dawn sky over far Western Illinois. Initially I thought I would shoot from the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse overlook. Only after reaching the summit of a rigorous 244 stair climb did I discover this would not be a good location due to trees and nuisance street lights. Descending back down and over a few blocks to nearby Glascock's Landing is where I would set up to witness the grandeur of the mighty Mississippi River at daybreak. There wasn't a soul around except for a perfectly timed river boat to stir the canvas with its wake.













∞

Spring Break Missouri - Part IV

Next on the itinerary was a visit to Frontier Park in St. Charles Missouri to see the Lewis and Clark statue. Ava had recently learned about these explorers so she was very excited to see this monument. I had not realized the night I shot the lightning that I was directly across from this landmark which makes that event all the more special for myself.

300mm at a distance gives true scale perspective.


and then a juvenile eagle conveniently buzzed the site...


Wide angle fits it all at close range but creates scale distortion.


River boats from the previous lightning event.


North


South


North again.






Limestone rock yields numerous fossils.


Afterwards we headed up to Hannibal MO for our final stop. Once there, I would briefly head over the Interstate 72 bridge back into Illinois to catch sunset facing over the Mississippi River that did not pop as I thought it might. Below, a pair of very large Illinois side beavers.

Spring Break Missouri - Part III

What should have been an enchanting experience for the girls turned out to be just the opposite upon entering The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House of St. Louis County. The bizarre insect displays coupled with the dozens of large butterflies flying free upon entering the conservatory was a bit much for them and they had exited the exhibit well before I was even halfway through. They still had a good time as did I though it was somewhat challenging to shoot handheld macro in a mixed light environment without a tripod. I still came away satisfied and am grateful to have had this pre-"bug season" photography opportunity.

Spring Break Missouri - Part II

Little did I know despite having seen The Gateway Arch in pictures throughout my life, just how awestruck I would be upon witnessing it in person for the first time. To have my daughter along with her initial reaction as being nearly moved to tears further enhanced the experience.