Extraordinary photos of St. Louis

Sometimes I feel like I've seen most of St. Louis at one time or another -- if not every square inch, then another square inch that's quite similar. I mean, the city proper is less than 67 square miles.

But yesterday I saw a link to this unusual photo project that had the participants throwing darts at a map and then visiting the actual spot where the dart landed, and taking photographs on that block. It turns out there's a lot of St. Louis I haven't seen. Streets I've never heard of -- and I thought I'd heard of them all!

Nearly all of the photos are quite riveting on their own. Take a look here: www.dartstlouis.com/.

New craft shop

Originally uploaded by Hilary (curioush)

Just dropped off some photos (including this one) that will be available for sale at Paste in Soulard.

It's a brand-new arts and crafts supply shop that I'm so excited about. Only like five minutes from my house! Pretty pretty things to make other things with!

Their grand opening is this weekend, and festivities will include craft demonstrations.

Check it out!

Win one of my photos on Indie Fixx

Hey there --

It's Jen's birthday over at Indie Fixx, and she's giving readers a chance to get a gift.

I'm offering up a photo (winner's choice!) as part of the giveaway.

Visit her blog here to find out how to win this or one of nine other gifts.

Hurry, the contest ends Monday, June 22!

the Windows of Cherokee

Final photo class was last night. I mostly just developed some photos from my friends' wedding last week. Never did get into the darkroom to make prints, as I suspected I mightn't. Maybe I'll take the class again in the Fall to learn that component.

This is from my Sunday-morning outing to Cherokee Street a few weeks ago. Even when there is almost nobody out, it's surprising how many people want to chat you up when you've got a camera! Within about 10 minutes I got three questions about what I was doing ("are you going to buy that place?", "did you photograph my house up the street?", "did you see that one building -- you know the one -- up the street?") I was feeling a little shy about that so I didn't last too long that morning.

Last film class eve

My last film-development class is Tuesday night and I've still not made any prints. I shot some film at my friends' wedding the other night, I would love to at least get that developed tomorrow night. Looks like I might have to take the class again to learn to make prints.

I don't want to wait until Fall to keep developing! I really like doing this. Have been pricing the minimum equipment/chemicals I'd need to do this at home. Not sure that I need one more bunch of art supplies to have to wade through, my house is not all that big. But I am fairly weak-willed when it comes to art/craft supplies. Stay tuned....

Another water intake tower

Originally uploaded by Hilary (curioush)

the other water intake tower in the Mississippi River at St. Louis

taken from the Chain of Rocks Bridge, an old alignment of Route 66

with a Holga using Ilford Delta film

developed by me!

first 120

Originally uploaded by Hilary (curioush)

I developed this photo last night. It's another one from my Chain of Rocks Bridge misadventure the week before last.

One of the main reasons why I wanted to learn to develop film was so that I could develop 120 (medium format) film, which is what I use in my Holgas and Diana. And now I've developed my first roll, this one, last night.

I've still got a lot to do to feel like I'm comfortable doing this, and the class is more than half over and I haven't begun to think about making prints yet, but I'm having a great time doing what I'm doing and seeing what I get.