https://www.elsaconnolly.com/written daily 0.75 2026-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/f662e419-66c7-4e6a-bb8e-78a0fe117427/690271c95462c.preview.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/7371848d-61e1-422a-b2c7-40ed49e8c701/Screenshot+2026-05-10+at+4.57.29+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/cb19227e-55b3-4504-80e4-36c55dfeabba/npr.brightspotcdn.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/63357b1d-a35f-4e93-902b-ec9884704d93/IMG_0490-696x546.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/3a0755fe-574e-4ec5-8334-d5292c42def5/Jones-Webster-Hall-scaled.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/95a75067-9902-4e7f-9f29-430f941d11af/666b3e5d50d24.image.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/c90b3b82-9939-4d1a-b27f-27f9b8588bb3/Photo-by-Elsa-Connolly-630x420.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/56baf4b3-fab9-44f8-ac0c-da8e9df73c55/IMG_0485-696x390.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/b812a960-c2b5-4292-b8f3-1e1c46012156/9D5D65E3-8274-40D0-A4F6-03EABFD007D2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/ef446817-7182-4c77-8596-6fdc9f06bcb2/Contributed_-Bob-Weber-606x420.jpg https://www.elsaconnolly.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-05-10 https://www.elsaconnolly.com/overview daily 1.0 2026-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/a4e9c988-5f20-404c-875f-1025ad963e6a/DSC_0434.JPG https://www.elsaconnolly.com/people daily 0.75 2026-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/1778357895105-DYKUO25WP6TDSQPN17PR/20260313%2BProfile%2BELC%2B002.png Visuals Lorie Hetrick-Volenberg begins the process of determining the species of moss by looking through a hand lens to find identifying characteristics at Graham Cave State Park on Friday, March 14, in Montgomery County, Mo. “People will just see the green thing on the ground and they don’t think anything more about it, but they’re tough little suckers and they’re doing a lot sitting there right now.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/1778357912992-PNODP2W8TJUJIWCQLOJR/20260331%2BELC%2BPortrait%2B001.png Visuals Isabella Sokolova, 23, ponders her future behind the camera at Lee Hills Hall photo studio in Columbia, Mo., on March 31, 2026. Sokolova left a track and field career behind and is now racing towards a different finish line. "Right now, I'm most looking forward to growing into my full creative potential and building a life where my work actually means something. I want to keep pushing myself in film and storytelling while also creating real stability and freedom for my future." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/779e0613-5817-4096-9744-eba1e2b5e64e/20260208+Breaking+Ice+ELC+041.JPG Visuals Donnie Ray Taylor channels his beloved punk energy at Hitt Street Records on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Columbia, Mo.. “I love music, it’s my best friend.” Taylor was the lead singer of multiple bands in his youth, but left that lifestyle behind after developing an unhealthy dependency on alcohol. Now, he just writes songs for himself. Taylor’s favorite artists – David Bowie, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse – are tattooed across his arms and hands. “I like a wide variety of music. I think life is boring otherwise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/f7d9a951-3254-4d09-94ab-80f580349ae6/20260215+Sports+Action+ELC+004.JPG Visuals Boonville freshman Harper Lowe drives through Hickman sophomore Bayleigh Bluitte, left, and freshman London Stemmons, right, for a lay-up on Tuesday at Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo. The Kewpies celebrated senior night before securing a 69-55 victory against the Boonville Pirates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/f75634a1-e709-4a7a-bb2b-0467fd607882/Screenshot+2025-10-28+at+7.37.32+PM.png Visuals Inside Veronica Kodelja's ADA-accessible "She Shed" on Nov. 10, 2023, in Affton, Mo. Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas built the shed for Kodelja who has a nervous system disorder and uses a wheelchair. Now, she has her own space where she can craft and spend time with friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/30ed69f1-9a9d-41c1-bc53-6736fa08b2fb/20260128_ElsaConnolly_100Pictures+089.JPG Visuals A pile of leaves on at the entry of the University of Missouri's International Programs Office on Jan. 23, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. This photo is apart of my photo essay entitled "Discarded" which explores the things people and nature leave behind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/5963a331-1a95-4b6b-8ee7-4282e1c6212a/20260215+Event+ELC+121.JPG Visuals A mouse for sale presses against the inside of a plastic box at the Show Me Reptiles Show on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Bridgeton, Mo. Mice are commonly fed to domesticated snakes, bearded dragons and leopard geckos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/fb51e648-bf91-4c1b-8209-c9b00f2b89e4/IMG_6482.JPG Visuals A large display case of snakes at the Show Me Reptiles Show on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Bridgeton, Mo. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an estimated 5.7 million U.S. households owned a least one reptile in 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69ff8a6bce07a60095dab48a/18317238-4610-445b-91ef-39d335d29e82/Screenshot+2026-05-09+at+3.37.51+PM.png Visuals Outside the nostalgic Hi-Pointe Theater on July 24, 2023, in St. Louis, Mo. This image appears in my photo essay exploring my relationship to my childhood neighborhood as a young adult.