Soulard #1
I thought I would head downtown tonight, either that or there’s a section of Gravois I’ve been meaning to visit. Instead I found myself in Soulard. This is a neighborhood I rarely visit and it was my first photowalk there, and these shots somewhat reflect that. If I go downtown I feel very comfortable working and I know where light falls in the streets at certain times (at least in summer), where the interesting backgrounds and parks and so on are. Soulard is so new to me that I had to refer back to my photos in order to return to my car.
Oddly, it was one of the first neighborhoods I visited in St. Louis as I wanted to see the farmers market. So that very first Saturday in mid-August of 2014 I went. I was still very much in an agricultural mindset and as I walked the stalls I was jotting down prices and other notes. It struck me that nearly every vendor was a reseller. That is, as is often the case at a farmer’s market, the ‘farms’ aren’t farms.
Say a farmer has a contract with Kroger and they grow cucumber, squash, and zucchini across twenty acres or something. Kroger will open a certain number of boxes and if they find a certain number of rejects (pest bite marks or other imperfections) they reject the shipment altogether. It doesn’t get tossed, but instead goes to an auction. A reseller will be at that auction and bid on the shipment. If they win it, they take it to your local farmers market and pretend to be a farmer. Fun!
So there I was jotting down prices when a market manager came up to me and said in an especially clear manner that I was to either stop taking notes or leave immediately. I left, and have never been back. Although I will be there this upcoming Saturday morning if I stay in town. And even if not, I barely scratched the surface tonight and know I will be coming back many times.
50mm, f/8
50mm, f/8
Tile work from the 1930s on the 'Smile' building. Originally a German social hall, then the headquarters of Smile Soda, and now condos.
50mm, f/8
Facing Eat Crow gastropub at S.12th and Allen (the blue awnings). Three things struck me on this walk: the amount of bars and restaurants, the golf cart culture, and the architecture. I saw not fewer than two dozen golf carts on the road. I see this in my neighborhood, Tower Grove East, but maybe once a month or so. An hour into my walk a younger guy asked me what I was doing, which happens at least once when I go out. I explained and assumed he lived in the neighborhood, and remarked on how many golf carts I'd seen. It turns out he was visiting from Atlanta (hello if you're reading this, it was good to meet you!) and said he had the same first impression. It's definitely a thing.
50mm, f/8
Notice the three cake statues in front of the Soulard Art Gallery (and one more further down the sidewalk is pictured next--along with a golf cart). The city commissioned 250 of these for the 250th anniversary of the city's founding. Initially they were scattered all about. Many are in their original locations, some are unaccounted for, and some are clumped together like this.
50mm, f/8
50mm, f/8
50mm, f/8
Golf carts everywhere. And an attractive abandoned property.
50mm, f/8
At first I thought this cart misbehaved and got the boot, but more than likely this is the owner's security measure.
50mm, f/8
Even just a little pop of color can make me happy.
50mm, f/8
50mm, f/4
50mm, f/4
The spire of Trinity Lutheran. Founded in 1839, they built a new church on 8th street in 1865, which was then destroyed by a tornado 1896. They rebuilt on the same property, pictured here. The next few shots are on 8th as I made my way towards a triumphant return to the Soulard Farmer's Market.
50mm, f/4
8th street.
50mm, f/4
This front yard blew me away. The next image is to the right of these stairs.
50mm, f/4
Right before I took this I had to wait because someone was approaching the shot. Not just someone, but a photographer clearly also on a photowalk, a young woman. We smiled and looked quickly at each other's cameras. I find that when you see another photographer in the city it's cats circling each other, as my friend Ambrose says of INFJ personality types meeting.
Another incident happened on 8th. I clocked a couple on the opposite side of the street standing in their doorway, the woman holding the man from behind and both smiling and just taking in the beautiful night. They had seen me. I really, really wanted that shot, but I find it's especially difficult to take if you've already been spotted and once I was directly across from them I didn't have the guts to raise the camera. I've been kicking myself ever since because for me it would have made the walk. I guess I'm feeling extra chatty tonight...
50mm, f/4
Looking down one wing of the market. There are several. I saw a poster for a Hispanic festival the weekend of September 20th which I'll definitely be returning for! This is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi. I underexposed almost this entire shoot, after reading some advice that it's a good idea to do so. It's not a good idea, it turns out, as while I like this shot many were unusable.
50mm, f/4
The broadside of the market, although this is less than half of the length of the structure. And a guy with his doggos. He arrived here by way of golf cart.
50mm, f/4
50mm, f/4
