crescent city wreath

This is a re-post of one my favorite images taken in New Orleans during this holiday season. I don't know who hung a wreath on this dilapidated aged building, but I thank them, because I was able to capture this image and take it home, forever captured, forever remembered.

crescent city tree

I haven't been many places in my life. New York on my honeymoon where I was the typical camera toting china town wandering gotta see a Broadway show tourist, and loved every minute of it I might add; and other than a quick drive through Nashville, Tennessee I've never left the states that border the Gulf of Mexico. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida. Seen them all, but not much else. But New Orleans. New Orleans is one of those cities that you wish commanded as much respect as New York, but at the same time you realize that would ruin the city. New Orleans with its unspoken charm and gritty street scene, its erotic Bourbon St., its sobering Cafe' du Monde, the Mississippi River, and all the history of the South finding home in this city that sits in a bowl underneath the sea level. Christmas here just can't be compared with Christmas anywhere else. It goes without saying though, because anytime of the year can't be compared with spending even a weekend in New Orleans, no matter what the season is.

jellies

Another shot from the aquarium. I could literally watch these jellyfish pulsate around their tank for hours. They look so delicate and fragile, it's hard to believe they can really do some damage to you. I took shot after shot after shot, but never really captured their beauty or conveyed their grace in motion. But I tried.

my posiedon adventure

So, I went diving recently off the coast of Florida. It was my first underwater photo session! Absolutely love this shot! ...Okay, so maybe I was really with my family visiting the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, but hey, the shot is still amazing.

say uncle

One of my own private, highly secret, I-will-never-tell goals in life is to be able to document my brother's entire life so that at the end of it, hopefully we never missed a beat (don't. tell. anyone.) He lives in Portland, Oregon and I here in Texas, so you might understand where it gets hard to be there all the time photographing him at work, at school, in the shower, sleeping. So hard, in fact, that I haven't done any of those things yet. But, the once-sometimes-twice a year I do see him I always make a point to get him in front of my camera, even for just a minute or so. Click, and another year captured. There are a few more of him I took while in New Orleans, but this particular one...well, this one's for Mom. I know she'll love it.

more of the crescent city

I could spend a year in New Orleans and never tire of shooting. I could spend a lifetime in New Orleans and never tire of it. Every corner, every street, every facade, every sidewalk, window, doorway, balcony conveys a story. Any street performer, tourist, resident, worker, horse, can help you put those stories in perspective. The city is a gem. Seductive and mysterious at times, both dangerous and attractive, and maybe I'm being melodramatic and hopelessly romantic. In fact, I know I am...so?

at jackson square III

Milling around Jackson Square, in front of the Cathedral, takin' pictures. Here's another...

at jackson square II

I love the artwork you find on Jackson Square. Really, if you're looking for anything that says authentic New Orleans artwork, you go there. It's pretty much the perfect memento. This photo isn't portraiture, landscape, or documentary, but I always take a snapshot or two of some of the artwork I like, just because. Because a proper representation of the people, the sights and sounds of the square can't happen without a look at the artists that get up in the morning, set up their canvases, display their latest works, and make the square their own personal gallery.

at jackson square

At Jackson Square you'll find many things. A jazz duet. Fortune tellers of all types. Artists. Schemers. Uppers, downers, laughers, screamers... While waiting to eat at Stanley's (great by the way) just on the corner I took this...then took it again with a more steady hand because the first shot was crooked.

mail call

In search of a coffee shop not as packed as Cafe Du Monde was, this particular morning, we walked the block and came across this quiet little street just on the other side of all the commotion that was in the French Quarter and Jackson Square. Along this street were these mailboxes just begging to be photographed. Aged. Old. Names tacked on there with type-tape, some names written then smudged or crossed out. Even the color on this photograph isn't tampered with (via photoshop). This is as is, and beautiful.

new orleans

I took this shot in passing, not taking time to crop or compose or even look through the viewfinder. I just picked up my camera and hit the shutter. Sometimes I get lucky, because I really like this shot. So, for the next few images of New Orleans I thought I'd start with this one.

neon lights

This will be my last post (for a while anyway) from the city of New Orleans. What will follow are a few of my favorite shots from my own wedding (!!), a few client photos, and then New York, where we officially honeymooned. So, check back soon...there's still lots to see.

cafe du monde

We enjoyed breakfast at the famous cafe du monde with their chicory smoked coffee and the best beignets on Earth. While we ate we also enjoyed the music styling of this young man, who played the trumpet and gave us his best offerings of gospel hymns and just a bit of comedy. He was great. I mean, just look at that photo, don't you wish he was your grandpa?

crescent tree

Walking back towards the hotel, first dinner, then sleep, this scene was just begging for attention late one New Orleans night. So, I gave it my best shot. I love the subtlety and the overall mood of this photo. It's calm, and you can almost feel the crisp cold of the night. I love this shot.

christmas wreath

I know it's hard to be a diamond in the rough, but give this little wreath a chance...it was trying so hard to make up for this buildings short comings.

street art

Of course, you can't walk New Orleans without stopping to admire the street performers, the artwork, the trumpet players; simply the culture of the place: the vibe one gets just by being on her sidewalks and knowing what she's been through. So, here's a few stolen shots of the art I did stop to admire on her streets. I really like the celebrity portraits.

new orleans (cont'd)

I took the fish eye camera with me everywhere, but most of the photos were a bit underexposed due to cloudy weather during our stay. But what did come out, looked great! Here's another of my favorites...

water meter

Couple things: First thing is how cool is this photogragh? Very cool. Why? Because it was taken with a lomo-fisheye camera that my awesome wife bought for me for our wedding day. Second thing is the photograph is of a new orleans water meter cover. They don't make these anymore and they are one hot comodity; making replicas of these covers for earrings, necklaces, rings, and other jewelry. So, to preserve a little New Orleans history, I took this photo.

nawlins

So, I'm going to fast forward a little bit and skip some of the wedding pics for now, but don't worry, I'll come back to them. Right after we got married, we descended upon New Orleans for the weekend. The next few posts will be the sights and scenes of our beloved New Orleans. Nothing beats photos of graffiti. And nothing beats the nostalgia of the cassette tape. I remember it like it was only yesterday-I was making a mix tape of "you can't touch this" and "don't worry be happy". So, what beats that? Cassette graffiti... You only thought you knew...