February 10, 2026
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
Photos by Abbie Lankitus, Gretta Cohoon and Reagan Manis
With a trip into the Dome, snow football games and a double buzzer-beater at Mizzou Arena, January provided unique views and perspectives at the University of Missouri. University photographer Abbie Lankitus shares her favorite photos of the month.
I got to go up inside the Jesse Hall Dome this past month — a first for me. I was following three individuals who have been tasked with getting a 3D scan of the interior of Jesse Dome for archival purposes.
Inside the Dome, there are four levels and then a higher platform on the fourth level that leads up to the spire. For this photograph, I’m standing on that platform looking down at Jessica Totsch taking a scan of the space. What I learned from the photo shoot is that many members of the secret societies on campus write their names on the walls, forever making their (literal) marks upon the university.
With only one light in the space, it allowed me to create some dramatic photos of long and dark shadows and silhouettes of the researchers.
There will be a bit more in-depth article about this in the spring issue of MIZZOU magazine, along with my other favorite photo from this shoot.
I love this photo by student photographer Reagan Manis. If you weren’t lucky enough to be at the game or to watch it on TV, there was not one, but two buzzer-beaters. The first was by Trent Pierce (#11) to send the game into overtime. The second was by Mark Mitchell (#25, pictured) in overtime to win the game.
This photo is the aftermath of the game as ESPN reporters gathered around Mitchell to ask him about his game-winning shot while teammate T.O. Barrett (#5) amped him up.
This is such a great moment framed by the camera crew to provide context while also drawing your eye to Mitchell and Barrett. I love the raw emotion in this photo and the clear excitement after a thrilling game against Oklahoma.
We finally got our first snow of the new year, and it dropped about 6 inches across campus. Reagan and I went out to capture campus and student activity in the fresh powder.
Here, Reagan was right on time to get the last bit of sunlight on Francis Quad while three students played catch.
Reagan got so many things right in this photo. First, he set his camera to a lower aperture (higher number). This closes down the aperture and creates a smaller opening, making any light source spread out their rays in a sunburst effect.
Second, he placed himself behind the students, facing the sun, and found the only window of sun shining onto the quad. This way he gets those nice, long shadows we see — especially as the football is about to be thrown — plus the golden light shining onto the snow.
Without that, this photo would simply be blue tinted (in shadow) and flat. Instead, we get this wonderful photo of time spent at Mizzou with friends.
Bond Life Sciences Center has some of the most gorgeous interior scenes on campus. With giant windows in the ceiling, open walkways and bridges over the atrium, and the beautiful Joy of Discovery sculpture, it’s a stunning place for light and color.
I wanted to use the natural light Bond provides for this portrait of Kamlendra Singh, a researcher who’s exploring how artificial intelligence can help detect melanoma.
I found this spot on the third floor where the sun was streaming in and placed Singh on a bridge. I then went up to the fourth floor and photographed down, while adjusting my exposure so that the brightest parts were perfectly exposed and the shadows became darker for dramatic effect. It was an added bonus that the sun was shining through the Joy of Discovery sculpture to add some extra color.
Many thanks to Singh, who listened to my crazy idea of partially looking up (and therefore, very close to the sun) to get this shot.
This detail shot from Reagan is really cool. To me, it emphasizes the need for flawless teamwork among Mizzou Cheer to pull off move like this. It’s not just about providing platforms, but support for the raised cheer member with hands on her ankles.
The photo’s crop plays a big role in communicating this as well. Any wider and you lose the emphasis on the support. Your eye will start to wander to more of the details around the subject, rather than the focus. If anything, you could crop this image even tighter, but then you’d lose the eyes of the cheer members who are completely focused on their teammate above their heads.
This was a case of just being in the right place at the right time. On the Monday after the snowstorm, I was simply walking around campus capturing what I could. As I was about to pass Cornell Hall, the late afternoon sun was shining above the building. The wind began to pick up, blowing the soft powder off the roof. The sun caught the crystals and created a natural snow globe around me.
After a second or two of just staring in awe, I angled my lens to catch the sunlight through the trees and every little piece of snow was highlighted. I hoped it would give the snow globe effect that I experienced.
I’ve stood on the 10-meter platform at the diving well in MizzouRec but have not jumped off. I don’t have a fear of heights, but I hate the falling feeling. Photographing it should emphasize just how tall it is and university photographer Gretta Cohoon did just that — making it look like the students who jumped were flying, weightless, through the air during the Plunge Into MizzouRec event during Winter Involvement Week.
I love the pop of color in this image, but even more than that, it feels just like time has slowed here. I’m holding my breath waiting for the drop, but it never comes, and my belief is suspended just like the student in the air.
This photo during a Mizzou Wheelchair Basketball game from Gretta reminded me of the cheer photo Reagan took. The symmetrical image tells a story of “I’ve got your back.” On the court, as a team, they work together to achieve the same goal. With this specific crop making it practically a mirror image, it spoke to me from a technical and storytelling standpoint.
In years past after a snowstorm, I’d typically photograph a quiet, untouched campus. Not this year. Early on my outing, I caught this group of students repeatedly sliding down the (I’d guess you’d call it a) hill by the Columns on a sled.
I loved this particular moment where two students attempted to slide down while standing on the sled. It got out from under their feet and sent one scrambling and the other on his back. The failed attempt and subsequent joy, along with the laughter from friends behind them, remind me of my favorite memory while in college. My friends and I too were out in the snow, but it was still coming down and not another soul was out.
Whether it was then or now, Mizzou or not, the magic of spending time with friends on campus (especially with snow) is something that we’ll all carry long after our time at college is done. And I felt so much joy watching this group of friends make those memories that day.
What Susie Dai has cooking in her lab is really cool. Algae that can remove microplastics from water while cleaning it at the same time is remarkable. There’s a full story on Show Me Mizzou detailing her work.
There are a couple of machines in Dai’s lab that produce the algae. This one was pretty tight and up against a wall, but still beautiful to look at with the bright lights and vivid green color.
I asked Dai to get low with the machine so that the lights would naturally light her up. While great for the story that was published, this also doubles as a good marketing image of the research we do at Mizzou. It’s visually interesting with color, light and several leading lines to Dai. Thanks to Dai’s work and work from other researchers on campus, as it allows me to get creative when telling their stories.
More than 150 students from across campus gathered at Memorial Union for the 2026 Missouri Leadership Institute. The day-long event featured a keynote by Erin Wilson, interactive workshops and professional networking opportunities designed to help students bridge the gap between their undergraduate experiences and their future careers.
I love this photo because of the candid capture. As university photographers, we cover many events of speakers at podiums and participants at tables. It isn’t always the most attractive and it’s difficult to get genuine and candid reactions at these events.
But that was no trouble to Gretta here. Not only did she get a great moment, but the subject is framed in the center, which easily allows it to be used as a marketing photo for the same event next year. The lighting also worked in her favor, brightening up this student where it could’ve been much darker.
Snow football was the theme of this winter storm, and I caught the late stages of one game on Stankowski Field with Farmhouse fraternity brothers. Nearing sunset, the final touchdown was scored for a win of 42-35, with this celebration following.
I love the joy, the backlight of the sun illuminating their figures and the snow catching in the light. It was a fun game to watch, and I found myself cheering with each catch and touchdown.
This month on campus was one of joy, support and discovery. A little snow wasn’t getting anyone down — the opposite, in fact. I look forward to how that spirit will continue into February.
