ArchAngel Photography- St. Louis, MO

03/31/2024

Also made a quick swing by Most Holy Name of Jesus on Grand, near Bissell Water Tower.

I absolutely LOVE the angels on the front of the church.

03/31/2024

As often happens when you like to photograph abandoned buildings.....you're prone to lose them.

I've taken photos of St. Augustine's before and this will definitely be the last time.

After the third fire in less than two years the city had no choice but to demo it. The remaining stained glass by Emil Frei couldn't be saved. They said the building was too far gone for it to be safe enough for removal.

Demo started this Friday, so I had to make one final trip to say goodbye.

07/30/2022

One of our most famous landmarks.

12/22/2021

12/07/2021

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
724 Camp St. New Orleans, LA
Est. 1840

Since St. Louis Cathedral is always open I decided that I wanted to attend mass at a different church. I was lucky enough to come across St. Patrick's. Once I saw the stain glass above the sanctuary, I knew this was the one.
The 9:15 Sunday Mass is a high Latin Mass and it was incredible. There were old traditions at this mass that I, even as a cradle Catholic, had never seen in person before.

Wikipedia:
St. Patrick's is in the Gothic style, with a fairly simple exterior but a highly ornate interior. Doorways, windows, the organ, and the altar all conform to architectural design. The bell tower is 185 feet (56 m) tall; some nineteenth century aerial views of New Orleans were painted from its roof.[4] The interior of the nave is 85 feet (26 m) tall. Slender columns support the fan vaulting of the ceiling, which is particularly elaborate above the altar, incorporating sixteen stained glass windows in a half-dome. Three large paintings above the altar depict, from left to right: Saint Patrick, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and Jesus Christ pulling Saint Peter from the sea.[6]
The architect of St. Patrick's Church was James H. Dakin, who designed a number of buildings in Louisiana, including the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Problems related to the city's notoriously high water table drew in another prominent local architect, James Gallier, to oversee the construction.

11/18/2021

There is a famous cemetery statue at the Meteraire Cemetery in New Orleans that has become a well known symbol of the city called The Angel of Grief. It's probably my favorite of all cemetery statues.

Of course, I had to stop by while in town to pay my respects and shoot a couple of pictures. Unfortunately, the mausoleum is now locked due to vandals. I learned from another photographer I met at the French Market that if you go earlier in the day you might run into a groundskeeper who may sometimes open it for you.

I was not that fortunate. By the time we got to the cemetery, it was later in the day. In fact, we ended up getting locked in the cemetery and had to search for a way out. Believe me when I say that getting locked in a New Orleans cemetery at night was not on our trip itinerary.

I was only able to get a couple of shots and they were through the mausoleum door. I would have loved to have gone in and gotten a little more up close and personal, but I'm grateful for what I got.

Wikipedia: Chapman Hyams was a millionaire stock broker in New Orleans and an art collector. He had many business interests, including holdings in the St. Charles Hotel Company, the Louisiana Jockey Club, and The Times-Picayune Publishing Company. He was also a member of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange, the Stock Exchange, the New Orleans Club, the Boston Club and the Southern Yacht Club. He died in April 1923, and he, too, was buried in the Hyams mausoleum.

The mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery was designed by Favrot & Livaudais, one of the leading architectural firms at the end of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century. It is a Greek temple with free-standing Ionic columns on all four sides, made of granite from the quarries of Stone Mountain, Ga. Inside are a large blue stained-glass window and two smaller ones that cast light on the marble statue of a grieving angel. Chapman's monument is a copy of the "Angel of Grief" done by William Wetmore Story. William Wetmore Story angel serves as a monument for himself and wife in the Protestant Cemetery, Rome, Italy.

11/16/2021

St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA
The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also called St. Louis Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States. 280 years. It is dedicated to Saint Louis, also known as King Louis IX of France.
This church had one thing that I had never seen before. They have card swipe machines at the candle stands and the back of the church for donations. No more excuses of not having cash.

11/15/2021

After many attempts over the years, I finally made it down to New Orleans. I can cross that off my bucket list.
One thing I really wanted to do while down there was see Doreen Ketchens. If you're not familiar with her you need to be.
She's an incredible musician that plays on the streets of the French Quarter. She doesn't just play, she gives you an experience.
Check her out.

10/22/2021

Had a great time tonight. The shoot was supposed to be outside on Cherokee St but had to be moved inside due to wind.

Can't wait for the next one.

09/07/2021

Flags of Valor-Forest Park 2021

09/04/2021

St. Augustine's Church- 1371 Hamilton Ave. St. Louis, MO
Founded 1893 originally as St. Barbara's and closed in 1992. Reopened as St. Augustine's due to the name no longer being used for the church at Herbert and Lismore in St. Louis Place.
St. Rose of Lima and St. Edward's were closed to consolidate into the new St. Augustine's.

German Gothic style

This was my first time at this St. Augustine's. The parishioners there took the time to greet and welcome me. It is one of the warmest and most welcoming parishes I have ever had to pleasure to celebrate mass at.

If you ever have the chance, please go celebrate mass with them. I'm sure they would love to see you. I will definitely be going back. You have to see the stained glass. It is absolutely stunning.
Many thanks to Leo for inviting me in.

09/01/2021

St. Charles Air Show- Memorial Day weekend 2021