April 9, 2026
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
Photos by Abbie Lankitus, Gretta Cohoon, Andy Ramirez and Reagan Manis
Campus and community events, fascinating research and a late winter snowfall made for inspirational images around campus in March. University photographer Abbie Lankitus shares her favorite photos of the month.
I thought Mizzou video producer Andy Ramirez really captured the intrigue and spirit of discovery in a photo for a Show Me Mizzou story on an all-female fish species. It was just our luck that Wes Warren, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, had a fish tank in his office. I love the framing, coupled with an LED light to his right so that his face was properly exposed. The side-eye to the fish is perfect and makes me smile every time I see this photo.
Armed with a cooler from home packed with ice and a gallon of Tiger Stripe ice cream from Buck’s, I set up this shoot in the studio for MIZZOU Magazine. What I didn’t notice until after the shoot is that from a thumbnail view, the little black stripe on the top left part of the scoop looks like an M! As if this ice cream couldn’t get any better, there was a bit of school spirit added to the photo. I had to shoot this happy accident quickly, as the shape disappeared as the ice cream melted.
Interesting weather breeds interesting photos and that’s about the only good thing I can say for the random snowstorm we got in March. Thanks to student photographer Reagan Manis for getting out in this weather. He took an LED light to get the snowflakes to show up in frame, and it really is beautiful. It’s like watching glitter fall over Jesse Hall and the Columns. I can’t complain too much about the weather when we get photos like this.
This spring, MIZZOU Magazine is running a feature on Columbia’s North Village Arts District. To capture the spirit of the district for the magazine, I spent time at First Fridays — monthly events during which visitors can enjoy its art collections and entertainment. During March’s First Friday, the Columbia Ballet and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra performed together.
There was so much movement with various lighting depending on where the dancers landed. My favorite, though, was when they got so close to me that it felt like I could reach out and touch them through the lens. It felt like the perfect way to encapsulate the different art forms in the North Village Arts District and how lucky I am to live here and experience it.
Right before spring break, MizzouRec hosted Paddleboard Yoga at the Aquatic Center. University photographer Gretta Cohoon captured this perfectly serene moment from the event. I just love the primary color palette and how clear the reflection is. I wouldn’t blame the student if she fell asleep right then and there because I know I would!
Greek Week was held in March, and the week’s annual “Fling” at Jesse Auditorium saw a wide range of performances from fraternities and sororities. Here, Pi Beta Phi members dance in front of intense lighting and special effects.
In editing this photo black and white, Gretta made this image really pop. The starkness of the fog and the almost silhouetted students make everything that was happening on stage more dramatic and memorable than if it were edited in color. So much of what photographers edit for the university is in color — but this is one of those photos where black and white is clearly the preference.
For a Show Me Mizzou story on campus labs, I visited the Advanced Light Microscopy Core at Bond Life Sciences Center with Director Tara Finegan.
What’s really cool about this photo is that I’m not adding any light. All the red is from the microscope housing. I just had the room’s lights turned off to exaggerate the color. There were also these great windows I could open so that there were no reflections between my lens and Finegan. And my favorite part? The spark of light in Finegan’s eye, like the sparks of discovery all our Mizzou scientists regularly encounter.
The Missouri Theatre and Columbia are no strangers to the Missoula Children’s Theatre visiting, but this was a first time for me. I was able to join the local children as they auditioned for roles in this production of Cinderella.
There are a few elements from this photo that I really like. First is place. When looking at this image, one can clearly place where this event is happening with the stage, stage lights and curtains. Next is the light. There are high stage lights backlighting one of the Missoula Children’s Theatre actors, and then the same light is casting really cool shadows of the children behind them. Finally, I love that I can see so many facial and body expressions. Those on the ends of this row are turning inward to see what’s going on, and then you just keep going and see all the ages represented in this square on stage. If I never said this was an audition for the Missoula Children’s Theatre, would you know what was going on? I have a feeling you’d be able to deduce something close to it, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for.
Also part of the MIZZOU Magazine feature on the North Village Arts District was the True/False Film Festival March March. We’d been dealing with some rain and clouds all day, but I was thrilled when I got this silhouette in the middle of Broadway as participants were headed down 9th Street in downtown Columbia. Every bubble is backlit and shining, playing into the magic of True/False and March March.
As spring blooms at Mizzou, I hope the magic of this season of renewal and growth shows itself fully to each of you. Excited for what April holds in store! (With no snowstorms, please.)
