Putting a twist on fall colors

Just about every photographer I know looks forward to the Fall and the vibrant colors that the changing weather brings each year.  I was especially looking forward to the Autumn colors this year since I had put so much effort into developing my photography skills over the last 10 months.  So you can imagine my frustration as St. Louis received week after week, day after day of cold weather accompanied by extremely steady rain fall.  I think we receive at least 10-15 inches in just 4 weeks.  I never thought it was going to end.  And yes, I even spoke about building an ark or renting a large boat for a safe getaway if things got even worse.

However my greatest fear was that by the time the rain subsided the colorful fall leaves would be gone – torn down from the trees by the very rain that usually helps turn them into vibrant color displays.  If the rapidly growing expanse of fallen leaves in my backyard were any sign I was going to miss the opportunity to capture the brilliance of this year’s Autumn colors.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when we finally were blessed with a few days of clear skies and slightly warmer temperatures.  As soon as I realized there would be a window of photographic opportunity I quickly scoured the Internet for fall color reports only to learn that most places known for their fall colors were past their prime or had lost the very leaves I was seeking.  It became very clear that driving to a scenic location in search for large expanses of Autumn colors wasn’t going to work this year.  I need a new plan.  One that would provide the colors I was craving but with another photography worthy visual so I could combine them without worrying about not having robust enough trees for my shots.

It was then that I remembered two of St. Louis’ oldest and most scenic cemeteries – Calvary and Bellefontaine.  I did some additional online scouting to find out that the colors were still holding fairly well and when combined with the amazing tombstones and personal mausoleums I would have more than enough opportunities for some great photographs.  So with a new game plan in hand I headed out for a Saturday morning shoot with my trusted photography companion – Jared.

I think we spent 3 full hours in the cemeteries taking shot after shot of amazing color and grave sites.  While there we saw the Busch family mausoleum, the Lemp tomb, Clark (of Lewis & Clark) and many other historical celebrities.  Those cemeteries are truly amazing.  Not only for taking some interesting photos but also to see the history of who was who in St. Louis over the last 200+ years.  If you ever find yourself looking for something different to do on a Saturday afternoon I highly recommend you drive through them both and enjoy the trip through history.

As for Jared and I we had a great time and fully intend to go back when we get our first snow this winter.