Life On the Mississippi River
Borrowing the expression from Mark Twain's book "Life On the Mississippi" this gallery of images reflects the working life on the river that has served as the main artery of North America for centuries. Although the steamboats of Twain's day are gone, barges and tugboats busily ply the waters in their commercial activities.
After traveling the world and exploring the natural beauty of my home state of Missouri, I have recently turned my attention to my roots. I grew up within a few miles of the Mississippi River and for almost thirty years now I have lived less than a half mile from it. Sometimes we take for granted the everyday things that we see but recently I have begun to explore the river and its surrounding environs with a fresh eye. I foresee additions to this gallery in the future from time to time.
Tugboat at Sunrise On the Mississippi River
A tugboat moving up the Mississippi River at sunrise captures the life essence of "Life on the Mississippi".
Dike and Ice at Dusk On the Mississippi River
In northern Missouri, the serenity of a crisp winter day is captured in this image large chunks of ice clogging the Mississippi River along a dike as the hues of dusk envelope the scene.
Ladder and Rope On a Barge Deck
Life on the Mississippi in modern times involves working on barges that transport commercial goods down the river. This ladder and rope are on the deck of a docked barge awaiting future activity.
Chain On a Barge Deck
This digitally altered image graphically portrays a massive chain on the deck of a docked barge.
On the Deck of a Barge
Among the docked barges along the shoreline, rope and chain are strewn on the deck of a barge. This is a digitally altered image, I liked the way it conveys the graphic elements in the scene.
Barge Traffic at Dawn On the Mississippi River
Life on the Mississippi is captured in this image as a tugboat and barges navigate the river at dawn.