The last weekend in October, I left my family for a short trip to Chicago. The “official” purpose of the trip was the Zenfolio Zoom Tour, where I would learn about all kinds of ways to make my website better. Hopefully in the next few months I will be implementing what I learned.
“Unofficially”, I wanted to take pictures in Chicago and visit with my dear friend Vicki.
I signed up for a workshop with John Batdorff, to walk the streets of Chicago and to see it from the perspective of a resident. I was not disappointed – no only did John show me lots of cool places to shoot, I learned a lot about shooting subjects that do not have eyes. This is a struggle for me you know.
With John, I practiced seeing in black and white – spotting patterns within a scene or subject, and thinking about black and white conversions while I shoot. I am by no means a landscape or architectural photographer, but I love how learning an unfamiliar type of photography can bring so many ideas and inspiration to the type of photography that I DO shoot. And it was FUN. Between shooting locations John and I chit chatted about our families, our photography, and very interesting things like the difference between a Booty Call and a Butt Dial. But that’s a story for a different day.
Don’t forget to look up!!
A bonus Chicago tip from John: The Ghirardelli store gives out a free chocolate to each person that walks in. Dessert on John! (don’t worry, I won’t tell everyone you’re a cheap date)
Lunch with Vicki, shopping on the Miracle Mile, and some street performances rounded out the trip. (Vicki I won’t tell the story about how you mailed post cards to my girls 4 years after they were written…love you xo)
This post was originally published on January 17, 2010 on my Tressie Davis Photography blog. Since I am no longer blogging there, I thought I would re-share some of my favorite posts here. I have edited a few things (like the layout of the photos), but the story is the same. Enjoy! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In January of 2010 I was required to travel for business (my day job), and while most times I would protest, I have to admit that this was a pretty awesome trip. We flew in to St Louis (my boss and I), and since I had never been there before we took the opportunity to wander around and enjoy every spare minute until we had to make the two hour trip to our hotel in Marion, IL. First stop was Union Station – recommended by a co-worker that knew I had visited Michigan Central Station in Detroit, I wanted to see what St. Louis had done with their precious bit of history – I was so enthralled, I asked to have my reservation for my last night switched to the Marriott that is there now. More on that later…
We arrived at the famous Arch just before sundown, the perfect time for pictures! I barely noticed the wind and 15 below wind chill…I suppose I will never live down the fact that I was lying in the snow to get some of the pics…
Fast forward through the business part of my trip, and on my last night I drove back to Union Station. Some of you are familiar with my exciting exploration of the abandoned Michigan Central Station last spring – if you have not seen it already, be sure to check out the MCS blog post HERE.
St. Louis Union Station and Michigan Central Station have a similar history, Union Station in operation from 1894 – 1978 and MCS in operation from 1913 (after the previous MCS burned) – 1988; both stations closing with the decline of rail travel. Both stations fell into ruin, but this is where the similarities end. While Michigan Central Station remains empty and dilapidated, victim to thieves and vandals, St. Louis Union station was re-opened in 1985 after a 150 million dollar renovation. And there lies my excitement…
The outside of St. Louis Union Station looks like a castle, with a 280 foot clock tower. (in comparison to the 18 storey/230 foot Michigan Central Station). Walking in, I saw all that Michigan Central Station should be. Having experienced both buildings, the contrast was striking – in St. Louis a precious bit of history restored and saved, in Detroit our history forgotten and left in ruin. I wandered and explored St. Louis Union Station, trying to capture similar images of the restored station that I had previously taken of MCS. The great room is a grand expanse of beautifully detailed arches and stained glass windows, the tile and romanesque decor exactly what I would imagine it was in 1894. Arched doorways and columned balconies, intricate carving on the walls and columns, period statues – everywhere I looked there was more to see. In the shopping center portion of the building, Trompe-l’œil adorned the walls in sharp contrast to the graffitti seen at MCS. The photos I am posting here do not do the beauty of this building justice. Be sure to check out the pics at the bottom of this blog post – there are some comparisons to photos taken in MCS.
I was fortunate to be able to stay overnight in this exceptionally striking and historic building, and greatly enjoyed the hospitality of all of the folks that work there – everyone excited to talk about the beautiful structure and the history behind it, as well as the current struggles to keep this saved bit of history open and operating. I am hoping that with the upturn in the economy, St. Louis Union station will continue to operate, grow and prosper.
And…just a tiny bit more sight seeing before I headed for the airport. To the other side of the river to photograph the city, then back to the Arch for a trip to the top. Whew – all that AND business completed.
I LOVE ST. LOUIS!
A comparison of the two stations: The exterior – St. Louis Union Station on top, MCS below Graffitti vs Trompe-l’œil and Interior Halls
Great Room
Can you tell I like Train Stations? What bits of history do you love?
According to Wikipedia: Flat Stanley is a 1964 children’s book written by Jeff Brown (January 1, 1926 – December 3, 2003) and originally illustrated byTomi Ungerer. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop. In 1995 Dale Hubert, a third grade teacher in Canada, started the Flat Stanley Project. The idea involved school children creating a Flat Stanley and keeping a journal with stories and pictures of Flat Stanley’s adventures. They would then exchange their Flat Stanley and journals with students in another class that had signed up for the project.
Since the original idea was formed, the project has undergone many evolutions, including sending a blank Flat Stanley to a location to be decorated in the customary or traditional costume of the area.
What the project meant to my daughters second grade class is that they each colored a Flat Stanley and mailed him off to the friend or family member of their choice and requested photos and a story in return. My daughter Alex chose to send her Flat Stanley to her brother Dom in college (after briefly considering sending him to a friend of ours currently living in China)
This is what Alex received back with her Flat Stanley:
November 2012
Flat Stanley visits Wittenberg University
Dear Alex,
I have always wanted to know what college life was like, so I was very excited when you sent me to Wittenberg University to visit your big brother Dominic.
The first thing I noticed as I left the mailroom with Dominic was that there are lots of very big, very old buildings, and giant pretty trees. The signs say that Wittenberg University was founded in 1845, so that explains its beautiful historic look.
As I looked around, I spied the tallest building on campus, and wondered what it was. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was the dorm where Dominic’s room is! It’s called Tower Hall, and Dominic’s room is in the “penthouse” – the top floor of the building.
Dominic took me up to his room, and I loved looking out of the window. I’m sure I could see all of Springfield, Ohio from there – and maybe beyond!! The photo I sent does not do the view justice.
Attending class with Dominic was a lot like going to school back in Chelsea. Only a lot more people in class, and Dominic doesn’t get recess.
When we returned from class, I got to meet Dominic’s roommate Colton, and I played video games with him for a while. It turns out that dorms are very social places. Dominic and Colton kept their door open, and people walking by would stop in and visit, or just say hi as they walked by. At one point Dominic put me on the bulletin board on the door, so I could watch the students and wave to them as they passed by.
Did I say that the dorm was full of football players? Well it is. Dominic and Colton play football too, and they took me down to the football field to see where they play. I was surprised to see how much it looked like the Chelsea High School Football field and stands – well, except for all of the red. There was even a hill on the sides of the field where kids can roll down with their friends!
I was having so much fun with Dominic and his friends, that I totally lost track of time, I’m so sorry that it took me so long to return to Chelsea. I had so much fun, and I can’t wait to go back. Or maybe next time you will send me to China? J
Love,
Flat Stanley
Flat Stanely with Dom’s roommate Colton, and The Tower where Dom and Colton live
Flat Stanley looking out the window at Springfield, and hanging out on the door
*Note: This article was originally published on the TDP Blog HERE May 24, 2009. This post contains a couple of extra images. 🙂 MCS was restored as of June 2024 – I thought it might be fun to look back… =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Flashback: May 2009
What an exciting photo outing this was, thank you so much Kiah for inviting me! Kiah’s friends Brian and Ralph were great fun too. I loved talking photography and sharing ideas/comps. Oh, and Ralph you were a great model, we’ll have to get some pics to your mom for ya LOL.
I have to say that while I am generally a portrait photog, I absolutely LOVE taking pics just for the sake of taking pics. This was a golden opportunity for beautiful images in Michigan Central Station.
Entering
A grand, majestic old building scheduled for demolition, you walk in and your reaction (after an appropriately stunned silence) is a breathless “wow”.
The sheer expanse of the main room alone is breathtaking, and that is even before you look around and see the intricate stone and tile work. It’s sad and depressing too, as the initial impact wears off and you realize the state of total decay this beautiful building is in. The regal columns and gorgeous architecture defaced with graffiti and crumbling concrete and tile.
It’s easy to lose track of time exploring this building. Around every corner was another room or expanse, always with something different if not more beautiful. I must say, some of the grafitti was pretty interesting as well LOL (gotta love urban humor).
According to wikipedia “The building is composed of two distinct parts: the train station itself and the 18-storey tower. The roof height is 230 feet (70 m)” Yes, we climbed the stairs to the top, stopping every couple of floors to take pics and look out the windows.
Going Up the Stairs
The stairs had no railings (yikes), missing tiles and even holes/broken spots (FREAKIN yikes). And no glass in the windows on the landing of each stair floor (I can’t type an expletive strong enough here). For someone afraid of heights (yes, me), it was somewhat of a nightmare to make the climb. Good thing the boys humored me, though I’m sure Kiah will make fun of me later LOL.
A lot of the floors looked the same. Not as grand as the main floor and mostly with loose boards and nails covering the floors. And just the skeleton of the structure. Support beams and such but not many walls/separate rooms outside of those on the outside structure of the building.
There were heavy doors on a couple of the landings, but most of the doors were gone as well.
As We Climbed, the View got Better
Every floor brought a more beautiful and clear view of the city of Detroit. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, you get to the top. Tired and shaking legs do nothing to diminish the absolutely breathtaking view from the roof of MCS.
Temporarily forgetting (ok, ignoring) my fear of heights, I walked to the edge to get my pic taken with the D in the background. Kiah and Brian, get those pics to me – I need proof that I DID it! (And a printed record for my great grandchildren that I’m not quite as boring as my kids would lead you to believe.)
We spent quite some time on the roof. Taking pics, chatting, watching some teenage degenerates (or degenerate wannabes LOL) spray painting any open surface they could find. Though I’m not sure how they were finding ANY.
It was pretty windy up there compared to the ground floor and soooooo so high up and scary! Beautiful, but scary!
Decided to Leave before Sunset
As the sun started to go down, we snapped a few more pics and decided that we wanted to start the decent to the bottom floor while it was still LIGHT out. I’m pretty sure it would have been an incredibly stunning sunset from the top of MCS. But not sure I would have survived (emotionally if not physically) walking down those stairs in the dark.
The fears/concerns I had as the shoot started turned out to be unfounded on this trip. We didn’t get arrested, and no one fell through a hole in the roof. Though I’m still certain that it could have been a possibility because a piece of the structure DID fall down on Brian. No crackheads or bums to be found anywhere, the only other people in the building were other photographers, and LOTS of them. Some heading UP the stairs as we were heading down. I’m sure they were on their way to photograph the sunset from the top – they are braver souls than me. 🙂
Want to Learn More About MCS? Here are some links
If you’d like to read more about the history of Michigan Central Station, see the wiki page HERE. See a floor plan of the main floor HERE. I’ll be updating this post and posting more pics as I get them, this was one of my most fun “non client” shoots to date – thanks again to Kiah for organizing this outing, Kiah you are the best tour guide in the D!
Me on top of Michigan Central Station in 2009 (photo taken by Brian Lantis)Me on top of Michigan Central Station in 2009 (photo taken by Kiah Ford)On top of Michigan Central Station in 2009 (photo taken by Brian Lantis)Me on an upper floor of Michigan Central Station in 2009 (photo taken by Kiah Ford)
