Broadway Bridge
This is a Kansas City icon that was built in the 1950’s to carry Highway 169 right into downtown past the Charles B. Wheeler Airport. It is one of the few bridges spanning the gap between North Kansas City and Downtown, and can be a nightmare for morning commuters, but with the addition of Bond Bridge on I-35 it should be aliveated a little. When I look at this bridge I see a thousand mid-western communities, and basically the icon for 1950’s infrastructure in America. All that being said there is something exciting about the way the bridge glows against a waning twilight sky just falling into its daily slumber. Enjoy!
Springtime Weather
Spring in the mid-west is always an exciting time because you are coming out of what always seems like the “harshest winter.” I love that there are a few weeks where it never gets cold enough to need a jacket, and it never seems to get hot enough to turn the air on. There is another kind of excitement that comes with the changing of the seasons, and that is thunderstorms. I have been in the mid-west for a little less than 10 years, and I am still in awe of the raw power that mother nature expresses through her thunderstorms in this area of the country. Wind driven rain continuously pounds on your windows in unrelenting sheets, its path it always lit by the powerful fingers of electric light reaching from horizon to horizon, and it always annouces its arrival with a heavy roar that can be heard for miles. Just like a theater performance on a giant stage, every storm has its own unique signature, but it is always an entertaining performance. This just so happens to be the latest installment in a neverending tour. ENJOY!
Fog
Such a simple concept. Water vapor is condensed and a cold air mass is trapped below a warm air mass. The science of it is clear cut and absolute, yet there is a mysterious character that lurks within these condensed water particles. Places that we have come to know so well become surreal, shrouded by a deafening quiet that blankets all surroundings. Some see mystery as a dark and ominous force from which you may contrive fear, but it can also create a very poweful euphoric sensation. It’s the thought that not all mystery has to have a dark side, but some have a way of moving you to explore, and leave no stone unturned. I feel like that was driving me this particular morning to find every nook and cranny that could have something to show of itself in the new light. I hope these images help to tie back to this story as I feel they spoke to me.
Holy Family Shrine
Presidents day weekend is always a time for me and Katy to disappear somewhere for a mini-vacation. In the past we have been visiting different national parks around the country. This year we decided to something a little different and stay a little closer to home. While it may not be the most exciting vacation we have ever taken, there were definitely some interesting things to do and see in Omaha, NE. Just West of Omaha, and just off of I-80 on the South side, rests a quaint, simple chapel. It’s the kind of architecture that ,during the day, becomes a part of its surroundings before one has a chance to even notice they have passed it, and at night becomes a glowing lighthouse on the prairie. I was lucky enough to be able to experience it through overcast, sunny, and twilight. It really is amazing how your impression of a place can be drastically altered by the proper light. I think you will find that this place is made only more beautiful by the different light that passes through or eminates from it.
Urban Hunt
Despite the bone chilling temperatures this week, I somehow convinced myself to get out there and find some images capturing the cold nature of winter. Living in Kansas City, the winter can cut straight to the bone and leave you numb and weary. As I speak the windchills outside are reaching as low as -10 F. I think that is part of the reason I like living here. There may be bitter cold, but there is always something to look forward to. I feel like if I were to live in a climate where the seasons have far less variation, I would take it for granted and time would seem to fly by me without any checkpoints. I hope these images inspire you to go take in the cold weather so that at some point you can be that much more appreciative of a warm day in the middle of summer.
John Deere
Over the weekend I was poking around in some of the archives and played around with some photos taken out at Powell Gardens in Missouri. There was an old, beat up, and rust eaten tractor just sitting in the middle of a field. I tried to give it the antiquated and timeless look for something that will probably ride out its days soaking up the sun and the rain. I know I had some fun with these. Let me know what you think.
J.C. Nichols Memeorial Fountain (Country Club Plaza)
Known by all who live in Kansas City, the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain sits on the east edge of the Country Club Plaza. This is probably the most photographed fountain in Kansas City, and up to this point I hadn’t really given it due respect. The fountain is adorned with sculptures that actually were perched on the crest of a home in Long Island, NY long before making the journey to Kansas City in the 1960’s. The four horses supposedly represent four rivers spread across this Earth: the Mississippi, the Seine (France – Paris), the Volga (Russia), and the Rhine (Europe). I hope these pictures help show the character this fountain brings to the Plaza.
Zion National Park
Katy and I recently went out to Utah to visit Zion National Park. Even though we had read the park’s guide and gained a little background information on the park, neither one of us had any idea what laid ahead. The park is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The sandstone cliffs jump straight out of the ground and ascend to the heavens. I can now understand why there are names like “Angels Landing” in the park. Standing next to these giant walls is almost as forboding as it is awe inspiring. One can’t help but lean his neck as far back as he can and stay locked in that position until your head is dizzy. The trails vary from the pedestrian trails reminiscent paved suburban walkways, all the way to “you better have a compass, map, and three days supplies.” The sandstone walls, and gorgeous blue skies provided us with some of the most impressive sunrises and sunsets we have ever seen!
We were lucky enough to have found an outfitting company in nearby Springdale so that we could take what is called the “Narrows” hike. This hike requires that you walk 5 miles up a river, and most of that time will be spent wading. Given that it is October, the water was pretty chilly so we rented neoprene socks, canyoneering shoes, walking sticks, and gortex pants. The hike takes you up the Virgin river into the canyon, and the reason it is called the narrows becomes obvious…..the only thing between the vertical faces of sandstone rising hundreds of feet above you is a narrow river that has slowly carved its path and created this beautiful wonder. It took us more than 5 hours to hike in and hike out, but it is one of the best experiences I have ever had, and would recommend that anyone capable try this. We stayed for 4 days, and still feel like there is a lot we missed out on seeing and doing. We will go back at some point and enjoy the rest of the park, but for now here are some images to set your daydreaming on.
Downtown
For those of you who don’t know, I recently put my artwork on display at Cellar Rat Wine Merchants in the Crossroads district of Kansas City. If you live in, or somewhere near Kansas City, I urge you to go see my art and buy a bottle or two of wine! Thank you to all of you who made it out on First Friday, I had a great time talking to all of you!
That all being said I have been holding out on putting these photos from a downtown shoot I did a few weeks ago. There are images from all over the downtown and a few from Liberty Memorial overlooking downtown. If any of these images strike you, and you wish to have it grace the walls of your home…..head on over to my newly refurbished website( www.ryanestesphotos.com ) and purchase it. Prints start at just $30! I hope you enjoy!
Clock Tower Twilight
Rising above an urban courtyard, the power and light clock tower is sometimes overlooked. The tower has a spiraling turbine that turns the wind energy into electricity. A strip of lights runs vertically up the twisting edges of the turbine and as that turns in the long exposure it leaves a light trail. There are still more images to come in the next few weeks, but for now enjoy the latest and greatest!
West Bottoms Round 2
For those of you who have not heard, I will be putting my art up on the walls of Cellar Rat for the month of October. During this time you will be able to purchase anything that is on display or in my look book. That being said, I have made a list of places I want to shoot over the next month or so to maybe fill in the gaps and add a little more diversity to my portfolio. I spent a few hours last night wandering around the construction ridden district of the west bottoms. It was a gorgeous night as the clouds that covered the city all day dissapated and allowed the soft warm glow of the sunset wash the buildings that rest just below Downtown Kansas City. Here are some of the new shots!
Union Station Kansas City (Twilight)
Union Station
Sitting at the base of Liberty Memorial on the outskirts of Downtown Kansas City is a place still used as a transportation hub of the midwest. Although its primary function may not be to ship eager passengers along the winding railroads of the nation, it still breathes life into the cultural heritage of Kansas City. There are events, exhibits and restaurants that still thrive in this mammoth neo-classical building. I have been photographing Kansas City and its icons for about three years now, and I cannot believe I had not added this shot to my portfolio. I have fallen in love with exploring the light that exists between light of day and the darkness of night. The name used to define this astrological time is Civil Twilight. The thing that makes my photographs explore the contrast between the electric blue dwelling in the sky and the manmade sodium hallide lighting that washes the hardened paved surfaces that cover our urban landscape. I hope that you enjoy my interpretations of this hour that drives my passion for photography.
St. Lucia (Jade Mountain)
As many of my friends and family already know, I was recently married(thus the reason for such a long hiatus from this blog) and while the wedding was great and everyone had a blast, we could not wait to go on our honeymoon(see why below). We stayed at Jade Mountain on the western coast of the island. It is a beautiful little place located just to the north of Venezuela. Here are a few images to show what it was like. (I am so happy to try and get back to some semblance of a normal life again now that the main event has taken place).
San Francisco
Katy and I only got to spend the morning in San Francisco before our flight, but we tried to see what we could of the popular destinations. We walked around Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf for a couple of hours enjoying the tourist atmosphere. We then headed up the hill towards Lombard Street, a.k.a. the crookedest street in America, where we watched a few cars drive down the brick paved cutbacks. Next we wandered over the the Ghiradelli Factory, and got a few edible souvenirs to thank a few people back home for helping out with the trip. Finally we headed back to Fisherman’s Wharf around lunchtime to grab a some clam chowder in a sourdough bowl from one of the streetside vendors. All in all we got to briefly enjoy some of the touristy things in San Fran, but I would love to spend a little bit longer there. It reminded both of us a little bit of Melbourne, Australia, and I could definitely spend a lot more time there! Here are some images to spark your travel bug.
Ryan Estes Photos 