Blog Archives
darkness, night one
I am going to assume that every one of you recall my post from the other day when I mentioned that the night lighting at the Gateway Arch is turned off every night in September.
And maybe when you read that you wondered, “So, what does the arch look like if you’re in that bar that’s on top of the downtown Hilton?”
This. It looks quite a bit like this.
Saint Louis, Missouri
photographed 9.1.2026
bedside manner (room 890)
The hotel was nice enough. But it could have used a little modernization of the interior design, which felt stuck in 1996 or early 1997.
Also, my room smelled faintly of dill pickles.
On the other hand, I did get to make some photos and the rooms were very quiet and I slept well.
Saint Louis, Missouri
photographed 8.30.2026
PS – That big building across the street is completely vacant and there are two more towers exactly like it, also vacant. If the left-over signage is to be believed, the building in this photo was previously a Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
scrutiny
I felt seen.
Not in the “Yay! Someone noticed me, really NOTICED me.” way, but in the “Is there a camera inside that light?” fashion.
Saint Louis, Missouri
photographed 9.2..2026
not the one you think
Arch. Saint Louis.
In addition to THE arch, I found these arches. Their job was to hold up a ramp into a parking garage, and as far as I could tell they were doing what they were supposed to do.
(The parking garage itself is abandoned.)
Saint Louis, Missouri
photographed 9.2.2026
arch (with mesh)
I was in Saint Louis for a week; the hotel was across the street from the arch. I saw it many times every day and my challenge to myself was to photograph it from non-traditional angles.
This was made from inside the visitor’s center.
I want to note that my original plan was to spend time on the grounds of the arch doing street photography. That didn’t work out because it was SO HOT that people with any sense were inside an air-conditioned building. But the point is (I tell myself) that I thought about doing it and made the effort to accomplish it. Apparently I can not control the weather….
Gateway Arch
Saint Louis, Missouri
photographed 8.30.2026
One Day | One Image 