Channeling Joel Sartore while capturing the Gateway Arch and downtown scenes in St. Louis, MO. Also, South Park (read on).
I stepped out of my St. Louis hotel with a mission: capture the Gateway Arch in a unique way. I already grabbed a few night shots I was feeling proud of but today was a new (and overcast) day.
So I asked myself, “What would Joel Sartore do?” And then a song came to me in the voices of characters from South Park.
I should probably explain.
“Go beyond the postcard shot,” is advice as excellent as it is common. For years I’ve heard it and tried to practice it. The postcard shot can be good but the real fun comes from getting creative and trying to find new ways to show a common sight.
But how would a National Geographic photographer do that? In 2013 National Geographic released a 6 ep. series by Sartore titled “The Art of Travel Photography,” which I voraciously consumed as a refresher ahead of my Route 66 trip. Wouldn’t you know it, the first episode is called, “Getting Beyond the Postcard.” Finally! I could see the process behind how a pro like Joel Sartore would think about and approach a familiar scene. The entire series is excellent BTW.
But back to the song. As a younger GenX’er or Xennial, I am of course familiar with the OG South Park movie and the very catchy tune “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” So when I stepped out onto the sidewalk, thought about how I wanted to approach capturing the Arch, and asked myself, “What would Joel Sartore do,” the song pretty much came to me on its own, and now, like the ear worm it is, I hear it in my head almost every time I’m out shooting.
“What would [Joel Sartore] do
If he was here right now?
He’d make a plan, and he’d follow through
That’s what [Joel Sartore] would do!”
So, Professor Sartore, if you ever see this, how’d I do?
“… For [wildlife] I’ll be an activist too
‘Cause that’s what [Joel Sartore] would do!”
Now go check out the Photo Ark, or stay and enjoy some additional images of downtown St. Louis.
