It was a good evening for some sunflower fields. 🌻 📸 ☀️ • • • Book a session at the link in bio. • • • #sunflowerfield #summervibes #missouri #southernliving #portraitphotography #fujifilm #mo #stl #stlouis #sunflowers #flashphotography (at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSLR1DAME2k/?utm_medium=tumblr

Alright folks. I’m branching out from my normal landscape and nature photography and beginning to do sessions for people. Whether you want family photos, band photos, food photos, property photos etc, head over to my website in my bio to book a date and time. Whatever you’re photographic needs, I’m looking forward to working with you and making it happen! • • • Shilleligans Photoshoot 7/31/21 • • • #stlphotographer #bandphotography #presskit #promo #stlouis #photographer #portraits #smallbusiness #jaketrostphotographyllc #marketing (at St. Louis, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSIG8SflhEh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Battery Thomas “The first of two rapid fire gun batteries, Battery Thomas was named in honor of Captain Evan Thomas, 4th U.S. Artillery, who was killed in action with the Modoc Indians at Lava Beds, California in 1873. In March 1898, as the nation moved towards war with Spain, the Army rushed this battery into service. The concrete platforms were completed on April 26th and two 4.7” Rapid Fire Guns were installed on May 9, 1898. Capable of firing a 45 pound projectile six miles, these guns protected a minefield laid across the entrance of Mobile Bay from minesweepers.” https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=69826 • • • #alabama #americanhistory #gulfofmexico #spanishamericanwar #mobilebay #blackandwhitephotography #fujifilm #xt2 #historylesson #gulfshores #gulfshoresphotographer #alabamaphotographer (at Fort Morgan State Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRbgwJBsNUW/?utm_medium=tumblr

Inside the Guardian of Mobile Bay “Fort Morgan was seized by troops of the State of Alabama on January 4, 1861. Turned over to the Confederate Army in March of 1861, the fort served as the first line of defense for the city of Mobile and provided protection for blockade runners entering Mobile Bay. On the morning of August 5, 1864, Union naval forces fought their way past the Fort Morgan and defeated a Confederate naval squadron which included the C.S.S. Tennessee, one of the most powerful ironclads constructed in the South during the war. Union land forces commenced siege operations against Fort Morgan on August 9th. On the morning of August 22nd, Union artillery began one of the most intense bombardments of a single fort  recorded during the Civil War. The Confederate's losses were 17 men killed. The Confederate garrison's 581 men were forced to surrender the next morning.” http://www.fort-morgan.org/history/ • • • #alabama #fortmorgan #civilwar #gulfshores #gulfofmexico #historicpreservation #americanhistory #civilwarhistory #fujifilm #xt2 (at Fort Morgan State Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRY89WCsjPI/?utm_medium=tumblr

Battery Duportail “…added to historic Fort Morgan after the Spanish American War in 1898 to bolster defenses. The huge concrete structures were designed to hold heavy defensive guns aimed into the waters of the Gulf Coast.” www.encyclopediaofalabama.org • • • #alabama #civilwar #fortmorgan #gulfofmexico #spanishamericanwar #americanhistory #fujifilm #blackandwhite #xt2 #historicpreservation #alabamaphotographer #gulfshores (at Fort Morgan State Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRK59JxscAR/?utm_medium=tumblr

Entrance to Fort Morgan “Preceded by another fort, Fort Bowyer during the War of 1812, Fort Morgan is a Third System masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. Standing guard where the bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, the fort played a significant role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Used intermittently through the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II, the site showcases the evolution of seacoast fortifications and adaptations made by the U.S. Army for the defense of the country. In 1946 the site was turned over to the State of Alabama as a historic site.” http://www.fort-morgan.org/ • • • #alabama #fortmorgan #historicsite #civilwarhistory #warof1812 #americanhistory #gulfshores #mobilebay #gulfofmexico #saltlife #beachlife #coastallife #blackandwhite #fujifilm #xt2 #acros (at Fort Morgan State Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRG9Kqmss55/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dolphin calf with mother and “auntie”. “Sometimes an assisting dolphin may stay close to the new mother and calf. Although this assisting dolphin often is referred to as an "auntie" dolphin, it may be male or female. This auntie dolphin is often the only other dolphin a mother allows near her calf.” https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/bottlenose-dolphin/care-of-young/ • • • #dolphins #dolphincalf #alabama #nature #wildlife #mobilebay #gulfofmexico #saltlife #naturelovers #dolphincruise #parenthood #gulfshores #fortmorgan (at Fort Morgan, Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFw34WsQFw/?utm_medium=tumblr

An awesome dolphin session this evening! Probably the most difficult subject I’ve photographed yet! • • • #alabama #fortmorgan #dolphin #gulfofmexico #fujifilm #xt2 #naturephotography #mobilebay #saltlife (at Fort Morgan, Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFh3kYM3IX/?utm_medium=tumblr

Inside the Guardian of Mobile Bay “Construction began in 1819, but due to its isolated location, the fort was not completed until 1834. Skilled masons, many of which were enslaved African Americans, built the fortification which contains more than 46 million cubic yards of bricks.” This place was a lot of fun to shoot in black and white. I’ve got lots more and I’ll quote some history snippets with them, so stay tuned. Fort Morgan, AL https://ahc.alabama.gov/properties/ftmorgan/ftmorgan.aspx • • • #alabama #fortmorgan #blackandwhite #fujifilm #xt2 #gulfofmexico #mobilebay #oceanlife #civilwar #historyfacts #historyphotographed #1800s #civilwarhistory (at Fort Morgan State Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFI-UjsXs6/?utm_medium=tumblr

What can I say. Yesterday’s closing chapter started with a banger of a purple sunset—the view right out our door. • • • #alabama #gulfofmexico #gulfshoresphotographer #beachlife #sunsetporn #fujifilm #xt2 #35mmf2 #sunsetphotography #fortmorgan #travelphotography #gulfshoresalabama #alabamalife (at Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ9FwVOswcj/?utm_medium=tumblr

Tour of Hermann teaser trailer... • • • #missouri #tourofhermann #gravelbike #cyclelife #hermann (at Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/COYt6h6HFKP/?igshid=s2ls52tu8cq8

A clash of seasons today! • • • #spring #winter #snowfall #dogwoodtree #stl #mo #missouri #fujifilm #shotoniphone #naturelovers #snowday #drunkweather #springsnow #missourinature #nature_perfection #beautifulnature #ig_naturemagic #forestlovers (at Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5vTFonagM/?igshid=17l48uzgswn67

Our beautiful red dogwood under the moonlight last night. • • • #missouri #arboriculture #showme #springtime #fujifilm #yourshotphotographer #treephotography #dogwood #moonlight #nightphotography #flowerphotography (at Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0Aq8pHX8H/?igshid=b3ukjapbbjpe

We didn't continue on in this direction. Too much pavement. We turned left onto an unmaintained desert road. The rest is history. • • • #texas #overlanding #fujifilm https://www.instagram.com/p/CMdvdeol_Ul/?igshid=1jui50x68kksx

A south Texas sunset on the dunes. Dunes are critical to coastal ecosystems forming “barrier islands” and providing habitat for wildlife. If they’re not covered in vegetation, they can move 35 feet in a year. • • • #texas #sunset #igtravel #dunes #coastalvibes #ecology #horticulture #gulfofmexico #beachlife #tx #texasphotography #corpuschristitexas #corpuschristi #fujifilm #yourshotphotographer #landscapephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CMdfknyFlAF/?igshid=pcvggssyd4t4

Galactic Cactus! A prickly pear under the night skies of the Chihuahuan desert. • • • #nightsky #longexposure #fujifilm_xseries #yourshotphotographer #texas #chihuahuadesert #pricklypear #cactus #desertphotography #horticulture #succulentsofinstagram #nightshooters #mexico https://www.instagram.com/p/CMZrgAeFnXX/?igshid=10ou1nzyh8jcc

Morning light hits the wash set against a backdrop of the Sierra del Carmens. • • • #texas #fujifilm_xseries #yourshotphotographer #yucca #succulents #desertlife #sunrise #bigbendnationalpark #chihuahuandesert #overlandingusa #nationalparks (at Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMM4tFKlAwF/?igshid=17w4h0myy74ih