Lance Thurman Photography

Take A Walk With Me

12th & Washington Avenue

Saint Louis, Missouri

Taken in 2003, this photograph captures a moment of historical and urban significance in St. Louis. In my early years as a photographer, I was drawn to documenting sites and events I believed would carry future historical value. During a photo walk downtown, I found myself exploring the Washington Avenue District as it was beginning its revitalization.

This area held deep personal meaning for me.

During my high school years, I remember purchasing the latest fly hip-hop gear from Gus’s Fashions at the corner of 12th and Washington. Nearby were Marty’s Shoes, Levin’s Clothing Store, Cummel’s Café, and a number of dance clubs that shaped the cultural energy of the district throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

By chance, the annual Forest Park Balloon Race was underway that day, and several hot air balloons drifted into the western sky above the street. I composed multiple frames of the scene, ultimately selecting this image for its balance, composition, and the visual dialogue between the enduring architecture and the fleeting presence of the balloons.

The photograph reflects not only the historic character of the district, but also broader themes of memory, planning, progress, and continuity within the urban landscape.

Church Mothers

In many African American churches, modesty in dress and posture is both a spiritual and cultural expression. Draping lace over the legs when sitting in a skirt or dress serves as a visual act of modesty, particularly when crossing the legs. It is a gesture rooted in reverence—covering the knees as a sign of respect while in the sanctuary during prayer, song, and communion. Historically, church has been one of the most important public gathering spaces within African American communities, and customs of dress and etiquette evolved to reflect dignity, elegance, and self-respect.

This photograph was made at the Church of Salvation, the first church I photographed as part of a project documenting businesses, church life, and the people who live and gather along Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. From the moment I arrived, the congregation welcomed me with open arms.

On that day, the pastor made a decision to seat the church mothers in a special section—something that had not been done before in this small congregation. The moment felt historic, a quiet acknowledgment of the women whose presence, wisdom, and faith anchor the life of the church.

Before the service began, I asked for permission to photograph the worship. They graciously agreed, allowing me to move freely and document the service as though I were a lifelong member. Their trust transformed the experience from observation to participation.

One moment in particular remains with me. During the service, I was invited to come forward and speak at the microphone—a rare honor for a visitor. Typically, guests are asked only to stand and share their name. That day, I was invited to testify. I spoke about my book project and my hope that this church service would mark the beginning of its success.

This photograph honors that welcome, the traditions embodied by the church mothers, and the dignity carried in even the smallest gestures. It is a record of faith lived through posture, presence, and grace—and of a community that opened its doors and its hearts at the very start of my journey.

Manresa Cave Kinloch MO

The Manresa Retreat House in Kinloch, Missouri—commonly referred to as Manresa Cave—was a Catholic retreat site connected with Holy Angels Catholic Church on Scott Avenue. Opened in 1941, it holds historical significance as the first retreat house in the world for Black Catholic laymen, offering spiritual retreats and community gatherings. The grounds included a cave chapel designed to replicate the famous cave in Manresa, Spain, where St. Ignatius of Loyola prayed and composed the Spiritual Exercises. At the Kinloch site, approximately four to five feet of the cave’s roof protruded above ground, covered with natural materials such as sponge rock, shrubs, and flowers. Retreats typically ran from Thursday evening through Sunday morning, including meals and lodging, creating a space of reflection, community, and spiritual renewal.

This photograph of the Manresa Cave carries profound personal significance—it represents the first professional image I ever took and sold. Captured in the fall of 2001, the photograph was part of a fundraising effort organized by the church, which invited local artists to contribute work and share a portion of the proceeds to support the care and maintenance of the church. I was asked to photograph the retreat house and offer the image for sale at the local fundraising event.

Creating this photograph and having it so well received by the church and the artists of my fathers art collective, Creative Coalition, marked a turning point in my life. The success of this single image gave me the confidence to pursue photography professionally, to believe that I could support myself, and to continue documenting the spaces, communities, and histories that move me. Beyond its historical and cultural context, the Manresa Cave photograph is a reminder of opportunity, inspiration, and the moment when passion and possibility aligned.

This image now holds dual significance: it is both a record of a sacred, historic site and a testament to the beginning of my journey as a professional photographer.