A boarded-up building on N. 6th Street in East St. Louis, IL, once a vital community lifeline, is historically significant as the site of the first Black public school in the city. The name, "A Second Chance Shelter," mirrors that of other initiatives in the broader St. Louis area, such as the Humane Society of Missouri’s Transport Program and Second Chance Ranch for senior pets. While this original location remains derelict, covered in ivy with broken, boarded-up windows, the non-profit Gateway Pet Guardians has stepped in to establish a new, modern animal shelter and community resource center. They’ve repurposed a different former school building in the area, located at 725 N. 15th Street.  You can find the Second Chance Shelter here.

The Lincoln Theatre in my hometown of Belleville, Illinois, opened on October 6, 1921. It quickly became the premier venue for vaudeville and silent films in Southern Illinois. The theater's original admission was $.27 cents for the balcony and $.36 cents for the main floor. Notable performers who graced its stage include Ginger Rogers and the comedy act that would later become the Marx Brothers. In the 1980s, the theater was restored by Richard Wright and now features both first-run Hollywood films and live performances. The theater also became famous for its popcorn, which later became Abe's Gourmet Popcorn, a popular shop located in the corner of the building. Here is an image of its colorful entrance. The Lincoln Theater and Abe's Gourmet Popcorn are located here in Belleville, IL.

During the month of July, I traveled to Tucson, Arizona. While there, I had a chance to visit and photograph the amazing Barrio Viejo neighborhood with its sun-washed streets and colorful adobe houses. The Barrio Viejo has a rich history you can read about here. The neighborhood is very walkable - both streets and alleyways - and is an area brimming with charm, culture, and historical significance. The array of colors is dizzying and I saw a number of builders and construction workers ensuring the neighborhood's preservation. Here is one of the amazing homes I stumbled upon while strolling the neighborhood. I love the interplay of light and shadows, the yellow hues, and the cactus plants that compliment the landscape.  Here is map of Barrio Viejo. 

For this featured frame, I decided not to showcase an historical building. Instead, I wanted to share a place I find particularly intriguing. On my commute to and from work on Interstate 255, there is a salvage yard that sits in the distance. What catches my eye is the mingling of a blue building with rusted roof and a blue & white patterned fence that sits in front of it. From a distance, the composition provides an aligned and symmetrical pattern that is visually pleasing to the eye. For this image, I decided to include the light pole on the right and sticks in the foreground to slightly throw off the balance. If you're ever in the area, you can find it located on Black Lane in Caseyville, IL. 

Adjacent to the Gateway Arch is the Basilica of St Louis, King of France.  It’salso known as the Old Cathedral and is one of the most historic buildings in StLouis (Missouri).  The church dates back to 1764 when Pierre Laclede andAuguste Chouteau (founders of St Louis) dedicated the land as a ‘church block’for religious purposes. The existing building is the 4th church that’s beenerected on the site.  One of the striking features of the Basilica is thenatural light that pours through the windows. The challenge with taking this image was juggling the natural light fromthe windows on both sides of the building with the overhead light and thedarkened sanctuary in the middle.  Thebuilding is rich with details and should be on every photographers list. Location:  Basilicaof St Louis, King of France

Nestled within Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri, the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) stands as a prominent art institution in the United States. Its collections span paintings, sculptures, cultural artifacts, and masterpieces from across the globe. Constructed in 1904 in anticipation of the World's Fair, SLAM not only hosts featured exhibitions but also presents rotating displays, including a 'Currents' series showcasing contemporary artists, new media art, and works on paper. With up to a half a million visitors annually, the museum is a striking three-story classical architecture building with a 450-foot facade built from limestone and brick. During a recent early morning visit to SLAM, I encountered two photography challenges: first, determining the ideal framing to capture the building's extensive features, which led me to step back to get a better perspective; and second, navigating significant shadows cast by the early morning sun across the facade. Ultimately, I came to appreciate how the shadow added a sense of depth and strength to the building.  Map of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

While camping in Arkansas, I stumbled upon the Powhatan Courthouse, which is part of the Powhatan State Park. The park contains six historic buildings including a Methodist church, school, and the Courthouse (featured here), all of which sit adjacent to the Black River. The courthouse was built in 1888 and served as the home of county government from 1869 to 1968. Today the structure displays items of cultural and historical significance and is host to the park's Visitor Center. I found this building so striking because it appeared out of nowhere, but is rich with intricate details such as the stone base, brick façade, extensive windows, and decorative soffit. Thankfully, the bright afternoon sun illuminated the front-wide of the building. The challenge I had in photographing it was the large flagpole, huge rock, and wooden staircase in front of the building.  Getting too close to the building to avoid these items created too much distortion. Instead, I included them in the foreground to add some context to the image. This is a great example of rich architexture as it blends stone, brick, and wood elements together to create an impressive structure. You can find the Courthouse in Powhatan, Arkansas.

The St. Louis Public Library's Central Library, built in 1912, is a stunning architectural blend of historic grandeur and modern ambiance. Its granite exterior, highlighted by a monumental arcade and sunken garden, gives way to an interior featuring vaulted ceilings, marbled walls, tiled floors, and unique light-transmitting glass. I captured this image during a photowalk with my friend Barry Chattillion and was immediately captivated by the main study room's impressive design, including the interplay of natural and interior light. Notice too the lighting of the marbeled arches across the back wall along with the lighting along the ceiling, back wall, flooring, and the outside light coming through the main entrance. Though I wish I had a tripod with me at the time, I actually took this image handheld with the following settings: Nikon Z6II | ƒ/4 | 1/30 | 14mm | ISO800. I love the tonal range of black-white-gray scattered throughout the image and complimented by the carefully placed lighting. The St. Louis Public Library's Central Library is located at 1301 Olive St, St. Louis, Missouri and should be on every photographer's bucketlist.